Haikyuu!! has been a treasured staple of sports anime for years, and has fans waiting in anticipation for the pending fifth season. While nothing official has been announced yet, fans can certainly expect the highly popular sports anime to receive another season at some point in the future.
The anime, based on the manga by Haruichi Furudate, follows the fiery Hinata Shoyou, a middle school student in love volleyball. His short stature is certainly not ideal for a volleyball player, but this does not stop him from seeking to become the greatest player of them all, especially beating the lanky star-athlete Kageyama Tobio, dubbed the "King of the Court". Thrilling volleyball matches, incredible characters, dynamic art, and charming humor are just a few of the things that make this series a beloved anime.
Where Did it End Off?
Season 4 ends with "The Promised Land" episode, which follows the second match of the Spring Nationals between the Karasuno and Inarizaki High school teams. This game is the most difficult match the Karasuno team has had to play throughout the series for numerous reasons. For example, Inarizaki was able to replicate Hinata and Kageyama's special quick attack, rendering the team stumped on how to defend against it.
The outcome of this grueling match was an unexpected mega-victory for the Karasuno team. The final episode presented the aftermath of this game for each team. A pending match against Nekoma High School, Karasasuno's long-standing rival, is also incoming.
Delays Expected
Season 4 ended in December 2020, so it has been over a year of no official clarification on the fifth season. Haikyuu!! has seen many delays in the past between its seasons, such as the four-year delay between the third and fourth seasons, and season 4 being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the show having a history of delays, it can be no surprise that season 5 is facing the same fate, especially since it has been over a year since the season 4 finale. Currently, there is no confirmation as to when season 5 will be released.
This is not to say that there will not be a fifth season. The anime's Twitter page did announce that they were "looking forward to the continuation", which implies that season 5 is most definitely en route to our screens soon. It has been released that COVID-19 is the reason for the fifth season's delay.
What Can Fans Expect From Season 5?
Season 4 ended on a major cliffhanger, which in turn has created a frenzy on social media of fans practically begging for season 5 to air. After the exciting match against Inarizaki, season 5 will naturally follow the aftermath of the game and the impending rematch against Nekoma High.
According to the manga, the next course of events will be Karasuno versus Nekoma in the famous "Battle At The Garbage Dump" in chapter 293. Both teams have only played against each other in practice matches, so a major match between them will certainly be exciting to watch. The same chapter also explains the rivalry between Coach Ukai and Coach Nekomata in the form of a flashback. The person who sparked the love for volleyball in Hinata is a player known as the Little Giant, and if the manga is to be followed then season 5 may see Hinata meeting him.
The manga has been wrapped up, which means that season 5 will continue from where the manga left off as told by season 4. Haikyuu!!'s fourth season ends on chapter 292 out of 402 chapters of the manga, therefore even a season 6 may not be a stretch to predict. The story shifts to another sport and location, so the anime still has a lot more to explore.