What does the future hold for the Crows?
Summary
- Haikyuu!!! The Dumpster Battle has become very popular in Japan and around the world.
- Its ending is not only the epitome of the shōnen genre, but also hints at things to come.
- It is currently unknown when the final movie will be released.
Four years after the finale of the anime series Haikyu!!, the first installment of the feature-length conclusion has been released worldwide, adapting the final chapters of the eponymous manga, created by Haruichi Furudate. Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle was originally launched in Japan in February, 2024 and became one of the most lucrative Japanese movies of the year and grossing $92 million at the global box office.
After the finale of the fourth season of the anime series, the events take place at the prestigious national high school volleyball tournament in Tokyo. Shōyō Hinata and his Karasuno High team face off against Nekoma High, one of the main rivals of Karasuno since Season 1. Despite a past defeat to Nekoma, the Crows are capable of stealing a win from the Wildcats this time around. Let's recap the events of The Dumpster Battle's finale and see why it's so important.
The Ending of Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle Explained
Despite the fact that Haikyuu!! is a sports manga and anime, it is primarily a shōnen from a demographic point of view, and thus the plot is full of appropriate tropes.
For example, the main 'villain' of the movie happens to be Kenma Kozume, a sophomore at Nekoma High and the team's setter. While the character is a complete contrast to the protagonist in terms of personality, his fate mirrors that of Hinata in many ways. Like Hinata, he appears to be a nondescript high school student who, at first glance, is not a strong volleyball player. However, he is the brains of his team, and thanks to his analytical mind, Kenma can easily calculate the next moves of Hinata and the Crows throughout the movie, making his friend/rival doubt his own abilities for a moment.
However, as in any shōnen story, friendship, camaraderie and hope always win out. Thus, Karasuno manages to defeat Nekoma at the very last moment, much to the surprise of the commentators. This seems to be the end of the movie.
Of course, the ending might seem a bit underwhelming: Karasuno Hight won, but didn't really get any laurels. However, we should not forget that Haikyuu!! is first and foremost a story of personal growth. In other words, the main prize for Karasuno was the victory they had been seeking for so long, competing with Nekoma, and for the latter it was a lesson that you can't be a winner all the time. Also, thanks to Hinata, Kenma realized once again that he can't live without sports, especially volleyball.
What Does the Post-credits Scene Tell Us?
Karasuno High has reached the quarterfinals, and the stakes are only going to get higher. So what's next for Hinata and his team?
Thankfully, the movie gave us a clear idea of what to expect next. After the credits, we see Hinata and Kageyama as they watch the game of their next opponents, Kamomedai High. Its member is Kōrai Hoshiumi, who has made it to the volleyball team in spite of his height, just like Hinata. After the match, Hoshiumi dares Shoyo to prove who is the true 'tiny giant'.
As such the final movie will focus on the Karasuno vs. Kamomedai confrontation. However, this was far from the final chapter of Haruichi Furudate's manga — the main story of Haikyu!! ends in 2022. We'll probably see a flash-forward at the end of the final movie, wrapping up the story of Haikyu!! and telling us where our favorite characters are now.
The official title and release date for the final film will be announced at some point in the future.