Haikyuu!!!!: Battle of the Garbage Dump hit Indian cinemas today. I witnessed the entire match on the Imax screen, which was a visual treat.
Though the movie did a great job, I still want to share my two cents on it.
The Good
Haikyuu!! is one of the most popular sports anime in the industry right now.
The last season of Haikyuu!! aired back in 2020, and it’s been four years since we saw Hinata Shoyo jumping and spiking.
Haikyuu!!: Battle of the Garbage Dump focuses on the match between Nekoma and Karasuno.
Those following the anime knew the rivalry between the two teams and have been excited since when the movie was announced.
Now, enough about the background; let’s jump straight into the review. The animation is very crisp and does not have the cartoonish style that was evident in Haikyuu!!!! To the Top Part 2.
The movements and the expressions are really done well as compared to the anime.
The animation team pays extra attention to small details. And it’s all thanks to Susumu Mitsunaka, the director of the first three seasons of Haikyuu!!.
The animation doesn’t just stick to 2D; it also features immersive 3D shots.
In my opinion, it seems that the main character in “Battle of the Garbage Dump” is Kenma.
One of my favourite scenes in the movie is Kenma tapping Shoyo in the cage.
Though Kenma is one of the main characters in the film, this particular scene makes him look like a villain.
Most of the screen time is dedicated to him. Either through flashbacks or throughout the match.
Another character in focus is Tsukishima Kei. We get to see a side of him where he actually appreciates the sport and starts to enjoy it.
The anime ensures that every character gets time to shine. We see why the rivals are actual rivals and what motivates them to compete with each other.
Another good thing about “Battle of the Garbage Dump” is the OST and sound design.
The background music keeps you pumped up, and the sound design team has remixed some of the themes. Also, the orchestral OST is bound to get you excited.
The Overwhelming Aspect
One major setback in “Battle of the Garbage Dump” is the pacing. The movie’s pacing is fast, almost seeming rushed.
The movie’s duration is 80 to 85 minutes, which feels rushed compared to the standard 22-minute single episodes.
The run time is one problem, but the movie tries to fit in 33 chapters in 80-85 minutes.
This could be a decision to make more money by putting in less effort.
Another overwhelming aspect was the frequent flashbacks, which sometimes disrupted the flow of the scene.
We might expect the ball to drop to the ground, only to be hit with a sudden flashback.
The opening shot itself is a flashback. We get to see a different POV but it doesn’t change the fact it is a flashback.
The Karasuno team members are treated as side characters in the movie with little screen time. Suga, Yamaguchi and other members of the Karasuno teams only get a little screen time.
I’ve noticed that many people have praised the ending sequence of Kenma’s POV, but I found it disappointing.
For me, the manga sequence held more importance as we finally got to see Kenma shouting at the teammates for giving up.
But instead, we got a long POV shot of Kenma. The end seemed anticlimactic. The post-credit screen leaves the audience on a cliffhanger.
Ultimately, the movie is 6/10, with great action, engaging sound design and crisp animation. Haikyuu!!!!: Battle of the Garbage Dump would be better as a season.
