#underrated haikyuu teams

[otherworldlyranse]

Towada: I used to be so sore after I took my binder off before, but then I realized that you need to stretch after use and it was a life-changer.

Terushima: I hate stretching, honestly. Good thing I never take mine off.

Towada: ...that's...not good, Terushima.

[incorrect-highkyuu]

Kindaichi: Wait, am I the only straight person on this team? Oikawa: I've seen the way you look at Kunimi-chan, you're not that straight.

[leahdrawsstuff]

that thing about Oikawa being considered one of the top anime villains alongside actual serial killers is like very obviously a cute joke but if you think about it hard enough it kinda wraps back around to being true?

like ok obviously Oikawa isn’t ‘evil’, he isn’t a murderer and isn’t even really a villain by definition, but Haikyuu is an anime in which the volleyball games are their version of ‘battles’ and the opposing teams are ‘enemies’. And Oikawa is the first real formidable ‘enemy’ introduced in Haikyuu.

his intelligence and ability to pick up on Karasuno’s subtle signaling is downright frightening, he targets his serve to specific players with the literal intention of wearing down their morale and mental fortitude. He’s calculating, manipulative, and makes the audience worry about the fate of the heroes. To me, that sounds like an interesting ‘villain’ worth praising.

[metalandmagi]

Underrated Sports Anime Recommendations!

In honor of the summer Olympics, I wanted to make a rec list for some underappreciated sports anime. Obviously we all know the popular stuff: Blue Lock, Kuroko, Hajime no Ippo, Ace of Diamond, Slam Dunk, Haikyuu, Free, Yuri On Ice, Yowamushi Pedal, Skate the Infinity etc. But there are lots of great sports anime out there that go completely unnoticed. And who knows, you might find a new sport to get into. Just FYI, these are all on the newer side, since most of the older sports anime I’ve seen are the popular ones.

I think a big reason that a lot of these have largely gone ignored is because they focus more on interpersonal drama between characters and what is going on in their home lives, as opposed to a bigger focus on the technicalities of the sport itself. Food for thought. Anyway, let's get started:

Stars Align (Hoshiai no Sora): Stars Align is about a boys high school soft tennis team (not to be confused with regular tennis) who are constantly getting out performed by their girls team. Desperate to get people to take the boys team seriously and get results, team captain Touma tries to get a new transfer student Maki Katsuragi to join. Maki eventually agrees ... .on the condition that Touma pays him and covers any club expenses. From there we discover the messy family drama going on in each boy’s life, and I just love all of them okay? They’re my precious angel babies, and sure I had some problems with the show’s pacing at the end, but I still love them and I want another season!!!! 😭

Oblivion Battery (Boukyaku Battery): There are a myriad of baseball animes out there, but this one made an impression on me. Catcher Kaname Kei and pitcher Kiyomine Haruka are a badass, ace duo who dominated the field and made a fearsome reputation for themselves all throughout middle school. They seemed to be completely unstoppable…until Kaname (the brains behind the operation) lost his memory, became a total goofball, and the two ended up going to a no name high school with no real baseball team. So of course, we end up getting a rag-tag team together full of ex-baseball players with dramatic backstories who all help train Kaname up again. I love Kaname and Haru’s friendship, and the cast was very well rounded, each with their own interesting attributes to add to the team.

Re: Main: If I had a nickel for every sports anime where the main character used to be an unstoppable badass until he lost his memory, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. Yeah, it’s exactly the same as Oblivion Battery, but with water polo and the main character isn’t as much of a goofball. I liked the characters, but I wished we focused a little more on the water polo side of things, since it’s not exactly a dime a dozen sport for an anime.

Mou Ippon: A girls high school judo anime from 2023 that nobody fucking watched! When former judo enthusiast Michi Sonoda enters high school, she wants to put judo behind her so she can focus on finding a boyfriend and enjoying her school life. However, after Michi suffers a particularly humiliating defeat in a match against the prodigy Towa Hiura, the two end up going to the same high school together. Naturally, Michi can’t just quit now that her rival is going to the same school! Cue the judo team shenanigans. This show is so down to earth and realistic. It’s 100% not a “cute girls doing cute things” anime where the girls are all blobs of moe that talk in annoying voices. They have different body types, different motivations, and different styles of combat. It didn’t blow me out of the water, but I liked it way more than I thought I would.

And speaking of different body types…

Hinomaru Sumo: That’s right, it’s a high school sumo wrestling anime. AND IT’S HYPE AS FUCK! You know how in Haikyuu, Hinata is short, and it’s a big deal because middle blockers are always tall? Well this is that multiplied by a thousand, because there’s a minimum weight to sumo wrestling, and our main character Hinomaru Ushio is definitely below it. But he’s not going to let that stop him from spreading his passion for sumo and becoming the High School Yokozuna, the strongest wrestler in high school tournaments…because becoming the Yokozuna is his only chance at going pro with his small stature. It’s impossible to watch this anime without feeling fired up!

Run With The Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru): Kakeru Kurahara, a former track star, is looking for a place to live after losing his apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor. Luckily, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, a boy who goes to his university, who offers him a spot at his apartment. Little does Kakeru know, Haiji’s apartment is full of other university students who are all members of the Kansei University track team! The story follows the quietly devious Haiji as he tries to get the boys to become a nationally recognized team by running the Hakone Ekiden, an extremely long and grueling relay that none of the boys have ever trained for. This is one of my favorite sports anime ever. Don’t get it twisted, I hate running. I don’t like doing it, and I don’t like watching it in real life, but this anime had me in a chokehold. Animation? Amazing. Characters? A+. Music? Perfect. It’s hilarious. It’s relatable. It’s heartwarming. One of the absolute best sports anime out there.

Welcome To The Ballroom: It’s a motherfucking ballroom dancing anime, and if you didn’t think ballroom dancing could be hype as shit, THINK AGAIN! The animation is great, and I never realized how much actually goes into the world of ballroom dancing. There’s not really much more I can say. High school boy discovers the cutthroat world of competitive ballroom dance. Drama ensues. Just ignore everyone’s oddly long necks.

And speaking of dancing…

Dance Dance Danseur: Okay, this one isn’t quite in a sports competition setting, but I still consider it a sports anime. All his life, Junpei Murao has suppressed his interest in ballet, choosing to follow his father’s path for him in the more “manly” martial art of Jeet Kune Do instead. But when he realizes the girl he likes is a highly skilled ballerina, he hardly says no when she recruits him to train at her mom’s ballet studio. The show follows Junpei as he must balance these two worlds and become a ballet master while dealing with the divisive image of “masculinity.” My only real critique is that Junpei is kind of annoying, and I was actually much more invested in the other characters. There is a big message about the horrors of the competitive ballet world that I didn't think it would dive into.

Overtake: Another show from 2023 that was terribly overlooked. In this anime, we follow disgraced photographer Kouya Madoka, who falls in love with the fast paced world of Formula 4 racing after watching high schooler Asahina Haruka. However, Madoka failed to realize that Haruka’s racing crew, Komaki Motors, is drowning in bills and underfunded as hell. So of course when he finds out, Madoka takes it upon himself to support Komaki Motors himself and get Haruka a place on the podium. This was such a great drama! Each character is so fleshed out and completely relatable. Even the antagonists! Hell, especially the antagonists. There is a great balance of drama and humor that make this feel like it could easily be a Hollywood movie. The longer you watch, the more you root for Komaki Motors and want to see everyone succeed. Madoka is best boy!

And last but certainly not least…

Tsurune: In this anime, we follow Minato Narumiya, a former kyudo (Japanese martial art that involves archery) prodigy who wanted to quit the sport after an incident in a middle school tournament. However, after encountering a mysterious archer one day, Minato ends up joining his high school Kyudo team, despite his fear of failing at the sport again. It’s Free with archery, except there are also girls on the team! It has so many good themes about perseverance and found family and getting in your own head. And there is a massive amount of homosexual undertones. Not to mention it’s made by Kyoto Animation, so you know it’s one of the most beautifully animated shows I’ve ever seen.

I just wanted to add a few honorable mentions too…

Cheer Danshi: A university boys cheerleading anime. I had problems with the pacing, but I still had fun with it.

Ryman’s Club: An odd blend of office anime with a badminton anime. I really liked this, but it’s sort of half sports anime, half The Office. But it’s the only thing on this list that features actual working adults and not students.

Megalo Box: I don’t know if it counts as “underappreciated” but this was a fantastic show all around. It’s a gritty, down to earth, sort of sci-fi take on the fictional sport of Megalo Boxing (boxing with enhanced mechanical arms). 

Ping Pong the Animation: Look, I’m going to be honest. I didn’t really like this show very much, but apparently I’m the odd one out because this is an underground favorite of the sports anime community, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t include it. It’s one part ping pong, two parts character drama.

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story: I couldn’t leave this out of the list. It’s the wildest golf anime you could ever imagine. There are lesbians. There are snake ladies. There are underground golfing yakuza. No amount of explanation can do it justice. Grab an age appropriate beverage and watch it.

[9settersoul]

little things about the haikyuu boys that I love

characters: oikawa, akaashi, tsukishima, bokuto, hinata, kageyama, iwaizumi, kuroo, tanaka

warning: timeskip spoilers!!!

⋆ ★ ⋆

oikawa tooru:

hums when he walks

hums or sings when doing ABSOLUTELY anything

skips when he walks

always posing for photos

always somehow blocks iwaizumi in photos

takes selfies and pictures of the sunset

stays up late to watch volleyball

takes his nephew to practices

when he found out he wasn't in monthly volleyball he laid on the ground and used a volleyball as a pillow

his mentions of his and iwaizumi's "unbreakable bond of trust"

his post timeskip current concern was: he is mistaken as a minor

when the crowd goes "OLE!!" when he serves

how he strategies and finds people's weaknesses

his "worthless pride"

how he carried out his dream and followed his idol to argentina

calls kageyama "tobio-chan"

most likely learned spanish to live in argentina

literally the most well-rounded character in the entire thing

HIS CHARACTER DEVEOPLEMET!!!

akaashi keiji:

fiddles with his fingers

constant analyzing and overthinking (he's so real)

only second-year who is a vice-captain

the smartest character (class 6!)

thick thighs

his witty humor

his patience with bokuto

is the captain of the team anxiety and depression (other members are yachi, asahi, and kiyru)

his eyes

very humble

his blunt personality

his ability to deal with bokuto in the most strategic way

he's so perfect...wow

tsukishima kei:

is popular with girls at school

works at a museum in timeskip

loves strawberry shortcake

fiddles with his fingers when he's nervous

his character development - from calling volleyball just a club and then finding his love for it then further pursuing it as a career

how sassy he is

standing with a hand on his hip

bokuto kouatro:

likes girls on the thicker side

his friendship with kuroo

is quite literally THICK

in timeskip, he doesn't know how to pay taxes

rewatches himself on tv

loves to show off

dropping down from being the top 3 aces to the top 5 was because of his simplemindedness and mood swings lol

his hair deflates when he's in emo mode

the name bokuto literally translates to horned owl

his long knee pads

his "disciple" hinata

BOKUTO BEAM!!

hinata shoyo:

timeskip; is considered one of the best receivers in Japan

his ability to make friends with anyone

when he talks for kageyama, knowing he's uncomfortable

his growth... his entire development wow

somehow creates a relationship with EVERY single setter he crosses paths with

ninja shoyo

his ability to flatter people

his homesickness in brazil... and then it went away when he saw oikawa

literally biked home UP A MOUNTAIN every day, wth

kageyama tobio:

literally the youngest first-year

he was 15 at the japan youth camp, turned 16 after that, and THEN went to nationals

takes care of his fingernails

has insane memory

prioritizes his nutrition

i firmly believe he learned everything from iwaizumi and oikawa

genuinely DISTURBED when atsumu called him a goody-two-shoes and I think that's so funny

is awkward with animals, cause he feels like they don't like him

literally been involved with volleyball since he was three

vice-captain when he's a third year

timeskip kageyama signs his name with a heart just like how suga said

verryyy respectful to his superiors

low key the heartthrob of karasuno but he's so oblivious

him embracing his title as the "king of the court"

iwaizumi hajime:

beats everyone in arm wrestles (massive biceps)

rolls his sleeves

loves godzilla

wears his school uniform messy

can play baseball

is a gemini

caught bugs as a kid

underrated king

definitely loyal and dependable

literally, the BEST friend to put your trust in! the way he slapped some sense into oikawa about how you always work as a team and never alone

is bad at taking pictures (mainly selfies) ---that one with ushijima...

was so proud when he showed oikawa the fish oikawa's named after

is NOT afraid to cry

the denial of his and oikawa's "unbreakable bond of trust"

kuroo testuro:

chemistry nerd

likes girls with long hair

likes the ocean

actually prefers dogs over cats

a genuinely kind person

his worry is he can't get rid of his bedhead - which happens because he sleeps on his stomach with two pillows pressing into his face

youngest of the third years on nekoma

his friendship with bokuto

his interactions with daichi

his support for tsuki and helping him grow into a great player

the way he stands always with his hand on his hip

he is INSANE at defense, not just blocking but digging too

how supportive he is of kenma and how he was the foundation for something kenma learned to love

i'm pretty sure it's canon that he lives with his grandma... so cute

TIMESKIPPPPPPP PLEASEE

tanaka ryuunosuke:

how supportive he is. LITERALLY A PILLAR OF SUPPORT GAH!!

canon - married kiyoko

his mental toughness

most underrated character ever oml

such a good upperclassman :)

hype man!!

overcomes his anxiety mid-game

his obsession and overall respect toward kiyoko

his relationship with noya

the beanie!!

him and asahi have played every single match with no rest

[abstractjunky]

Underrated Acts of Intimacy

| Multi x reader, haikyuu men

| Genre: tooth-rotting fluff

| Warning: none :)

——————————————————————————

Pressing foreheads

It started out as a head-butting habit, something you use to do when you wanted his attention. But over time, it evolved into the two of you pressing your foreheads together.

You’d let your eyes close, a sigh leaving your nose as you leaned up to bring his face to yours. He’d chuckle heartily, allowing himself to sigh as well as he gives into your plea for attention. It’s dark out and if you were both quiet enough and didn’t say a word, you’d be able to hear the faint chirp of the crickets outside your window. Your thumbs would slowly rub back and forth on the sides of his face, causing a smile you couldn’t necessarily see but could definitely feel by the way his cheekbones tighten under your grasp. He’d bring his hands around your waist, slowly swaying the two of you as he hums deeply, completely content with the silence and your perfume invading his senses.

| Bokuto, Sugawara, IWAIZUMI, Akaashi, Asahi, Kita, Kuroo, Osamu, your fav <3

Rubbing noses

This adorably silly little habit became a greeting ritual for the two of you ever since you began dating. He juts wants to be close to you and be able to breathe you in after a long day of practice.

He’d stumble through the door, t-shirt slightly damp from sweat and hair a little tousled as his weary eyes search for you. Calling out your name, it doesn’t take much for you to bound over to him, watching a smile overtake him as you then reach up for his cheeks. You cradle his face gently, bringing him down a little as you stand on your toes to rub your nose against his. You would smile as well as the two of you stood in contented silence, basking in each other’s smell and warmth.

| Tendo, HINATA, Lev, YAMAGUCHI, Nishinoya, Oikawa, your fav <3

Rubbing Thumbs

You began to notice that your boyfriend had developed this habit a little ways into y’all dating. At first, you assumed it was him trying to get your attention; your eyes peeling over to the side of his face. But to your confusion, he would be looking out to whoever the two of you were with, listening carefully and nodding along to what they had to say. It didn’t occur to you until much later that it was just something he did subconsciously, and every single time he did, your heart would flutter in your chest.

The end-of-the-year team bonding party was in full swing, with the boys everywhere. Most playing lawn games, you can’t help but chuckle at their competitive spirits. Your giggling subsides the moment you feel the light back-and-forth stroking on your hand, and you pull your gaze away to look at your boyfriend. And there he was, yet again unknowingly causing your butterflies. He turns his head when he feels you staring, a small smile appearing as he asks you calmly what’s wrong; and when you reply with a simple “nothing”, a beautiful warm blush paints his cheeks*.*

| KAGEYAMA (help omg-), Ushijima, Daichi, Semi, Aone, Fukunaga, Kenma, your fav <3

Check-in Calls

Every day, almost like clock work, your phone would ring. That familiar ringtone, set specifically for him, makes you smile as you answer it urgently. His honey sweet voice would pour into your ear as you continue with whatever you were doing previously; asking you what you’ve eaten that day, if you’ve drank enough water, and how your day was in general. Normally, you’d be annoyed with so many questions at once. But honestly, you couldn’t think of a better way to complete life’s mundane tasks.

“You’re sure you’ve eaten enough, my love?” He asks for what feels like the sixth time that call. You chuckle, slight defeat in your bones as you stop writing. “Yes! I had breakfast *and* lunch!” He pauses on the other end, sighing. “What about water? Have you been hydrating today?”

“Darling” you murmur, beginning to write once more. “I can take care of myself while you’re away. I am an adult after all.” It’s his turn to chuckle, that sweet voice making the tips of your ears pink. “I’m well aware. I just want to make sure that my baby is ok, that’s all.”

| YAKU, Suna, Atsumu, Sakusa, Yamamoto, TANAKA, Tsukishima, Kai, your fav <3

©️ Copyright abstractjunky 2024

[rudbeckia-hirta]

An underrated moment that I think should be talked about more is when Nishinoya points to Kinoshita during the Inarizaki match after he tells him to move up for the overhead receive.

I think a repeating theme, especially during this match, is that even if someone isn’t the star player, they can still make a difference for their team. We see it with Kita earlier in the match and then with Kinoshita in this moment.

Furudate includes this a lot. Haikyuu is not just about the handful of “Monster Generation” volleyball idiots. We start to care about every player on every team who gives their time, effort, and passion, even if they don’t happen to be exceptional.

[mania-sama]

trick or treat!! =)

love the emoticon! the candy you've gracefully drawn is... a crossover! interesting, i wonder what kind... ah, yes! what gods i think the haikyuu characters are children of, in reference to percy jackson lore. i'm doing specifically the greek cabins (so, none of the gods that don't officially have any cabins, just to simplify things). but if i have any extra insight/thoughts on some of the other series (roman, norse, or egyptian) for the character, then i will give them.

i'm not doing all of the characters, just a select few that i can think of off the top of my head from most (not all) of the main high school teams:

KARASUNO

Hinata: Hermes, god of travelers and thieves, and often referred to as the "messenger of the gods". Now, I debated heavily on whether or not he would be a son of Hermes or Apollo, as Apollo is the embodiment of all things bright, but I think it is much more important that the speed aspect of Hinata's character is acknowledged. Additionally, Hermes... gets around. There are a lot of his kids, and at the beginning of the series, everybody who was unclaimed went to the Hermes cabin. Haikyuu is about, first and foremost, starting at the bottom and rising to the top. Literally, the main character's quote, "I'm Hinata Shoyo, from the Concrete." Nobody expects anything of him, as a child of Hermes. And then he proves that he can fly. Or, in Percy Jackson terms, be really cool and really important and have cool amazing powers, or something like that. He defies all expectations and fate itself and becomes someone worth listening to. He's like Luke, if Luke weren't so, hm, evil. I guess. And if he were a bit younger, more full of youthful life.

Kageyama: Apollo, god of archery, prophecy, healing, and disease, amongst many other things. I really went back and forth with him. Every god I thought of didn't seem right, but out of all of them, Apollo seems the most right (he very nearly got assigned Athena, but I think he is a little too stupid for that). He has natural talent, and I think that is something children of Apollo are blessed with. They are naturally talented at a great many things, and Kageyama was blessed with a natural talent of handling a volleyball. It's that disconnect from his peers that set him off. When people look at him, with his abilities and his unintentional controlling demeanor, they feel not just jealousy, but anger at the fact that he can't seem to get down at their level. That is the journey Apollo goes on in the Trials of Apollo, where he has to align himself with mortals and work with them, not just control them and make them do his bidding. The king has to become the peasant, and that is the same thing Kageyama has to go through. I am not here to say that Kageyama intentionally flaunts his power and precision and abilities, but he does do it, and it is something that he has to actively work through. Also, I think it pissed Oikawa OFF that Kageyama is a child of Apollo because Oikawa wanted to be that lmao.

Daichi: Hephaestus, god of fire and craftsmanship. I am NOT going to imply that he is ugly. He is not. My choice for him being a child of Hephaestus is not on any technical level; nothing about his character implies or shows that he's skilled with creation in any capacity. No, what it's interesting about Hephaestus is that, essentially, he provides the weaponry and tools that the gods use. When something breaks or needs repairing, he is the god the other gods turn to. He is the survivor of being thrown off of a cliff, you see. He is the foundation of the other gods. He is underrated; when you take away that foundation, the gods are left to stumble. Hephaestus can also have a certain level of wrath. He takes a lot, but he can also give a whole lot back in return. You don't get on Hephaestus' bad side. So, obviously, Daichi, as "Karasuno's foundation", would be a child of Hephaestus. He is that steady, important figure to stabilize and provide the tools needed for success for the rest of the team. Also, I think he played with fire as a kid. Sue me.

Nishinoya: Hermes, god of travelers and thieves. Originally, I had him clocked as a child of Hephaestus, but the more I explained it, the more I realized that, no, he is a child of Hermes. The reason why I thought Hephaestus was because of how much he reminds me of Leo Valdez (sans the insane levels of insecurity). But then I reconsidered. He is a menace to society. Children of Hermes are, in text, menaces to society. He's a fast little fucker, the guardian deity of the Karasuno. He came up with the quickest ways to get under the ball and back up to the air. The most damning evidence, though, is who he becomes in the timeskip. A traveler. He's all around the world, bringing himself and his love of volleyball with him wherever he goes. He's taking pictures, meeting new people, and having the time of his life. If he is not a child of Hermes, then Hermes is not the god of travelers, plain and simple.

Tsukkishima: Aphrodite, goddess of physical love and beauty. This mainly stems from how Riordan wrote the children of Aphrodite, who, for lack of better terms, are generally described as catty bitches in the first series. They also happen to be beautiful, and while I personally think Tsukkishima is... unattractive... I recognize that, canonically, he is attractive. For some reason. Anyway, many of the children of Aphrodite have the ability to use charmspeak, a type of hypnotism using words that can "convince" another person to do something that they want. Tsukkishima is most often featured using his words. He's not an incredibly physical person; when he wants to fight with someone, he does so using biting, venomous words. When he defends Yamaguchi in their backstory, he does so using intimidation in his words. He convinces them away. Also, Tsukkishima is a catty, mean character, but he is not without the positive attributes that redeem him, along with many of the Aphrodite children characters in the series.

AOBA JOHSAI

Oikawa: Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. I seriously debated him in putting him in another spot (Hades or Apollo, mainly), but I ultimately think he is a child of Athena, through and through. He is the head of his cabin, 100% percent, just like he is the captain of his team. He and Iwaizumi are the only ones I'm really going to bother mentioning for cabin heads, and that is because I have a very specific idea in my head, and thusly needs to be spoken into existence. Anyway, he is the strategist of his team. He sees the enemy across the court, and he is breaking them down in his mind. He is twisting their weaknesses in his head, and he is coming up with the strategy needed to win. But, another interesting thing to note when it comes to children of Athena, that the only thing they truly have is their minds. The smarts in their heads. They have no fun powers that may put them above their peers. They are "powerless". They can't control water, fire, or the wind itself. They can only strategize. I think this is important when it comes to Oikawa's character. He is someone who has had to fight to where he is, someone who was born with no natural talent, but forged it with his home-grown flames. That is a child of Athena. That is someone who will do everything to grow themselves into someone worth noticing, and someone who will do it well, and someone who will eventually win the war, no matter the battles that will be lost along the way (i.e. his eventual success to the Olympics in 2021). Not EVEN to mention the whole “pride” fatal flaw that Athena children tend to suffer from.

Iwaizumi: Ares, god of war. I want to make a special note that he is the head of his cabin, not only because he is strong, but he is also incredibly level-headed for a child of Ares. His violent side shines through, though; he is not a child of Ares for no reason. He is here because his first instinct to solve a problem is always going to be physically aggressive. To get sense through Oikawa's head, he bashes his forehead into his nose. He shakes him senseless, lobs volleyballs at his head, and is the deadly ace of his team. He is a child of Ares, and he is also best friends with the child of Athena, who's wisdom rubs off on him from time to time. Together, they make a deadly pair. Separate, they are strong, and they will war against each other with no end in sight (it is said that, when on opposing sides, neither Athena nor Ares can conquer or win over each other. They always come to a stalemate, regardless of what happens in PJO's capture the flag).

Hanamaki: Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, usually (though not by law) associated with darker magic like necromancy. You already KNOW he's cooking up some devious spells. He's got a whole book on how to ruin Oikawa's days through subtle, inconveniencing spells. He's learned how to quickly summon worms from the ground to invade Oikawa's tea in the morning. This is EXACTLY some type shit he would get up to.

Matsukawa: Hypnos, god of sleep. Oh, and you already KNOW he's right there beside Hanamaki to cause mayhem. They are the Stoll brothers 2.0., except completely unrelated, even by godly parentage. They are just best friends here to cause chaos for any camper they think is having too-good of a day. He's definitely invading Kyoutani's dreams and turning them into rainbow-glitter nightmares.

Kyoutani: Ares, god of war. Who else? Really, I want you to think of a more creative god to put this violent boy under. That's right, you CAN'T. He is the stereotypical Ares child. This is why he looks up to Iwaizumi so much, and really only listens to him (and why Oikawa chastises him so much); he really wants to prove to Iwaizumi that he is a great child of Ares. Really, though, he's just like the rest of them. Maybe just a tad more temperamental, though.

NEKOMA

Kuroo: Iris, goddess of communication and the rainbow. Now, you may be thinking, what the fuck, Mania? Where is this coming from? YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. He was... very close to being a child of Athena, but I think his policy of "lowering the net", to teach everyone the love of volleyball and to give people the opportunity to do what they love the best that they can is vital to Kuroo's character. He becomes an organizer in the timeskip. He is actively pursuing his dream of bringing volleyball to everyone that he can, and I think that is so very, very important. He is the communicatory from the volleyball world (the gods) to everyone else who may just be an onlooker (mortals). He teaches those like Tsukkishima that volleyball is something that can be loved, not just played. He is the rainbow bridge bringing that love to everyone. Maybe she's not as cool or as sophisticated as the rest of the gods and cabins, but I want you to consider this: the demigods communication throughout the series was solely through Iris' rainbows. When her rainbows went down, nobody was able to talk to each other. Nobody. Everybody was in chaos, mayhem was tearing them apart. Nobody could get information quickly to point A and point B, all because they didn't have Iris' rainbows. Nobody would think to love or recognize her until she is gone. After all, you don't love or recognize breathing, do you?

Kenma: Hades, god of the underworld and the dead. I don't really have the best explanation for this other than the fact that I know this is right in my BONES. The way he interacts with other people just gives me child of Hades vibes. He's the brother of Nico di Angelo and Hazel Levesque and that is FINAL. Whenever I think of him, I think of the way, when he gets into whatever he's doing, he gets serious. Deadly. The way his gaze cuts over you, and the way you feel it gutting you inside out. The panel where he cages Hinata? So banger, so child of Hades. Not only that, but everyone kind of assumed he would do nothing with his life. Constantly playing games on his phone, never directing his energy into anything "productive" for society or for his physical health. And then, he has fun with volleyball. He grows up to be an extremely successful adult, CEO of his own company with thousands of fans at his beck and call. I think, when people saw Nico at his lowest, they figured he would be nothing and do nothing with his life. And then, he hones his power and becomes insanely strong, even if that strength comes at a price. I don't know how else to explain this, but Hades feels right to me and I make the laws around here, so. Yeah.

FUKURODANI

Bokuto: Zeus, god of the sky and thunder, more generally referred to as the "god of the gods". Listen. LISTEN to me. You HAVE to see the vision. When he goes to spike, the air CACKLES. It breaks, and the world shifts to recognize Bokuto as he flies. There is a reason that Akaashi is quoted to say, "We are the protagonists of this world." Why, when Bokuto is in the middle of the game, he says, "World, lend me your powers!" He embodies power, in my opinion, more than Ushijima or Sakusa ever did (who are both ranked, officially, above Bokuto in their high school days). It's clear that Furudate wanted to create a character that could embody that power, that victory, that all-importance, and he did that through Bokuto. You could argue Ushijima, but I think two things can be true at the same time. Bokuto is essentially a friendly version of Ushijima. Additionally, Zeus was known to have a temper. He was... an interesting... god, in the nicest way to put it. Bokuto's mind swings, and his incapability to reel in his emotions during his high school career, reflects Zeus neatly. And as a last little note, Bokuto graduated college, and nobody really knows how. If Zeus were a person, I kinda think that's how it would be for him, too. If you've read Percy Jackson, or really read any of Zeus' myths and legends, you'll see what I'm talking about. Not really the academic type, that one.

Akaashi: Nemesis, goddess of revenge. It also important to note that she is also considered a goddess of balance. To take something, you also have to give something. If you commit an act of violence, you will be aptly rewarded with violence in return. This is a little bit hard for me to explain, because it seems more obvious to align him with Athena. However, I think that balance is what really draws me to coin him as a child of Nemesis. He knows exactly where that push and pull is. He knows exactly when it is time to give and to take, when it is time to be mean or to be forgiving. A lot of people forget, I think, that Akaashi is not always kind to Bokuto. He joined Fukurodani to play with Bokuto, sure, but he is not a yes-man. He basically babysits Bokuto throughout the entirety of high-school. Handles him. Makes a list of his faults and strengths, and acts accordingly. Takes and gives to create balance. And that is how I view Nemesis, as the handler of the gods. She holds them accountable. She holds everyone accountable. (A more direct equivalent would be Themis, but she is... not an option.)

SHIRATORIZAWA

Ushijima: Jupiter, god of the sky and thunder, more generally referred to as the "god of the gods". No, I'm not even going to ENTERTAIN him as a child of a Greek god. In actual mythology, Jupiter and Zeus were really the same god. But in the book series, Jupiter is, essentially, a more orderly version of Zeus. Maybe not calmer, but more orderly. Camp Jupiter is also militaristic, organized, thorough. They train hard and expect great things of other people. I cannot think of any place that describes Ushijima and his mindset better. He is a child of Jupiter. People place their high expectations onto him, and he has nothing else to do but to follow through in their demands. He spikes hard, he plays hard, and he leads hard. People follow by his example, because they cannot help but to bask in his strength and glory. That is a child of Jupiter, per the Roman gods of Percy Jackson. And out of all of these that I have listed, I am the most sure of this decision.

Tendou: Tyche, goddess of luck and chance. While that may be his Greek cabin, I should like to add that I think he is, more clearly, a child of Loki (norse god of trickery), per Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. People bullied Tendou as a child. He was the freak, the monster under your bed, and he eventually grew into it. I think, in Valhalla, he is treated much the same way. People skirt around him because he is a child of Loki, the trickster god, the one set to bring down Asgard and the entire Norse mythological population... or something like that. I don't know. I'm not entirely up-to-date with Norse mythology. ANYWAY. He is a child of Loki, plan and simple. But he is also a resident of Valhalla. Despite what everyone says about him, he died a warrior's death. He died as a hero on a battlefield, the battlefield being a corner of a street in Japan where be bravely took a knife to his chest defending a child. He is a worthy man. He just also happens to be a trickster as well. I cannot think of a better summary for Tendou than that; the boy who could predict the freak quick attacks at every move, who sang unusual, eerie songs to piss off the people around him, who lets the term freak roll off of him, since he's now so used to it. I think he is someone who likes to play the occasional prank, who won't actually let a slight against him slide, should it be serious enough. Who would come up with the most creative way to get revenge on someone who punched him in the nose, in his late teenage years. Yes, that is who Tendou is.

Goshiki: Ares, god of war. I've already explained extensively how I think about Ares and his children, so I fear this should be obvious. Also, he seems more to be a child of Mars, the Roman god of war, just purely for that militaristic, orderly fashion that the Roman camp goes by in the books. I should explain that I've always viewed Ares/Mars to be a rip-off of Zeus/Jupiter. Literally the god children were born to because Uncle Rick couldn't overpopulate the Zeus/Jupiter cabins more than he already did. So, yeah. Goshiki is striving to be the ace of Shiratorizawa, following directly in Ushijima's footsteps. He's just a more volatile, rip-off version of Ushijima (no hate to Goshiki, and I sincerely apologize for my words to all Goshiki fans. But this is how I believe. He is funny for this exact reason. A blood-lusted, temperamental version of Ushijima). He is a child of Mars, through and through.

INARIZAKI

Kita: Demeter, goddess of agriculture. Is this a bit of a gimme? Sure, but it's a gimme for a reason. Demeter absolutely fits him well. In Percy Jackson, Demeter is one of the cabins that's severely overlooked, in my opinion. We don't get much on their characters until we hit Meg, who's lineage to Demeter is very non-relevant due to all of the stuff she has going on with Nero. Likewise, as he is in the series/manga, Kita is a severely underestimated character until we see just how impactful he is on the court. In his story, he doesn't even get a jersey until high school. And then, suddenly, in his third year, he's made captain? He's the example, what people should follow if they want to succeed. Likewise, people worshipped Demeter for their harvest, which was absolutely essential to their lives in Ancient Greece. Then, of course, Kita grows up to be a farmer. That plays a part in my decision, too.

Atsumu & Osamu: Nike, goddess of victory. It would be too much of a gimme to compare them to the Stoll brothers. Really, I don't think they are that much alike the Stoll Twins, so they do not get the Hermes cabin. They are so clearly children of victory that it HURTS. I think, despite their obvious hunger to win, the dead give-away is the amount of pain and anger Atsumu was in when Osamu told him he wouldn't be going pro. To Atsumu, he and Osamu were his ideas of victory. He thought that the only way to win was together. When that broke, he felt like Osamu was admitting defeat, and bringing Atsumu down with him. He felt like Osamu was preventing their victory, their chances to win and their chances at ever bathing in the glory of competition ever again. Because that is also a give-away of their parentage; their competitive streaks. As much as victory is important together against other people, they are also striving to be victorious over each other (i.e. Osamu's bet to Atsumu to see who will be the happier twin). When you think of Miya Twins, only one word should ever come to your mind: Victory.

Aran: Apollo, god of archery, prophecy, healing, and disease, amongst many other things. But, I am not very confident about this. Why? Well, I sat with him for a really long time and pondered what cabin he would be in. Nothing felt right, and I was juggled between many options. And then I realized, oh my God, he is a magician for SURE. He is definitely an avatar of Horus, Egyptian god of the sky and (somewhat) the sun, per the Kane Chronicles. It's been a while since I've read any of the Kane Chronicles books, and I have never truly finished the series, not for the fault of not finding it interesting or good, it's just never worked out. So unfortunately, I don't have as much insight as I do for many of the other characters. However, I will provide this: Aran has a slightly different energy than Bokuto and Ushijima, but he is still powerful in much the same ways they are. His energy is very similar, but it's not the same. They are Roman and Greek, who were pretty much the same gods in actual mythology. Horus is a little different; Horus is the son of the sun, Ra. He is a leader of the gods, and in some tales, he is considered the "god of the gods", kind of. And that's all I really have; I just KNOW this is right. Trust me.

ITACHIYAMA

Sakusa: Apollo, god of archery, prophecy, healing, and disease, amongst many other things. Yes, the jokes write themselves. He is a top two ace. His precision and speed is deadly accurate, with insanely flexible wrists. He is a cutie patootie. I mean, LOOK at him. That is an attractive man. He does not obtain some of the other qualities that Apollo children may have (namely, comfortably at the center of attention), but that does not mean he isn't one. I look at the way he cares for his health and well-being, constantly donning a mask and worrying about germs. I look at his strengths and the way he analyzes other people, slamming the ball like Apollo sends an arrow into Achilles' heel. His words tear into you, breaking you down and all your weaknesses. He demands to know more, because Apollo is the god of prophecy and knowledge, a god that inherently bestows curiosity into all of his children. Sakusa's curiosity just tends to come off more, ah, aggressively. I guess.

[lady-of-ocs]

GUESS WHO'S DONE WITH THE SEMESTER AND READY TO BINGE ALL OF HAIKYUU OVER CHRISTMAS

THAT'S RIGHT! IT'S ME! I'M THE BITCH WHO'S DONE WITH THE SEMESTER AND READY TO BINGE ALL OF HAIKYUU OVER CHRISTMAS! I researched and wrote a five page paper in the span of about four hours today and that was the last thing I had to do because my acting professor cancelled our final meeting (he cancelled a lot this semester so I am not surprised...)

ANYWAY! I got through to episode 17! So let's talk about some stuff.

Kageyama is the least subtle guy on the team and I love him for it. Bless that socially awkward boy. I kind of love that he can acknowledge that Oikawa is good (because he is) but he's not letting it get him down anymore. YOU'RE DOING GREAT, SWEETIE!

Tsukki!!!! First of all, top tier comedy of him hitting Hinata's diarrhea pressure point and then just walking away. Hina's probably fine. I also love that he actually took Akiteru up on his offer! You can clearly see that this is great practice for Tsukki and it's very satisfying to watch him grow. Also, good old sibling bonding! It's what I live for!

I know I just saw them literally yesterday but IT'S NEKOMA AND FUKURODANI! MY OTHER BOYS! I'm glad that they're consistently scattered in throughout the show. They're all so great and have such nice relationship with the Karasuno boys that it would be a shame if we only got to see them during things like the training camp or official games. ALSO NOT KUROO AND DAICHI BREAKING MY HEART WITH THE "the dumpster battle is the last chance for us" THING. DON'T FUCKING REMIND ME, KUROO! I'VE LITERALLY ALREADY WATCHED YOUR DUMPSTER BATTLE AND IT MADE ME EMOTIONAL! DO YOU WANT ME TO CRY AGAIN, KUROO?

I enjoy training montages very much and I was really excited to see Yamaguchi seemingly pull off a serve against Nishinoya. I can't wait to see him successfully jump float serve in an official game. I'm going to have to take a lap around whatever room I'm in when that happens.

YES I DID SPEND TWO MORE EPISODES BEING THIRSTY FOR TERUSHIMA. I SAW HIM AND WENT "oh my god it's the sexy guy." Spent the entire Karasuno/Johzenji match kicking my feet twirling my hair every time he did something cool.

Stepping away from Terushima for a minute- THE BATHROOM SCENE. H E L P. I'D SEEN IT BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS SOON IN THE SERIES. SOMEONE SAVE HINATA LMAO. I like Iwaizumi a lot, honestly. One of the people who will call Oikawa on his bullshit and who can actually get through to him. Also AONE! MY BIG QUIET BABY! I LOVE HIM! I LOVE HIM MUCHO (oh by the way I got a 57% on my Spanish final lol).

I like Tsukki's new glasses! I like them even more because 1. Akiteru gave them to him and 2. because apparently he's had them a while and Hinata's been consistently complimenting them every day. Underrated hilarious duo.

So, back on the Karasuno/Johzenji match. That was a fun one. You never really doubt that Karasuno is going to win (even if you don't already know the spoilers), but it's still an entertaining match. I have massive respect for Johzenji's manager! She whipped them into shape better than their coach could! And I'm really glad that by the end of the game, they realized her value and gave her the appreciation and thanks she deserved. They also had some wild plays during the game and those were fun. Their failed attempt at a synchronized attack at the end of the first set had me rolling. And I enjoyed seeing Karasuno use their whole arsenal of weapons against Johzenji! I knew nothing about volleyball (other than the basic stuff they teach you in P.E.) prior to watching this show but now I'm invested. I perk up every time volleyball is on at the gym.

FANTASTIC BLOCK, KAGEYAMA. NO NOTES. WELL, ONE TINY NOTE: DON'T BLOCK WITH YOUR FACE. In all seriousness, poor baby. I'm always glad to see Suga get to play, though! And I love that Yamaguchi was the one who shoved Kageyama away from the game so that he could get his nose checked out.

Daichi is a fantastic captain. You see that a lot, but it was really highlighted in the Johzenji match and it's been like that so far in the Wakutani match as well. I WONDER WHAT THE TEAM WILL DO WITHOUT HIM NOW THAT HE'S FUCKING DEAD-

Yachi remains a flaming homosexual (I see you looking at Saeko's boobs, girl) and I love her. This is my gay daughter, Yachi Hitoka, everyone.

THE SOUND THAT WAS MADE WHEN DAICHI COLLIDED WITH TANAKA HELP PLEASE- God, that was a terrible sound. And I know he's fine. I've seen all the "RIP dead Daichi" jokes. Daichi's only a little dead. BUT THAT ONE SHOT OF HIM JUST LAYING COMPLETELY STILL ON THE GYM FLOOR WAS NOT OKAY FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH ALRIGHT. BLOOD LITERALLY WENT COLD. THE LOOK ON EVERYONE'S FACES (barring Tanaka who is not taking this seriously) DID NOT HELP. I GOTTA WATCH THAT NEXT EPISODE BEFORE I GO HOME TOMORROW BECAUSE THE CLIFFHANGER OF DEAD DAICHI IS GOING TO KEEP ME UP TONIGHT.

Speaking of which, yes, I'm going to be heading home for break tomorrow! I've got about a month off, so I should have time to watch a lot more! I'm not totally sure I'll be able to keep up these big reaction posts, but I'll try! If I don't end up keeping them up, I'll make one when I get back! If that's the case, I'll see you all in the new year!

[extant-exhaustion]

Can I ask, what are your top 7 favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series/etc) and your top 7 favorite ships (can be canon or non canon) from any media? Why do you love them all? Sorry if you've answered this questions before......

Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to ask! I'm sorry for the delay in my reply. I'm so excited to be here to answer though. I didn't rank these in order, but here they are (and oh my gosh was it tough to choose! I especially agonized trying to narrow down the last spot in my ships list, and honestly, it could have gone so many ways...):

My Top 7 Favorite Media

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: If we’re basing purely off of what I think is the best media maybe ever written, FMAB is close to the top. It is the full package of stunning worldbuilding, characterization, emotional depth, intricate yet clear plot lines, and incredibly important themes. I could write an essay on each of those points. It’s the sort of show (and manga) that is a masterclass in how to tell a story beautifully.

Yu Yu Hakusho: Yusuke and Team Urameshi mean so much to me. YYH is a classic ’90s anime in some ways, but it has so much heart. Yusuke’s character growth is amazing. And the humor in the English dub never fails to make me laugh. Yet this show also deeply affects me and has such beautiful messages about love and friendship. What a dichotomy.

Assassination Classroom: This show is criminally underrated. Or, rather, not enough people have seen it. It is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. It’s so sweet. It’s so fucking funny. And it’s so heartwarming. I love these kids so much. I adore Korosensei. Every episode teaches us something—like a real learning opportunity!—and I genuinely cannot say enough good things about it. It makes me smile forever.

Kuroko's Basketball: I am a huge fan of sports anime and this one has so many elements I’m obsessed with. (Plus, Kagami Taiga is in my top ten favorite characters of all time.) There’s Kagami and Kuroko—a red/blue duo who are in love. There are emotionally high-stakes sports games. There are compelling “enemies.” There’s an incredible soundtrack. But most of all, there are basketball superpowers—things no ordinary basketball player could ever do (100% accuracy!?) that just make it so much fun.

Haikyuu!!: My other favorite sports anime is on the other side of the spectrum for realism. It has no superpowers, just hard work and friendship and lots and lots of great characters. I love this show so much because it constantly makes me root for Karasuno, but then I’ll still cry when the other team loses because the characters have all been shown to just be high school kids with dreams who love the sport and are having fun. It’s really sweet.

Demon Slayer: As a total package, Demon Slayer is incredible. It has stunningly beautiful animation; a wonderful protagonist in Tanjirou (and deuteragonist in Nezuko); a lovely sibling story that drives the narrative; a compelling and mysterious central conflict with the series’ big-bad Muzan; an absolutely kickass soundtrack; lovable side characters; high stakes; questions of morality and duty and tradition; and honestly, more that I’m struggling to even name. It’s just an incredibly good anime (and manga).

Tortall books by Tamora Pierce (includes 3 quartets, a trilogy, a duology, and a few standalones; my absolute favorites are the Protector of the Small quartet): Tamora Pierce shaped who I am as a person. I grew up reading her fantasy series and still reread them often. Essentially, they’re books about heroines who conquer various odds, save the day, etc. And because there are so many books that take place in the same universe over many years, you get to see various characters in different lights through different characters’ eyes. My favorite series is about Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl to pursue her knighthood since the king made it legal for girls to do so. Kel is an absolute badass, and she never turns away from injustice, and I genuinely want to be the type of person she is.

My Top 7 Favorite Ships

Kagami/Kuroko (Kuroko’s Basketball): These two will forever and always be one of my top ships. I genuinely don’t know how people can hear some of the things they say to each other and come to a not-in-love conclusion. They complete each other in the way only a true light/shadow metaphor can, but they’re also best friends who laugh together and support each other and have an insanely strong bond. By five episodes in, Kagami is already so protective over Kuroko that he's ready to throw down with street basketball punks over his not-boyfriend. And by the end of the series the trust they have in one another is so beyond a basketball anime that it’s almost ridiculous.

Yusuke/Kuwabara (Yu Yu Hakusho): The number of times these two were willing to die for each other (or gave up their life energy to save the other from death; or found hitherto untapped power as a result of having seen the other hurt) makes me want to scream. Kuwabara crashed Yusuke’s wake to scream at his corpse that he couldn’t die (“You’re supposed to be here…for me!”). Kuwabara shared his life energy to save an injured Yusuke after their very first mission. Yusuke fought multiple insanely powerful demons spurred on at least twice specifically by the fact that they’d wounded Kuwabara. Kuwabara faked his own death thinking it would help Yusuke in battle (which it did, but it also devastated him). Yusuke chased a car down on a bicycle when Kuwabara was kidnapped. Kuwabara cut through the fabric of reality for Yusuke. You get my point. I fucking love them.

Yusuke/Keiko (Yu Yu Hakusho): Yet, I also love Yusuke’s canonical love interest with him. Keiko is his reason for fighting, the light at the end of the tunnel. In one of the very first episodes, while he’s still trying to earn his resurrection, he says that he sees no point in coming back to life if Keiko won’t be there when he does. She’s the only person who stuck by him until he met Team Urameshi. She’s always believed in him, but she doesn’t take crap from him either. They have such a strong relationship that he even once saves the world by essentially trusting in his love for her. (When asked by terrorists to press one of three colored buttons to save the planet, he chose the blue one because blue is Keiko's favorite color.)

Zuko/Mai (Avatar: The Last Airbender): I will probably never shut the fuck go about how important Mai is to Zuko’s journey or how cool she is as a character and how ridiculously underrated she is. She’s so much more than people give her credit for and she understands Zuko on a deeper level than so many other characters. She counters his angst (as only Iroh can do) and she tries to cheer him up (and she inspires some of his only true smiles in the series!). And most importantly, she stands by him even when he abandons her. For me, “I love Zuko more than I fear you” will always be the standard by which other Avatar couples will be measured.

Tamaki/Haruhi (Ouran High School Host Club): I love these two so much. They’re both so queer. Haruhi is my gender-nonconforming fave and the most wonderful character who’s ever responded *shrug emoji* to the question of their gender or sexuality. She’s sassy and hilarious and the reason I say “these damn rich people” with relative frequency. And the fact that she fell for Tamaki, the flamboyant dumb-dumb with a heart of absolute pure gold…ugh. I adore it. He is too good for this world. And they bring out the best in each other. I love them so much.

Ed/Winry (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood): The balance that Edward and Winry strike together is beautiful. They’re both insanely strong people emotionally, and they’re both wildly intelligent and talented. But their compassion and care is what truly helps them shine. They’ve seen each other at their lowest and supported each other through those times, and they know the weakest and most vulnerable parts of each other. The strength of their bond covers distance and time, and Winry is the home that Edward can always return to. She holds him (and, by extension, Al) together and offers the unwavering support he so desperately needs throughout his journey.

Simon/Baz (Carry On series by Rainbow Rowell): This series hit me like a punch to the gut when I first read it. I love chosen ones who don't really match their prophesies and star-crossed lovers who find workarounds because they care more about each other than whatever is standing in their way. And these two are wonderful together. They're so messy and hopeless and sad sometimes, but they have each other and it's really lovely. Simon Snow is a disaster who loses just about everything except his friends and has to claw his way back from the brink throughout the series; and Baz Pitch never thought he deserved much happiness anyway but finds out that he does, but he's going to have to fight for it.

[otherworldlyranse]

Terushima, handing Okudake wire cutters: Okudake! Here!

Okudake: Why are you giving me these?

Terushima: Well, I know I've already stolen your heart, but since I'm such a gentleman, I figured I'd give you the chance to pry it out of my grasp, not like you would want to though, because you love me so much!

Okudake: ...your ring is stuck, isn't it?

Terushima: It literally won't come off.

[bokutos-last-brain-cell]

Randomly Generated Haikyuu Character #47: Kai Nobuyuki

Date drawn: September 23, 2023

I seriously adore Kai, he needs more love!! He is one of the most underrated vice captains!! As much as I love team mom Yaku, he and Kai absolutely split the mom responsibilities

Screenshot redraw so comparison and my thoughts are under the cut!

Drawing characters with hairstyles really close to the head is still not the easiest thing to do, though I certainly get practice with it thanks to Haikyuu in particular! Also I struggled more than I care to admit on the mouth ;-;

It’s interesting cause I realized that I did screenshots from the Nohebi match for both Yaku and Kai’s drawings, so I’m wondering if I do the same for Kuroo whenever I end up drawing his (even after 83 characters, he’s still yet to come up) to complete the Nekoma third years

[moon-swag-tourney]

Propaganda below the cut!

Kei Tsukkishima

He has one of the most engaging character arcs in the show imo! And it all pays off and comes to a head in an absolutely stellar episode during one of the team's most pivotal games. It's just such a satisfying moment where Tsukishima let's his feelings out and allows himself to feel the thrill of victory and the love of the game. I really like this video talking about Tsukishima's arc: https://youtu.be/ayMCOH0q7R8

Tsukki's big hero moments in the show are in the chapter/episodes called "Moonrise" and "Halo Around The Moon" and he is featured on the cover of the volume "Moon's Halo". Also this image: https://images.app.goo.gl/2iPGUnocV4m2Crvc7 

IM SO NORMAL ABOUT HIM I PROMISE BYWESGFHKGAH GRGRRRRRRR 

Moon Knight

Moon Knight is an underrated character who's been around since the mid-70's, but has only recently gotten the more attention he deserves since the Disney+ adaptation. However, I am a firm comics supremacy believer and can attest he is even cooler in the comics. The current run (Moon Knight 2021) is the best he's been written in quite some time for example, as it's friendly to veteran fans and new fans alike!

Moon Knight is not your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man; he will fuck you up if you deserve it, and benefits from the fact that many villains are terrified of him.

Moon Knight is canonically Jewish, and though he is non-practising, it plays a major part in his story and identity.

It's also worth noting that Moon Knight has DID, with three identities: Marc Spector (host), Steven Grant, and Jake Lockley.

He's such an interesting and compelling character. The comics have spawned countless hilarious memes (I know you're here Dracula you big nerd wheres my money; random bullshit go; etc). The show was amazing, and Oscar Isaac acted his ass off

They are so cool; they're both canonically Jewish and have DID

One of the most unique superheroes out there due to being plural. Really cool, too.

I love him, your honor. I'd like to say more but the truth is I only watched the show and I will leave the propaganda to comics fans.

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group B Round 4: Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time vs Run with the Wind

#B7: Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time

Kid epicly procrastinates during class

#B5: Run with the Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru)

Amateur college track team aims for big race

Details and poll under the cut!

#B7: Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time

Summary:

All Rumi Yokoi wants to do is focus during school, but she is constantly distracted by Toshinari Seki, her neighboring classmate. Paying attention during class is the least of Seki's worries, as he obsesses over intricate setups created using an assortment of items, from an elaborate domino course on his desk to a treacherous war played out with shogi pieces. Yokoi desperately attempts to focus in class, only to be repeatedly sucked into his intriguing eccentricities; however, they always seem to end up with her getting in trouble with their teacher. Fortunately, lessons will never be dull with Seki's antics around!

Propaganda 1:

Seki-kun is the sort of anime that stays underrated because it seems overly simple, but it really shines in its simplicity. The episodes are short tales of Seki’s epic procrastination and they’re absurdly amusing. Both the opening and ending are super funny and really well-thought-out.

It’s the anime equivalent of a hard candy. You can have an episode at the end of the day or between tasks, and it entertains you well without asking for much.

Propaganda 2:

It is a really short anime with very short episodes but is still very entertaining, and we never hear the character whose name is in the title speak but we still get a really good feel of his personality. It’s just really funny and a lot of fun to watch.

Trigger Warnings: None

#B5: Run with the Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru)

Summary:

Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly.

However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru's welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji's ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden?

Propaganda 1:

Okay so, finally a sports anime that isn’t set in high school. (There aren’t nearly enough set in college.) MC is basically Older Running Kageyama, in both looks and personality. He has to overcome his past issues with his old track team, and learn to open up. I love the relationships that form between the team members. There’s one who is just Not Here for It and struggles A Lot, who just wants to go home and read manga. (Hey it me.) There’s also a cute dog, and a lot of the bg music is by the same folks as Haikyuu.

Propaganda 2:

I genuinely think this might be the best sports anime out there. It’s an amazing anime in general, with good animation, a beautiful art show, and a great premise, though what really makes it stand out is the characters.

RWTW is a character-driven story at heart, with all the main characters given their time to shine. The main cast is very lovable, and their relationships with each other are depicted in a sweet but realistic way. The protagonist, Kakeru, goes through a great character development over the course of the show, from being a lonely outcast at the start to accepting the other team members into his heart as found family.

While I’m not a runner personally, I still found this interesting to watch, since along with the training there’s a lot of thoughtful discussion on the nature of running: what it means to run, to be a runner. There’s a very philosophical aspect to it, which makes sense considering that RWTW is actually adapted from a book. The last thing I’ll say is that as a college student myself, it’s really nice to watch an anime focused on people in college and not high school. Oh, and the soundtrack is incredible.

Trigger Warnings: Alcohol and Smoking

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form with your revisions, and I’ll consider adapting those changes.

New: Starting round 5, screenshots will be included in the poll post. You can submit screenshots through the form linked above, or through here, via ask or dm.

Guidelines in submitting screenshots:

No NSFW or spoilery images.

Pick some good images please. Don’t send any blurry or pixelated ones.

You may send up to 9 screenshots, but not all may be used.

[freakurodani]

hiiii addie mayhaps give me your thoughts and feelings about takeda? since we were talking about him earlier

hiiiii kennedy i love u sm <333

i also love takeda so much!! i think he's super underrated and he's not given enough attention!! but he drops some of the HARDEST lines and metaphors in haikyuu!! He's the Catalyst that allows karasuno to grow as much as it does!! Nekomata tells him in the beginning "passion inspires passion" thats his strength and it Kills me

he loves his team so fiercely, he cares so much about them, and he's so so so proud of them *sniffs* and he wants them to be proud of their accomplishments too. I think he's normal about it, but that team? theyre *his* kids. maybe he picked up being the volleyball club advisor on a whim, but its changed him forever, and he will give EVERYTHING to help them succeed

his determination and drive is so understated and so underappreciated so THANK you, for giving me a soap box to stand on so i can yell from the rooftops (where my soapbox is) that I LOVE TAKEDA SENSEI!!!!

[diodellet]

So many good options for the art appreciation asks but let's go with 3, 4, 13, 14 and 27.

hi hi ner! thanks forda qs!! these are all prettie incharestinge!! (<-girlie who didn't know she'd be Yapping-Yapping)

3. and 4.) Go to [fandom] tag and reblog some art you like that has under 100 notes ++ Go to the art tag (or similar) and reblog some art you like that has under 100 notes

noted, i will undertake this mission with great care 🫡🫡

13. What are your go-to Ao3 filters?

ok i have a confession, i used to be a sort by word count++completed works only++exclude crossovers-kinda person 🤧🤧ANYWAY that was changed, now i only really exclude chat fics (ahaha,,,,theyre not really my go-to genre, like sure they're amusing but i read a really good one once* and it ruined every other chatfic for me)

*this one's for u haikyuu-natics, esp team captain stannies

hm.... i'm not super-duper picky so most of the time i can just scroll through each work's summary and tags.

but if a fandom is popular (or if i dont have the spoons for sifting through works), i stick to just reader inserts HAHAHA, maybe oc x canon if there haven't been any new x reader fics and if there's rlly nothing oough ig i have to write her myself 😭😭 sometimes doe, the curiosity strikes and i'll try looking if there are any fanfics in filipino... i really find it interesting to see how a chara's dialogue reads if theyre speaking in tagalog (tbh i think one would have more luck finding filo socmed aus on twt? but i only know about haikyuu socmed aus)

14. Best fanfic tropes ever?

oH...there are too many... u can't make me choose the best out of all my faves that's unfair 🥺jk lol

i read* this jamikali fic (i like my ships with a bit [read: a LOT] of tragedy/disaster-ness to them. it's so so so compelling to read!) and i just love the "Dubiously Unrequited Love" tag. bcs yes, the feelings are technically mutual, but there is a whole slew of other factors keeping the relationship from being a thing, which it could be a thing, but there's also that awareness that it won't last, sometimes a couple doesn't have to be endgame for the love to mean something, ykw?

this entire oneshot series....has me in a chokehold... my introduction to "Non-Sexual Intimacy" (and "Non-Sexual Nudity" i guess?) like??? holy shit??? the tension?? the way op just encapsulates the poignancy of being in such a vulnerable position without teetering too much into the cliche of roëmænce it has me On My Knees!! (like i love my smut and romance cliches, but some days i jus want a liiiitle bit more spice and variety)

Shoutout to the "Unreliable Narrator"++"Ambiguous Ending" combi that reaaaaally makes you work for understanding the plot, idk how to word it but being able to leave Just Enough Breadcrumbs and having enough trust in your readers to Get what ur implying, also forcing me to reread the fic immediately is so foul (in a good way). like there's an enjoyment in a good satisfying read, and then there's the Itch of never being sure in your interpretation, the feeling that u just need to go over it another time, spot another detail u missed, get wrecked all over again, rinse and repeat. idk i love fic.

27. If someone wanted to make you a creative gift, what's the thing that would make you the happiest?

oh anything featuring my fave charas is sure to make me happy! i mean i'm just not super picky abt gifts. well, maybe a creative gift has to be smth that can last a long while? (a strong hoard-ability kaya idk im senti??)

as long as the thought and intent was there, i'm already happy enough🥰💕💕 but i guess in the context of getting fic gifted to you, probably what matters most to me is that the writer enjoyed the process of making it as well. (i'm kinda drawing off of my experience writing this fic for one of m'oomfies and the vdays drabbles*** so i could be just rambling who knows?**)

(art appreciation ask questions, please bug me to rb some underrated art and fic)