Tag: #haikyuu

10 Animes to watch

The term anime is a Japanese colloquialism used as an abbreviation for the term “animation.” Generally in Japan, the word anime (written アニメ) is synonymous with animation of any kind from anywhere. Internationally, however, anime is typically referred to as animation that is produced from Japan. The distinction between anime and cartoons is more cultural than it is technical.

Anime itself dates back over a hundred years. The first confirmed example was produced in 1917 titled Namakura Gatana with a run time of only four minutes.

Here is a list of 10 animes you will enjoy watching

1. Death Note

Genres: ♟️ Psychological, 🔮 Supernatural, 🕵️ Mystery, 🤯 Thriller

The story follows Light Yagami, a high school student who stumbles across a mysterious otherworldly notebook: the “Death Note”, which belonged to the Shinigami Ryuk, and grants its user the power to kill anyone whose name and face he knows. The series centers around Light’s subsequent attempts to use the Death Note to change the world into a utopian society without crime and the subsequent efforts of L, a reclusive international criminal profiler, to apprehend him and end his reign of terror.

2. Attack on Titan : Shingeki no Kyojin

Genres: 👊 Action, 🎭 Drama, 🧞 Fantasy, 🕵️ Mystery

Attack on Titan is set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous Walls that protect them from Titans, gigantic humanoid creatures who devour humans seemingly without reason. The story centres around Eren Jaeger and his childhood friends Mikasa Ackermann and Armin Arlelt whose lives are changed forever after the appearance of a Colossal Titan, which brings about the destruction of their home town. Vowing revenge and to reclaim the world from the Titans, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin join the Scout Regiment, an elite group of soldiers who fight Titans outside the Walls.

3. My Hero Academia

Genres: 🐵 Animation, Action, 🌋 Adventure, 🤣 Comedy, ✨ Fantasy, 🤖 Sci-Fi

The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where they are the norm, but who still dreams of becoming a superhero himself. He is scouted by the world’s greatest hero, who shares his powers with Izuku after recognizing his value and later enrolls him in a high school for heroes in training.

4. Bleach

Genres: 👊 Action 👒 Adventure 🔮 Supernatural

High school student Kurosaki Ichigo is unlike any ordinary kid. Why? Because he can see ghosts. Ever since a young age, he’s been able to see spirits from the afterlife. Ichigo’s life completely changes one day when he and his two sisters are attacked by an evil, hungry and tormented spirit known as a Hollow.

5. Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood

Genres: 👊 Action, 👒 Adventure, 🤣 Comedy, 🎭 Drama, 🧞 Fantasy

Abandoned by their father as kids, two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric lived with their mother in a small town called Resembool. After losing their mother to a terminal illness, they try to resurrect her using alchemy – a science which allows you to transform physical matter from one form to another.

6. Demon Slayer

Genres: 👊 Action 👒 Adventure 🎭 Drama 🧞 Fantasy 🔮 Supernatural

Demon Slayer’s plot follows the epic saga of Tanjirou Kamado, a kind-hearted teen who, upon returning home one day, finds his entire family slaughtered by invading demons. Worst of all, he finds that his sister, Nezuko, has been turned into a bloodthirsty demon herself.

7. Tokyo Revengers

Genres: 👊 Action, 🎭 Drama, 💕 Romance,🔮 Supernatural

Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.

8. Odd Taxi

Genres: 🎭 Drama 🕵️ Mystery ♟️ Psychological

‌In a city which should be familiar, there is the feeling of something a little different. Kotokawa is a taxi driver who lives an ordinary life, taxing some quirky customers around. A slightly eccentric stranger who has no relatives nor any relations with other people, Kotokawa’s hobby is to listen to Rakugo on the radio before going to bed. For the time being, the only people he can consider as friends are his family doctor Gouriki, and his high school classmate Kakihana. Kabasawa, a college student who wants a buzz, Shirakawa, a nurse who’s hiding something, comedian group Homo Sapiens, who isn’t selling well, the city hoodlum Dobu, and the rookie idol group Mystery Kiss—the conversations with these people, which should not have meant much, lead to a girl who disappeared.

9. Haikyuu

Genres: 🤣 Comedy, 🎭 Drama, 🏀 Sport

Hinata Shouyou, a short middle school student, gained a sudden love of volleyball after watching a national championship match on TV. Determined to become like the championship’s star player, a short boy nicknamed “the small giant”, Shouyou joined his school’s volleyball club.

10. Jujutsu Kaisen

Genres: 👊 Action 🤣 Comedy 🎭 Drama 🔮 Supernatural

The story follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he joins a secret organization of Jujutsu Sorcerers in order to kill a powerful Curse named Ryomen Sukuna, of whom Yuji becomes the host.

Top 8 Anime you need to binge on (Part 1)

Genre: Slice of life/ Shounen/ Comedy/ Sports/ Action/ Supernatural.

1) Haikyuu

2) Dr. Stone

3) The Promised Neverland

4) Gintama

5) Noragami

6) Steins Gate

7) Asobi Asobase

8) Vinland saga

(The list is not in order/ranking)

1-Haikyuu

Haikyuu!! Is an anime about volleyball. It is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. The story follows Shōyō Hinata, a boy determined to become a great volleyball player despite his small stature.

I am absolutely in love with this anime. Quirky yet mature characters, massive positive energy (without the cringeyness), good and steady character development, close to reality and filled with moments that will fill you with many emotions. It is the type of anime, which will keep you hooked till the end and wanting more of it.   

No. of Seasons: 4 (With 4th season having 2 parts)

No. of volumes: 37

2)Dr.Stone

Dr. Stone is a Japanese manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by the South Korean artist Boichi. The first episode aired in Japan on July 5th, 2019 and ended on December 13, 2019.

The anime unfolds with the introduction of the personalities wherein Taiju, the brawny guy is collecting himself to confess his love. A green light envelopes the sky and everyone. In this world where humanity has been petrified, scientific genius Senku and his brawny friend Taiju use their skills to rebuild civilization.

An absolutely hilarious, scientific, realistic yet lil unrealistic and an all-package anime. Main characters be making faces like so-called villains and villains like the sane ones. You are gonna love the humor, creativity with innovations and probably learn to make some of the scientific inventions.

No. of season: 2

No. of volumes: 21

3) Noragami

 Noragami is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Adachitoka.  It is a shounen brought to you by Studio Bones. Noragami is about a stray God called Yato, who wants to build a shrine of his own. His journey to do so, with his hilarious and annoyingly careless yet caring personality is what makes this anime unique. The fun is unlimited, relatability and appropriately written characters makes it more special.

Male and female protagonists have been written better than what i have seen till now, Diverse characters, straightforwardness and extremely crude, chill personality of characters. The anime has really less episode considering it’s quality but the fun and wholesomeness compensates for it.

No. of season: 2 (2 OVA)

No. of volumes: 23

4) The Promised Neverland.

The Promised Neverland is a Japanese manga series written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu. It was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump from August 2016 to June 2020. group of orphaned children in their plan to escape from their orphanage, after learning the dark truth behind their existence and the purpose of the orphanage.

I believe that cuteness, child energy, super relatability to our world, intellectuality, and wholesomeness are less than enough to describe this anime. It is pretty tear-jerker anime. The twists, scenes makes you want to help those kids through your screen. Although, in second season the anime’s plot changes a lil, if you are looking for a series to keep you on your toes, this is it.

No. of Seasons: 2

No. of Volumes: 20

5)Gintama

Gintama, along running series has finally come to an end with the movie Gintama : Final, launched 18 July 2021. This action, comedy anime is based on Alien samurai setting where the humans and alien are living together after the war. Gintoki Sakata, the main protagonist of the series, owns a shop named “Odd jobs Gin” and as its name suggests they accept any type of work as long as they’re paid for it.

Animated by Bandai Namco Pictures and written by Hideaki Sorachi, the cast of Gintama is arguably the best an anime has to offer. Even though the arc’s are short and start is slow, one can never get enough of the parody, action and the drama it provides.

No. of Seasons: 5 (4 movies and 1 OVA)

No. of Volumes: 77

7)Steins Gate

Okabe Rintaro, a self proclaimed Mad scientist accidentally discovers about time travel and time leap. Steins;Gate which is almost ranked in top 10 of every review page and ranked 3rd in MAL (My Anime list) is a time travel story, but not a typical time story. Its not only about the main protagonist travelling or leaping through time, it deals with many modern theories of time travel such as The Time Paradox, Butterfly effect, String theory and much more.

Unlike most anime’s, the side cast is one of the best out there. Every character used has their own importance on the overall plot. The start may be slow for some viewers but that’s the beauty of Steins;Gate.

Steins;Gate was produced by Mika Nomura and Yoshina Doi, directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki and Takuya Sato, and is written by Jukki Hanada

No. of Seasons: 2 (Along with 5 movies and OVA’s )

No. of Volumes: 3

8) Asobi Asobase

The story revolves around three classmates who play simple hand games and their exposure to more weird games.

The opening song gives you vibes of innocence, sweetness and everything nice. Well, the outro is a complete chaos. This pretty much sums the entire series, the girls are innocently chaotic. Filled with crazy ideas regarding the concept of club, extreme honesty and horrifically funny, this girls are absolutely hilarious.

Asobia Asobase made me remember everything I did in school days, every silly games I played. The anime just keeps getting better and more hilarious with each episode.

Honestly, I have never laughed this hard before. If you want to see something that’s going to make you laugh by hitting that pause button without cringing, this is a must watch for you!

No. of season(s): 1 (Episodes: 12)

No. of volumes: 12

15) Vinland saga

Vinland saga anime having only 1 season till date based on Vikings, it is considered one of the best New Gen anime and manga. Season 1 deals with a young boy, Thorfinn, who has a great interest in fighting. Thorfinn swears revenge against Askeladd, the killer of his father and also the main antagonist of the show.

The protagonist – antagonist setting is unrivaled not only in new gen animes but also in the older one’s. The main plot of the anime/manga revolves around the war for the crown of the England. The new season has been confirmed for the Year 2021 and adapts the Slave arc from the manga.    

No. of seasons: 1

No. of Volumes: 21           

Manga Review: Haikyuu!

The premise of Haikyu!! is simple: middle schooler Shouyou Hinata happens to see a volleyball match on TV one day. He watches the Little Giant of Karasuno High School score point after point by jumping higher than anyone else, outplaying his tall opponents. And Hinata, short for his age, realizes that he could play volleyball too. When Hinata finally makes it to his first tournament in his third year of middle school, his team is crushed in the first round by a team led by setter Tobio Kageyama, a temperamental genius. Hinata vows to crush him the next time they meet on the court… only to walk into the volleyball gym on his first day at Karasuno, and see Kageyama practicing his serves. The rest of the series follows the unlikely pair and their teammates on their journey to the national championships and beyond. 

What really makes Haikyu!! stand out, and what got me hooked despite my generally lukewarm attitudes towards sports stories and male protagonists, was the depth of character development everyone gets. It’s not just a story about Hinata and Kageyama. It’s also a story about their teammates, their coaches, their rivals, and everyone else around them who plays a role in their development. Many chapters feature flashback sequences showing the reader how a rival team member we were seeing for the first time got to where they are today, making it impossible not to care for every character the reader encounters.

Even though it’s a story about a boy’s volleyball team, the women in the story (the managers, sisters, and girls volleyball team members) have their own arcs and interests not centered around the men. In other sports manga I have read, the team managers were only interested in helping the team move forward. In Haikyu!!, first year manager Hitoka Yachi’s entire introduction to the story is about her discovering what she wants for herself, and how she wants to achieve that. Yachi and third year manager Kiyoko Shimizu have their own interests, goals and personalities separate from how they relate to the team.

Where Haikyu!! sometimes falls short is its pacing. The weekly manga spent almost a full calendar year on a single match between Karasuno and another school, yet the transition into the final arc of the story felt very sudden and rushed. Without giving away too much, the characters’ high school life ends abruptly, and flashes forward to their lives several years later with no warning. The drastic shift in direction was entirely unexpected by most readers, yet many grew to welcome it as the story developed further and flashback sequences elaborated on the years in between. Furudate’s decision to continue the story beyond the typical high school sports manga confines was a bold choice, and while it may be alienating to some readers, others find it exciting and refreshing.

The art style also shifts dramatically as the comic goes on. The characters become more angular and stylized, and the action more exaggerated and expressive. It’s not as noticeable when reading archivally, but it is kind of surprising to see such style drift in a manga, even a long-running one.

One of the recurring themes in Haikyu!! is the idea of flight. At first, Hinata seems too short to succeed at volleyball, a sport in which height is crucial to scoring points and winning games. But Hinata is capable of jumping extraordinarily high, and with the right teammates, he soars. In chapter 30, Karasuno’s coach says, “Because we don’t have wings, humans are always searching for different ways to fly.”