The appointment was given on June 12, 2024 to discover in theaters the first feature film dedicated to Haikyu !! and the volleyball players of Karasuno High School. After forty-five volumes of the paper manga published by Kaze between 2014 and 2022, then an animated series in four seasons, it was time to conclude Haruichi Furudate’s sports shonen in style. Two films had been ordered before blowing the final whistle, and the first The trash warreleased last February in Japan, has just been screened in France.
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Finally the sequel
Four years after the end of the anime, the first feature film Haikyu !! immerses us in a match already known to fans of the series: the clash of the two rival teams Karasuno and Nekoma. Crows against stray cats, the trash war definitely lives up to its name. The film begins where season 4 ends: Shôyô Hinata and her team have managed to reach the Spring Tournament, the highest high school competition in the country. In the third round of a match that promises to be decisive, the adrenaline is palpable, and the tension rises a notch. The two teams face off, and their rivalry is matched only by their opposing striking styles.
Centered on the characters of Shôyô Hinata and Kenma Kozume, The Trash War depicts a high-flying rival friendship. Kenma’s phlegm finds himself in the spotlight, he who had rather accustomed us to discreet intelligence. The footage is thus an opportunity to understand the genesis of the character.
For the fans
Certain features are ideal entry points into a saga. For The trash war, it’s quite the opposite. The film is especially intended to speak to the fans, those who saw the series and trembled at the outcome of each match. For 1 hour 25 minutes, the film delivers us flashbacks after flashbacks, sometimes going so far as to break the rhythm of a match that is nevertheless intense. Enough to give a interesting tempo to the narrationalternating emotion, reflection and action in the heart of the match. The balance is successful, and we quickly get caught up in the game. The outcome of the match is only the tip of the iceberg.
Susumu Mitsunaka de retour
The return of Susumu Mitsunaka brings great interest to the story, as well as a return to basics which should please fans. The director was already at the helm of several dozen episodes in previous seasons, but we have to admit that season 4 lacked panache. The return to the design and quality of animation of the first three bursts of episodes is a blessing for the film, which once again benefits from animation worthy of the name. On the field as elsewhere, the movements are perfectly controlled, the ball deforms on contact with the ground and Hinata’s jumps give us chills with every impact. The fluidity of the animations from the Production IG studio borders on perfection, and pays a magnificent tribute to the saga.
While waiting for the final part, which will bring an end to the series, The trash war is a grandiose film, which pays homage to Haikyu !! as much as to his fans. The film is already available in cinemas, and should quickly find its place on the Crunchyroll platform.
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