It feels like an eternity since we last saw our favorite volleyball players from Karasuno High in action. The announcement of a Haikyuu!! film project generated excitement among fans, but things have gone quiet on that front ever since. While Blue Lock has helped fill the sports anime void, we still find ourselves longing for Hinata, Kageyama, and the rest of the Karasuno crew back on the court. This inevitably leads us to wonder: where is Haikyuu Season 5?
Since debuting in the spring of 2014, Haikyuu!! has steadily become one of the most iconic and highly-rated sports anime, with two seasons ranking in the top 10 on MyAnimeList. Boasting a dedicated fanbase of millions, the long-awaited celebration of this beloved franchise is finally beginning in 2024.
Major announcements from the anime’s production team and large-scale fan events indicate a lot for Haikyuu!! fans to look forward to as the final installments of the series draw near. The anime left viewers on a major cliffhanger at the end of Season 4 in 2020, providing only side-story films and recap specials that have left fans craving more.
Haikyuu Season 5 Release Date
After the fourth season finished airing, the anime’s official Twitter announced two Haikyuu!! film sequels instead. The first movie is titled “Haikyuu!!: Land vs Sky” and the second is “Haikyuu!!: The Final Battle.” These films will cover the remaining story of Shoyo Hinata and his volleyball team competing to become Japan’s best high school team.
The Haikyuu!! movies will continue the story from chapter 293 of the manga, adapting the Tokyo Finals Arc and Final Arc where Karasuno plays in the Nationals tournament.
Since the films will animate the rest of the manga, Haikyuu!! Season 5 would need an entirely original story to continue the series. A fifth season seems unlikely given the source material will be completed, but fans should never rule out an anime’s return.
The decision to conclude with movies rather than a new season was probably due to factors like production costs, scheduling conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting anime releases. But for now, fans will have to look forward to the final Haikyuu!! the story being told through these upcoming films.
Previous Seasons
Haikyu!! has captivated audiences across the globe with its exhilarating four seasons and 85 edge-of-your-seat episodes. The journey began in 2014 when the debut season introduced fans to the thrilling world of volleyball through 25 marvelous episodes.
Building on this success, the second season returned in 2015, delighting viewers with another 25 episodes that continued the engrossing saga. The concise yet intense third season kept fans enthralled in 2016, with its 10 high-stakes episodes showcasing the characters’ relentless pursuit of excellence.
The fourth season brought a compelling two-part offering in 2020. The first part enthralled with 13 episodes, while the second part satisfied fans with 12 more installments, leaving them eager for each new episode.
The Haikyu!! anime has also been enriched by five captivating original video animations (OVAs). “The Arrival of Haiba Lev” (2015) zoomed in on Nekoma’s half-Russian player Lev, unraveling his background and contributions. “VS Failing Grades” (2016) whisked viewers back to Season 2’s start, where the characters grappled with volleyball and exams.
“Special Feature: Betting on the Spring High Volleyball” (2017) revisited the intense Miyagi Prefecture Spring Tournament, highlighting the teams’ determination. “Land VS Air” (2020) spotlighted the Nekoma-Fukurodani rivalry during the Tokyo qualifiers. Finally, “The Path of the Ball” (2020) thrust Nekoma into a high-stakes match against Nohebi, underscoring their fighting spirit.
These OVAs provide deeper insights into the Haikyu!! universe through character backgrounds and exhilarating moments. Haikyu!! has earned acclaim, winning the prestigious 2016 Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shonen category. Shoyo Hinata also won Crunchyroll’s 2021 Best Boy award.
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As of August 2022, the beloved series boasts over 55 million copies in circulation. This cemented its status as a best-selling manga worldwide. Haikyu!! continues to captivate hearts and inspire teamwork and determination.
Remaining chapters
The 4 seasons of the Haikyuu!! anime has adapted 292 manga chapters over 85 episodes so far. However, the manga contains a total of 402 chapters.
This leaves 110 chapters still to be adapted into just two upcoming films. For the movies to cover the remaining source material completely, each one would need to cram around 55 chapters.
The TV seasons usually adapted 3-4 chapters per 20-minute episode. Condensing 55 chapters into a 2.5-hour movie means there won’t be enough screen time to properly tell the full story.
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As a result, hardcore fans are concerned the remaining narrative won’t be adequately conveyed in only two films. The large amount of unadapted content has raised worries that important elements will be cut or rushed through too quickly.
Many hope the production team finds a way to give the climax and conclusion the full attention they deserve, even if that means restructuring the pacing or adding extra movies. Fans eagerly await to see how the final Haikyuu!! chapters will be brought to life.
Haikyuu’s Plot
Haikyuu!! follows the Karasuno High volleyball team seeking redemption after years of poor tournament results. Talented but egoistic setter Kageyama learns to partner with optimistic rookie Hinata, whose impressive jumping neutralizes his short height. Together, their quick attack becomes Karasuno’s secret weapon, igniting hope in upperclassmen like Captain Daichi who yearn to make their mark before graduation.
Karasuno battles rival schools like Nekoma, Date Tech, and Aoba Johsai, leaving off on a cliffhanger before the long-awaited Nekoma face-off. Season 4 sees Kageyama and Tsukishima develop skills at a national youth training camp while Hinata sneakily observes as a ball boy, building his fundamentals. New opponents like ace Hoshiumi and setter Atsumu Miya emerge, pushing Karasuno to balance criticism with compassion.
After a shaky Nationals opener, Karasuno defeats technically skilled powerhouse Inarizaki in an intense matchup. It also featured brilliant plays from both sides including the Miya twins’ merciless serves and perfectly copied quick attack. Despite the odds, Karasuno rallies through humor and determination, with key saves from Hinata, Kageyama, Tsukishima, and Daichi to score a thrilling final point. Season 4 concludes by teasing the upcoming Nekoma rivalry game.
The Manga
“Haikyu!!” is a beloved and acclaimed Japanese manga and anime series created by the talented Haruichi Furudate. At its core, the narrative follows the indomitable spirit of Shoyo Hinata, a determined boy striving to excel at volleyball despite his relatively small stature.
Originally serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump manga magazine from February 2012 to July 2020, “Haikyu!!” made a hugely popular transition to anime.
The manga’s arrival on the scene enthralled readers, showcasing Hinata’s passion for volleyball. Though lacking in height, his incredible jumping ability and endless drive set him apart. Hinata joins Karasuno High’s volleyball club, aiming to follow in the footsteps of his idol, the short but unstoppable “Little Giant” who once led the team to glory.
When the manga concluded its eight-year run in 2020, enthusiastic fans eagerly awaited its anime adaptation. The anime has faithfully translated the energy and passion of the story to screens worldwide. Through four thrilling seasons, “Haikyu!!” continues to win hearts with its endearing characters, exhilarating volleyball action, and themes of tenacity and teamwork.
Haikyuu Season 5 Cast
If Haikyuu!! Season 5 ever materializes, the cast will likely see major changes, potentially introducing a new lead team years after the film adaptations’ conclusion. However, cameos from characters like Hinata, Kageyama, and Tsukishima seem inevitable, keeping the original stars involved.
Karasuno’s golden era players would feature in some capacity, so key voice actors should reprise their roles. Ayumu Murase will likely voice Hinata again, with Kōki Uchiyama as Tsukishima, Miyu Irino as Sugawara, and possibly Kaori Nazuka returning as Kiyoko Shimizu.
After hundreds of characters over a decade, Production I.G remains the natural animation studio choice. It comes along with esteemed staff like Director Masako Satou, Sound Director Hiromi Kikuta, and Chief Animation Director Yuu Kobayashi. They have produced all previous Haikyuu!! content remarkably well, unsurprising given their pedigree with series like Ghost in the Shell.
With the studio animating all prior seasons, OVAs, and upcoming films, Season 5 would surely stay with Production I.G, although not before Kaiju No.8’s anime debut at least.
Some other key returning roles would be:
- Kaito Ishikawa as Tobio Kageyama
- Satoshi Hino as Daichi Sawamura
- Yuu Hayashi as Ryūnosuke Tanaka
- Yoshimasa Hosoya as Asahi Azumane
- Nobuhiko Okamoto as Yū Nishinoya
If continued, Haikyuu!! Season 5 has massive shoes to fill, but would likely feature fan-favorite stars, the acclaimed Production I.G studio, and excellent voice talent to bring a new era of the story to life.
Conclusion
The beloved volleyball anime Haikyuu!! has cemented itself as one of the most popular sports series in recent memory, garnering millions of devoted fans across four thrilling seasons. However, with the manga having reached its end in 2020, speculation persists regarding the anime’s future.
Though an official Haikyuu Season 5 has yet to be announced, there is still more animated content on the horizon. Rather than additional episodes, the remainder of the story will be adapted into two highly anticipated theatrical films promising to bring Karasuno’s journey to a fitting climax.
While the door may still be open for a Season 5 in the future, the upcoming movies will satisfy fans eager for closure on the current story. As they eagerly await the chance to see favorites like Kageyama and Hinata reunited on screen, the passions that have made Haikyuu!! a sensation will burn as bright as ever. Whenever and however it returns, there’s still plenty more of this beloved story left to tell. Stay tuned for more anime updates!
Frequently Asked Questions
If it happens, Haikyuu!! Season 5 will likely stream exclusively on Crunchyroll, which has distribution rights to the anime. The previous seasons are also available on select platforms like Roku in certain regions. However, major services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Funimation currently lack any parts of the anime.
A fifth season has not been confirmed. However, there is a two-part Haikyuu!! movie sequel in the works to adapt the remaining manga chapters and conclude the anime series.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays in production and release schedules within the anime industry, which is presumably factoring into the lack of a confirmed Season 5.
