For an anime series to work, your character needs to have a real motivation or, as we say now, a canonical event that turns their life upside down. In the case of Haikyu We have Shoyo Hinata, a short boy who becomes obsessed with volleyball and tries to revive the name of Karasuno High School, which now only lives on past memories.

Now in Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can, we have a certainly advanced story that you won't understand unless you know the most basic concepts of both the anime and the manga. Sure, it's a very entertaining product, however, it's not so easy to follow for those outside the series.

Likewise, its execution as an animation is very good, without the need to be astonishing. This is because there is quality in each frame, drawing, backgrounds and so on, but there are also some camera shots and ball tracking that will leave you speechless. At the same time, we also fall into some moments of weakness, but they are the smallest.

With all this in mind, how can we evaluate this production that will finally premiere in Mexican cinemas on May 30? It's time to tell you how this anime film that many fans have been waiting for for a long time is going.

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A challenge between friends and a motivation to improve

Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can is a film written and directed by Susumu Mitsunaka that adapts one of the most notable episodes of the manga written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. This is a direct sequel to the anime, so fans will be happy to have a canonical production.

The story of The Battle of the Trash Can presents us with the first very special official duel between Karasuno High School – where Shoyo plays – and Nekoma High School, where Kenma plays, who has a kind of antagonistic role – without being some kind of villain. These two schools have already had practice matches and this is the first time they face each other in a duel that will not have revenge, since whoever wins will survive the high school tournament in Japan and move on.

In addition to the motives that Shoyo and Kenma have, there is a kind of bond between the players from both schools, as they know each other well from previous training matches. You can even see that there is a real relationship building that will spark sparks between the characters. The only problem is that it can be an overwhelming experience for audiences who are not familiar with the series. But those who know, as they say, “fall in smoothly” and even quickly sympathize with all the funny moments.

The context behind the rivalry between Shoyo and Kenma is presented in a very measured way. Well, you can tell that there is “something” between the two, but you don’t know how much of it is until the film reaches its pivotal moment. For the average anime consumer it is fine, but it is the same and not as good for other types of audiences, which classifies the film. It is not like The First Slam Dunk where the film explains itself without the need to know the previous story.

The two teams and the personal challenge

As I said before, Shoyo Hinata is the protagonist of the series. He is a little boy who wants to revive the name of Karasuno High School, which once had “a little giant” in its ranks. To achieve the feat of becoming a national champion, Hinata is accompanied by Tobio Kageyama, who is a star maker and one of the pillars of his school.

On the Nekoma High School side, we don't just have Kenma Kozume, who doesn't seem to like volleyball and plays it as if it were an obligation, despite being a natural strategist. We also have Tetsurou Kuroo, another player who is in the third year of Nekoma and who has been paired with Kenma since the beginning. Much of the development of Haikyu: The Battle of the Dumpster focuses on these two, who seem to have a solid friendship that is built without strings attached and that at some point seems forced.

What makes the story of the battle in the garbage dump very special is that there really is a kind of respect between the teams and the will to not abandon their game plan. There are even several twists and turns in the narrative process because there are moments when you really think that everything is going to hell and it turns out that thanks to an individual genius that comes from believing in oneself, things work out, both on one side and on the other.

This detail is perhaps what makes the development of Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can. You may come away blank, but the emotions don't stop and are explained. Those who already know the series will bite their nails, scream and will not lose their ability to admire, because the construction of the animation is very good and the approaches are solid.

Animation with action and lots of pauses

The work that Production IG does with Haikyu It's proven quality. But how much of an improvement is there compared to the film? It's important to note that feature film budgets are completely different from those of a television series, so the quality varies from one product to another.

In the precise case of Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can is that we have a very well presented product. There are no noticeable irregularities between the character designs or moments where the animators made some kind of insult. It's a good job and up to that point it's also not remarkable.

Likewise, the quality of the water drops is very surprising, as is the movement of the cameras during much of the animation. This is where much of the budget becomes apparent. You only realize that there is a kind of conscientious work to provide fans with spectacular moments, especially in the final stretch, when we have a first-person view that makes you feel like you are on the field.

The reality is that the film takes many pauses to establish the context of the film in a more concrete way. Try not to leave loose ends regarding the characters' relationships, however, it is also important to emphasize that it is also a product designed for those who already know the story.

Haikyuu fans will love your performance

Now, Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can It fully fulfills its purpose of entertaining, but above all, fans of the series. It's not like I'm trying to twist the story that you probably already know - because the manga ended in 2020 -.

The point is that it's all about making a real attempt to make fans happy by seeing one of the most emotional encounters in the series, but now on the big screen. It might not seem like much of an incentive, but when a great moment from a manga is brought to the anime and directly to the cinema, the experience gains a much greater value.

In particular, what is most valuable is that all the characters have a very specific weight in their development. They do not fall into the sin of Captain Tsubasa where only a few have very developed dialogue and the rest shout or celebrate each other. There is a lot of room here for small stories to have relevance.

If you're a fan and you're putting on a show with other people, you're sure to have a great time, as there will be cosplay, lots of excitement, and screams everywhere. Maybe at one of the shows there will be people carrying stuffed animals, towels, and even scarves. Technically, the movie theater will become part of the stage because of the excitement of the movie.

Should you go see Haikyuu: Battle of the Dumpster?

Series Followers Haikyu They will be very happy that the film about the battle of the landfill has arrived in Latin America. The wait wasn't even that long because this film premiered in Japan in February and a few months later you can already enjoy this animation on the big screen. Even if you rush, you will see that there is the option to watch it in 4DX, which can be a worthwhile investment because you will be able to feel the ball hitting your back.

But like any other anime, how good is it? Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can? As mentioned throughout this review, this is a film designed exclusively for fans of this series. Those who are unfamiliar with the context of the anime or manga will feel lost from beginning to middle, which is quite a lot. The fact is that this production will encourage you to do two things: play volleyball or simply watch the anime that is available on Crunchyroll.

If you are a big fan then you have to go see it. It is animated one of the highlights of all Haikyu and that's why the film is worth watching. Those who aren't familiar with it may not have a good entry point into this animation, but it can work to get you excited and encouraged to check out the series.