Haikyuu!!is one of thebest sports anime of all timeand easily the best sports anime about the great sport of volleyball, because of its jaw-dropping matches, amazing arcs, and two of the best main characters in shōnen anime.Shoyo Hinata and Tobio Kageyamastart the series as bitter rivals before turning into each other’s best friends, on the court at least. They’re two players at entirely different levels than the players around them,creating a unique relationship that sees them rely on each otherwhen they might not want to.
Kageyama wasn’t friendly, at first. Towards the beginning of the series, he’s a cold, distant king who only uses his teammates without thinking about their feelings. Thanks to Hinata’s help, and a few more players from Karasuno, Kageyama is able to come off of his metaphorical high horse and see things from their perspective. He’s also the only character who can truly use Hinata to the best of Hinata’s abilities, creating the Minus Tempo Quick Attack that leaves their opponents speechless.
Hinata and Kageyama Started Out as the Classic Shonen Rivals
A Classic Trope That’s Still Entertaining
Hinata and Kageyama weren’t always the relatively close friends seen at the middle and end of the series. The pair first met while they were both in Junior High.They were enemies before they were allies, as Hinata’s rookie Junior High volleyball team had to go against Kageyama’s more experienced team. Their first match perfectly highlights both of their characters, as Hinata was eager to play but entirely inexperienced. Kageyama was much better than Hinata, but his terrible attitude drove his own teammates away from him.
Every Haikyu!! Arc, Ranked
Haikyu!! is one of the best sports anime of all time and the best one about volleyball. Each of its arcs add something to the story and characters
Kageyama had never seen someone like Hinata before.He was speechless when he saw just how much effort his future teammate put in for every point. Even though Hinata wasn’t that good, his team was worse, and their chances of winning were nonexistent, but Hinata didn’t care. He was incredibly happy just to be there and was equally appreciative of his teammates for showing up to a game they didn’t really want to play.
Kageyama couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His own mentality was called into question when he saw Hinata’s. How could someone so bad at the game, and so much worse than Kageyama himself, enjoy it more than Kageyama? It was the first timeKageyama was able to see past himselfon the court, and a deciding moment in his character arc that made him start to come down from the mountain he put himself on.
Hinata Redefined Kageyama’s Role as the ‘King’
Kageyama’s Immense Talent Was Actually Hindering Him
Kageyama was almost too good at volleyballat the beginning ofHaikyuu!!.He was so good, he couldn’t accept mistakes from anyone around him. While that might seem like a decent idea in practice, Kageyama’s elitism isolated him from the very people he was supposed to be fighting with. When he arrived at Karasuno as a first-year in High School, he faced the same issues. He couldn’t accept anyone who wasn’t at his level, and because of his immense skill, nobody could keep up.
Hinata was the first person to see past Kageyama’s arrogance. He was able to keep up with Kageyama thanks to both his enthusiasm for the game of volleyball and his inherent speed and jumping abilities. At first, Kageyama’s title as the ‘King of the Court’ was used to mock his egocentrism and his inability to see the perspectives of the people around him. Hinata was able to redefine the title when he asked Kageyama and the rest of the Karasuno team’Why is it bad to be the king?'. Hinata argues that he can just ignore Kageyama if he wants, and everyone else on Karasuno agrees.
Haikyu!! Taught Me a Very Important Lesson About the True Value of Anime
Anime such as Haikyu!! inspire us to join the characters in their pursuit of a particular skill or dream.
It’s a great moment that finally humanizes Kageyama, and ironically,allows Kageyama to humanize his teammates as well.They’re no longer scared of each other, allowing each member of Karasuno to finally relax around Kageyama and vice versa. If it wasn’t for Hinata’s almost delusional level of confidence, Kageyama might have continued his career as the lonely tyrannical king he once was in Junior High.
Kageyama Is the Only One To Get the Best Out of Hinata
Kageyama’s Role as a Setter Lets Hinata Turn His Weakness Into Strength
Hinata is an outlier in the world ofHaikyuu!!.In a game almost entirely dominated by height, Hinata is a pipsqueak. He’s almost always the shortest player on both sides of the net, but he doesn’t let that slow him down. Like his idol, the Little Giant, Hinata feels like he’s 10 feet tall when he’s playing, and that’s almost entirely thanks to Kageyama. Kageyama is the only setter to get the best out of Hinata. He can push Hinata to his insane limits like nobody else.
When Hinata flies through the air for a quick attack, Kageyama is right there to set him up. It took some time for the pair to sync up, but after some hard work and training, they can basically read each other’s minds on the court. There aren’t many more impressive moments inHaikyuu!!than when Hinata and Kageyamause their quick attack in front of a new opponentfor the first time. They operate at a speed so fast, it’s hard to comprehend.
Hinata and Kageyama Are Each Other’s Best Weapons on the Court
Stronger Than the Sum of Their Parts
Hinata and Kageyama get the best out of each other.While Karasuno has plenty of good spikers, there aren’t any better than Hinata. He’s insanely fast, can jump higher than most players, and he’s also the only character to push Kageyama past his limits. Hinata is fearless. He’s not afraid to lose andwill stop at nothing to try and win a point. His insane determination is seen clearly during a practice match against Fukurodani when he nearly forces Kageyama to try a new move with him.
Even though they’ve failed their new quick attack a dozen times in practice and haven’t gotten it to work once, Hinata doesn’t care. He saw a perfect opportunity for their new attack and took it. Kageyama, the King of the Court, even doubted their ability to pull it off. When he saw Hinata already flying through the air, questioning Kageyama’s indecisiveness,Kageyama instinctively sent the ball his way. Hinata spiked the ball with ease, winning the point before the Fukurodani players even had a chance to react.
Towards the middle of the series, Kageyama and Hinata have gone from rivals to friends and precious teammates. This is similar to the relationship model set up most famously by Goku and Vegeta inDragon Ball, where two former enemies not only end up fighting on the same side, but also constantly bring out the best in each other.HinataandKageyama’s great dynamic is only one of the reasons whyHaikyuu!!is considered one of the best sports anime of all time.
Haikyuu!!
Cast
Haikyuu!! is a Japanese anime series based on the manga by Haruichi Furudate that follows Shoyo Hinata, a high school student determined to become a top volleyball player despite his short stature. Through resilience and teamwork, Hinata joins Karasuno High’s volleyball team and forms a dynamic partnership with former rival Tobio Kageyama. The series highlights their journey to national tournaments, emphasizing themes of perseverance and sportsmanship.
