Haruichi Furudate has meticulously written each of his Haikyuu characters with different strengths and traits. The mangaka discusses how different their designs were from their initial design to what we see today, especially Hinata Shoyo. The main protagonist has always felt inferior to his teammates and other players due to his short stature. However, where he lacks in height, he makes up for tremendously in speed. Furudate has emphasized heavily on the power of the speed of the techniques in Haikyuu rather than being taller in height for volleyball.
The main point of Haikyuu is that, despite your limitations, hard work can get you to your goal. Hinata is a testament that you don’t have to be incredibly tall for a game like volleyball. There are other aspects of volleyball that Furudate has brought focus on through Hinata in Haikyuu that make a player valuable and talented.
Despite His Height, Hinata is a Great Player With a Realistic Story
Hinata Shoyo is an incredibly timid but hyper teenager, navigating finally entering a real volleyball team with formidable players. He also had to cooperate with his rival, Kageyama Tobio, who became his unlikely partner in landing “quicks.”. The two complimented each other’s playing styles, with Kageyama’s fast tosses and Hinata’s jumping speed. Throughout Haikyuu, Hinata is always someone players watch out for. Initially, he is underestimated for his height until he showcases his speed and jumping ability.
Still, the character has his flaws, with a fearful and insecure personality that doesn’t allow him to take a break. This perception of his “handicap” is what makes him relatable and a figure of inspiration. Furudate comments in an interview in the Da Vinci April 2014 Issue:
As for his build, since Haikyuu!! is centred around the techniques (especially quicks), being “quicker” was more important than being “higher”. Hinata makes up for his lack of height with his jumping ability, but just that alone is not enough — this was resolved when he realised that in the first chapter.
The key to winning against bigger players lies in how much faster he is able to reach the “summit” as compared to them. There is a limit as to how much physical abilities can compensate for the difference in build. So what will he do? This is where the story really starts, so that’s why I decided to give Hinata this handicap that cannot be compensated for.
The realism is what makes Haikyuu a standout in the sports genre of anime. Hinata is the prime example of how hard work can hone talent and never let your limitations bring you down. He showcases real athleticism in a genre that relies on flashy powers.
Why Haikyuu Works in the Sports Genre
Haikyuu is firmly rooted in realism and incorporates healthy athleticism with intense hard work. Haruichi Furudate was a former volleyball player who knew how the game worked. While some parts of the anime are cinematically exaggerated, they are humanly possible. In the end, the players achieve their goals through physical hard work and real intellectual skill.
Hinata Shoyo is only one of the few characters who has a limitation. Each character has their own flaws. While they aren’t as glaring as Hinata’s, they exist but Furudate perfectly works around them to make them more nuanced and realistically develops their arc in Haikyuu.
Haikyuu is available on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
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