Are you ready to dive into the exhilarating world of Haikyuu!!? Whether you’re a first-time viewer or a seasoned fan, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the different ways to watch this beloved sports anime. here are multiple ways to watch Haikyu!!, depending on your time and intentions.

It was pointed out to me by Bone on X (Twitter) that it can be confusing to watch Haikyuu in order. This is due to the way this series has handled naming its seasons, movies and OVA episodes. This inspired me to pull together this post. As well as the fact that South African movie theaters are getting the movie, Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle on May 31st and I know many of us are binge-watching the series in preperation.

What is Haikyuu about?

Haikyuu!! follows the journey of Shoyo Hinata, a short but determined boy who dreams of becoming a great volleyball player despite his small stature. Inspired by a player nicknamed “Little Giant,” Hinata joins his school’s volleyball club and teams up with Tobio Kageyama, a talented but arrogant setter. Together, they form an unlikely duo and aim to lead their team, Karasuno High, to victory.

The series is filled with exciting matches, heartwarming friendships, and inspiring moments of personal growth. It explores themes of teamwork, perseverance, and the pursuit of dreams. Haikyuu!! is not only a sports anime but also a coming-of-age story that resonates with viewers of all ages.

Haikyuu is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

Should you watch the OVA’s?

The OVA episodes aren’t entirely necessary. However, they do a great job of building out the world and are short enough that most people should be able to fit them in. Here’s the order we suggest you watch in.

Binge-Watching Tips:

• Plan your viewing sessions to avoid interruptions.
• Use the “skip intro” feature if available to save time.
• Have snacks and drinks ready so you don’t need to pause too often.
• If watching in dub, you can watch it at 1.5 x speed if the faster pace doesn’t bug you. 

You can enjoy “Haikyu!!” efficiently and with minimal interruptions by following these steps.

3 Optional Haikyuu!! Watch Orders:

1. Release order
2. Chronological order
3. Fastest watch

Haikyuu’s Release Order:

This is the order in which the episodes and OVAs were released. It is recommended that you watch it this way for the first time viewing. The release order preserves the intended narrative flow, ensuring that character developments, plot twists, and emotional moments are experienced as intended. This enhances the overall enjoyment and impact of the story.

1. 2014 Haikyuu!! Season 1: 25 episodes
2. 2014 Haikyuu!! Quest Picture Drama: OVA
3. 2014 Haikyuu!! Lev Appears!: OVA
4. 2015 Haikyuu!! Movie 1: Ending and Beginning
5. 2015 Haikyuu!! Movie 2: Winners and Losers 
6. 2015 Haikyuu!! Season 2: 25 episodes
7. 2015 Haikyuu!! vs Failing Grades: OVA
8. 2016 Haikyuu!! Season 3: 10 episodes
9. 2017 Haikyuu!! Betting on the Spring High Volleyball: OVA
10. 2017 Haikyuu!! Movie 3: Talent and Sense
11. 2017 Haikyuu!! Movie 4: Battle of Concepts
12. 2019 Haikyuu!!Land vs. Air : OVA: 2 episodes
13. 2020 Haikyuu!! Path” of the Ball: OVA
14. 2020 Haikyuu!! TO THE TOP: 13 episodes
15. 2020 Haikyuu!!Stop-Motion Anime: OVA: 10 episodes
16. 2020 Haikyuu!! TO THE TOP 2nd Cour: 12 episodes
17. 2024 Haikyuu!! Movie 5: The Dumpster Battle

Chronological Order of Haikyuu:

This is the order in which the series’ events take place within the story’s universe. While it may seem more logical, it can spoil some of the character developments and plot points that were intentionally revealed later in the release order. Although to be fair, with Haikyuu, chronological order mainly reffers to the list without any recaps in the form of movies and skips past some of the OVA’s.

• Haikyuu!!
• Haikyuu!! Lev Genzan! (OVA)
• Haikyuu!! season 2
• Haikyuu!!: vs Akaten (OVA)
• Haikyuu!! season 3
• Haikyuu!!: Riku vs Kuu (OVA)
• Haikyuu!!: Boru no Michi (OVA)
• Haikyuu!! To the Top season 4 part 1
• Haikyuu!! To the Top season 4 part 2
• Haikyuu!! The Movie: The Dumpster Battle

The fastest way to watch the series

Watch the movies. This is the fastest but sloppiest way to watch the series. I would only advise this only for those who are already familiar with the series and not as a first-time viewer. This method is mainly to recap the series, not discover or experience the series. 

The first four movies simply recap the events of Seasons 1 to 3. Once those are complete, watch the 25 episodes that make up the fourth season. Then you can take on the movie,

• HAIKYU!! Movie 1: Ending and Beginning (Season 1 Recap)
• HAIKYU!! Movie 2: Winners and Losers (Season 1 Recap)
• HAIKYU!! Movie 3: Talent and Sense (Season 2 Recap)
• HAIKYU!! Movie 4: Battle of Concepts (Season 3 Recap)
• Season 4
  • TO THE TOP
  • TO THE TOP 2nd Cour
• Haikyuu!! Movie 5: The Dumpster Battle

No matter which order you choose, this is an enjoyable and exciting sports anime that you are sure to love. It is a captivating and inspiring sports anime that celebrates the spirit of teamwork, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence.

Share your thoughts and experiences with Haikyuu!! in the comments below

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