I love hearing about how Haikyuu resonates with different people, and this was such an interesting perspective and analysis I had never considered before! Beautiful video-thank you for sharing this!
I think a lack of resources is interesting in the context of class differences in Haikyuu as well. Karasuno and Nekoma's matches weren't called 'battle of the garbage dumps' just because their themed animals were a crow and cat (though that too can be a class thing, especially compared to Shiratorizawa's eagle mascot), but because they're both public schools who don't have the resources and money the private schools do. Karasuno wouldn't have improved as well and fast if they hadn't been invited to the training camps hosted by other schools, who again had the funds to hold a long training camp for multiple clubs. Karasuno meanwhile had such trouble with funds their club advisor was willing to dip into his own savings just to get them a bus to said training camp. Overall a very interesting video and perspective on the series, so glad it popped up in my recommendations.
As someone with Cerebral palsy who loved sports but missed out on so much because of my self and my disability this show means so much to me in various different ways. Its great to see someone talk about those elements of the show
Being Autistic and 5.5 (pretty short for a man), I think this series would have hit a sweet spot for me if it came out when I was a teen. I used to be the kid that everyone would pick last during gym class, which was pretty demoralizing. People use to also pick on me because of how short I used to be as a kid, I was pretty tiny. Short kings for life!
It's not unusual for Haikyuu videos to make me cry, but this really broke me. Especially the point towards the end about representation being so invaluable and able to change someone's life; not only is it extremely relatable but also important to emphasize. I honestly don't comment often because social anxiety hates me even on the internet, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experiences and providing a new perspective :)
I have never heard a point like this articulated. Due to not living the life or hearing testimonies I’ve never thought of anything like this. I cannot thank you enough for the strength it took to make this video and share your story so that others can hear a message that needs to be told. You mentioned hoping you could find a way to use your situation to your advantage, I think this is it. Sharing your voice, your story, your thoughts and experiences and opinions. Being the creator that you are has affected the mentality of more people than anyone could ever guess, and for that you should be proud
I've loved Haikyuu for a while, and have watched the whole anime about 4 times already, (even my dog is named Shoyo...), and I've always felt the sort of connection to the story that you talk about but never had thought about it that way, I just thought I really like the story and there was nothing more to it. To clarify, I'm neurodivergent, and even though my experience isn't legally considered an "actual disability" where I live, it still impacts my whole life obviously. And something that I always liked about Haikyuu is that it doesn't rely on that whole "if you make an effort you can do anything" as if the person were in a void and they just needed "effort" to deal with their difficulties, but it did show that you also need a proper environment and support for that effort to start making a real difference. But the thing is, I had never put a lot of thought into this and why it resonated with me so much... This video really made me think, and I'll probably be thinking about it for the rest of the week...
This video definitely deserves more love. I was so thrilled to see a Haikyuu video that also talks about disability! I am disabled and I wish I could explain just how well written Haikyuu is. The part about the difference in experiences due to the barriers they faced is SO GOOD. I talk about it constantly! And no one gets it! Thanks for this, great video and articulated so well.
as someone who suffers from various mental disabilities and has chronic leg pain, i burst into tears multiple times throughout this video.. honestly, you described everything perfectly. I feel like my reasons for loving Haikyuu are pretty much the same as yours. This show holds such a special place in my heart, and it's nice seeing other people that love this show for the same reasons as I do.
Honestly, this was the most interesting discussion of any media I've heard or seen in quite a long time. Thank you for sharing some of your personal experience and perspective.
I knew this video was coming for a loooooooong time. Absolutely brilliant man, you had me tearing up at the end. Also, I can think of like 20 absolutely AMAZING moments in the show/manga that demonstrate your point and are so cathartic and beautiful that you didn't even mention or show, and that just speaks volumes about how fucking brilliant Haikyuu is the whole way through. Fuck, I need to rewatch it...
you're too kind pal, thank you. honestly it would be easy to make this video 5 hours long talking about all the good stuff that could have backed up the points, but i tried my best to restrain myself this time. always gives space to do another haikyuu video though, heh heh. lemme know when you do your rewatch!
As someone who played American Football in middle and high school, watching this show reminded me of the in-game thrills. All of the highs and the lows. The none stop action and constant attempt at proving you were better than the person who tried to tackle you. I miss it every time I rewatch the show. But I had to stop playing after my second knee surgery. And while I don't have the same disability, I do understand, whole heartedly, where you're coming from. Good shit, my guy.
Greetings, comment lurkers! I'm a disabled marching band kid. I have not yet finished this video, as I want to articulate my thoughts beforehand and add an edit in afterwards, but here's a small rundown of what my sport is like for me: Medication, mobility aids, breaks so I don't pass out, more medication, more mobility aids, putting my joints back in their sockets in the middle of a run, sitting out again so I don't pass out, and repeat. I have two conditions, EDS and dysautonomia, which cause most of my troubles on the field. I found Haikyuu before either of my diagnoses and it's been a crutch for me ever since. Throughout everything, I've had a story of someone who was at a significant disadvantage come out victorious- the classic underdog story. But it wasn't JUST an underdog story. It was a real one. No one in Haikyuu had it easy, but the part that hit home for me was how illustrated Hinata specifically had to work twice as hard to achieve a goal only to see the gap between him and everyone else get wider, and then seeing him work to close that gap. Can't wait to watch this video, I'll edit and see y'all on the other side :) EDIT: Wow. Just...wow. This video summed up everything inside that brain of mine perfectly. Go watch it if you haven't already. PLEASE.
This is honestly the best expresion of inclusivity making sense to a person that hasnt faced it in a way that makes sense of the struggle and lack of representation. I work with people who have chalenges every day, and I still learned so much from watching this. Thank you!
What an absolutely stunning video, I love how haikyuu can be seen through so many perspectives, that's what makes it such a beautiful story. This video reminded me also of that scene with Kuroo, and how the idea of "lowering the net" (thus making volleyball accessible to him as a child) spurred him not only to play volleyball but also to extend this passion to making sure as many people as possible can find a passion in volleyball. Kuroo's idea may not be as directly related to Hinata's fight, but I still think it relates to this discourse about disability
Amazing vid. I myself am a type 1 diabetic and can totally recognize some of your reflexions in your video. I actually took up volleyball because of Haikyuu. The themes in the story about being able to do a sport, even if your body is not the most suited for it, really resonated with me. Haikyuu taught me that to love doing a sport is far more important than how good you are at it. Really appreciate your video, actually teared up in the end. Thank you so much! Sub earned.
MANGA SPOILER ALERT! [you were warned] I think you have really hit the nail on the head here. I saw one commenter describe Haikyuu!! as the anime for losers, by which he meant anyone who knew how it felt to put your all into something, and still lose. He only had half the story I feel. Because it is totally about a multitude of characters, overcoming physical, or mental health issues, in pursuit of the thing they love. With Hinata and Hoshiumi, it is height . With Kenma and Yachi it is social anxiety. With Nishonoya it is overcoming his mass of childhood phobias. Asahi and Yamaguchi, their insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. Tsukkishima fights against despondency caused by his brothers failure and deception. And the one that really shook me hard, when I finally realised the truth of his personal struggle, was Kageyama overcoming his grief, the fight with his teammates at middle school being the symptom, not the cause. More importantly, it shows you the people who helped them find their way. Nishonoyas grandfather, Kurosawa friendship with Kenma, Hinatas relentless positivity [which actually helped several people]. That you picked up on the difference it makes between getting support and not getting support, really does seem to relate to the disability issue well. I missed that, I’m not physically disabled, though I do feel mental health issues have frustrated almost everything I’ve pursued[though not always to the point of defeat]. Yeah, when I have had support, I have usually succeeded anyway. No support, rarely turns out as well. Thanks an amazing video, thanks for sharing. Haikyu is the most inspirational piece of media I’ve ever experienced. It is so relatable to so many, because it is about life struggles and how unfair these can seem [or just are plain unfair]. But also it helps you see how some things, might be overcome.❤
Came for a Haikyuu analysis, was blown away by a fantastic essay about disability. I know your condition will be sensitive and you don't have to go into if you're not comfortable, but I just wanted to ask about the chronic pain you're dealing with. I have a friend whose health has been deteriorating due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and now at age 28 the pain has started to become overbearing for her, especially in her back. She's mostly using painkillers to suppress the pain, but is wanting to seek out a long term treatment. As you'll know, every person is different, and it's usually a case of trying different things and seeing what works, but I just wanted to ask what treatments (if any) you've had to help manage the pain of your cysts, and is there anywhere we could look for more information?
thank you for your kind words :) hmm, this is a tricky one. i'm sorry to hear that, CFS sucks. how it went for me is that i was placed on a variety of neuropathic painkillers (cause my chronic pain is nerve-based) from my young teens to about 23/24 years old, like gabapentin, amytriptyline, even duloxetine (honestly was a zombie while on this), but none ever had any positive effect and the side-effects were often pretty unpleasant. so, for the last few years, i've been dealing with it without any sort of pain medication and just using my experience with my own body to dictate what i can do, and what will exacerbate my symptoms. surgery isn't really a viable option for me as it stands either. however, i think that sometimes there can be a bit of overlap between the neuropathic pain medication and conditions like CFS - perhaps something like gabapentin and pregabalin could help? those are the two i'd been on before that gave me the least severe side-effects. i'm also not entirely sure where to look for more info, because there's not many places to find info for my own disease so after a while i pretty much stopped looking. that being said, one thing i did a few years back was got on a waiting list through the NHS for a kind of group-therapy thing, where 12 or so people with chronic pain met up once a week for a few hours and there was a physio and a psychiatrist who led the sessions, encouraging you to speak about your condition and trying to give you helpful info. this didn't help me as much as i hoped, but i know it really helped some of the other people there. could be worth talking to her GP about whether or not this kind of thing would be available? i hope this helps in some way!
the new movie has me watching all these okd videos but truly the way you frame disability here and explaining how it relates to haikyuu is just wonderful. I do that a lot where my personal experiences inform my readings of media texts but I have never come across one that talks about disability, and it is truly wonderful. It makes me relate to Haikyuu more than I have before. I love this video a lot!
Hello! I just wanted to say I loved your analysis and words on Haikyuu! I, personally, injured my leg a long while back when I was in tackle football back in highschool. I tore my ACL and only have 50%, if that, of my meniscus left. Ill never be able to do contact sports again or even go pro like I was hoping for with soccer which I was doing as well at the time. If it's too cold I physically struggle to walk and usually require assistance with walking or even using a cane to alleviate the pain and I also have to be careful when running, going up stairs, or even turning around. When I first watched Haikyuu, I was brought to tears because I had begun watching it right as I had gotten injured. It was there for me when I physically couldn't walk or lift my head up and would simply be sobbing the entire day because I was in so much pain. This video brought back all those good memories about Haikyuu and I completely understand when I say that Haikyuu is one of the most interesting stories I have ever had the pleasure of watching, and that is even acknowledging the faults it has at some points. Its arcs are interesting, the characters are full and dimensional, and most of all it is able to speak to the audience emotionally. Great job! ❤❤
For me it’s the atmosphere, especially in training scenes, arcs ,montages and etc where you see the characters just interacting in not necessarily meaningful ways but the vibes , beautiful skys,landscapes and characters make an amazing cohesive vibe. The best way I can describe it is visual lo-fi if that makes any sense. Anyway love the vid keep it up
I recently wrote a (half assed unfortunately) dissertation on Sports Anime and the Influence they have on real life sporting behaviour. Haikyuu was my main influence because I currently play Volleyball consistently against some of the best players in the country and I owe that all to my finding and the existence of Haikyuu. I feel like you, amongst a small few on TH-cam, very strongly are capable of putting together incredible arguments for why Haikyuu is more than the media and how it affects the world beyond its fans. It's something I wish I would have wanted to better emulate during the conception of my own work, but I think this was a beautiful tie in to your own personal journey and think that this is the type of video that helps inspire both academically and practically.
I absolutely love haikyuu, especially with the underdog story line, because I found many of the characters that I could relate to, or I could relate it to friends or family. I have a friend that has a nervous system related condition/diseases that fluctuates the amount of pain levels in their body, so they can go from being in paralyzing pain, to the point where their limbs won’t cooperate, to little pain day to day, along with temperature fluctuations, cold when hot, hot when cold, and other problems. This video helped me to relate to them better, although I have always tried to help, I always saw them as the person they are, and their personality rather then and physically/mental problems they have. Although I have been friends with them for a least 10 years, which is the majority of my life. On a more personally note, I related to kageyama, kenma, lev and many other characters for not understanding social cues, anxiety, hyperactivity, and other things, as showing some related characters that show some neurodivergent traits, similar to autism, adhd, and others. I connected to these characters because they acted similar to me at times, or how I used to act. You brought a different light out of haikyuu that I had grasped that was there, but didn’t know how to explain it in words, it was amazing to hear some of my background thoughts voiced into words. Amazing video! :)
I can't express just how much I love the series, I believe that it gave me the confidence to pursue my own goals. I'm an able bodied person, and never considered the show in this way, but I believe that it makes a LOT of sense now that I can see it. The game with Inarizaki was definitely my favorite, and I can't express how proud I was to see Hinata land the receive, and then do it AGAIN. I haven't read the manga, so I appreciate the timestamp lol and I can't wait to see what happens next. And about the part where you started to believe that you could actually succeed even with your disability, you already have, at least for me. I've learned a lot from your channel, from your video about Brothers and how it deals with family and loss to your video on Life is Strange and how it tackles choices. Even in this one video I've learned so much. As an aspiring game developer looking to create my own organization anything I can get I'll take, and you present your views on various games in a way that makes sense and is actually useful. It can be hard to find someone consistently like this, and I'm not sure if it's because you have a lot of time to yourself from not being able to walk or if you're just naturally good at it, but your channel is great all the same. My life was also completely changed from a single piece of media, and it was a video game that I've poured so many hours into that came at just the right time and that had inspired me to try to give back to the world by creating my own game in the hopes of allowing someone else to also get that experience. I can tell you one thing, I'm not physically disabled, but I felt seen in another way for the first time and I can confirm that the feeling is in fact indescribable. Thank you for sharing your experience and perception of both the world and Haikyuu. It really puts into perspective how difficult things can be in a digestible way. And while I'm not sure what you could do since I'm not even sure what you'd be interested in, I hope that somehow in some way you'll find it, even if it's just being a youtuber like you are now.
I have lived with Autism Spectrum Disorder my whole life. Its not been easy for me in the social aspects of life. Yet despite this being a struggle, I've found things im good at, things I enjoy, and have found some things pretty challenging yet satisfying as some characters in Haikyuu.
YES! I have a invisible disability, CP. You really put into words what I couldn’t about that makes the story of Haikyuu so special. Great video! Also I love your Hades vid too!!
hi! i haven't finished the video yet, but i would like to recommend an anime called "ranking of kings" for you! i am also disabled and this show spoke to my heart even more than haikyuu did! the main character is a disabled boy and his growth alongside his disability just means so much to me. here's a quote from it i love: "Because of what you are missing, you have experienced many things that an ordinary person never would. While they maybe painful, they will surely help you clear your own path. So love everything about yourself." it relates also to hinata's experience, letting hoshiumi be the little giant and learning in the end to work on his own strengths
This video is just so well made it gave me goose bumps. Thank you for speaking out loud about disability. Haikyu story did resonate so much with me especially when it's about confidence in teammate and the power to persevere! I think this show is about that too, how the team spirit and the confidence that your teammate give you can help you grow ! Thank you for the video, and please continue to speak about that kind of subject :)
Even though I am an able-bodied person, I am a short girl. I started watching Haikyuu around the time when I started getting negative attention for my height. I was a professional dancer but due to my height difference with my other teammates I was put in a children's team at our studio. I know its' not that serious, but constantly getting pushed back, made fun of by my original crew members and getting left to do th dance tricks of a younger team despite being the most hard-working (not my words, but the words of our choreographer) and easily top 5 in terms of skills (again not my words) was heart-breaking. I sacrificed a lor for my dance career including my physical health, childhood and mental stability (as I literally started having panic attacks because of the constant pressure to prove myself) just to be staright up told by our choreographer in front of everyone "you do so well, but your height sticks out'. Mind you, i'm not even THAT short, I am 4'11. I left the studio but sadly the nasty comments still followed me everywhere. I know that some people enjoy being short but my experience was extremely unpleasant. Being told ' if a man likes you he is a pedo' when you're an adult by your male friends can be upsetting. Anyway, one of the reasons I was ablle to overcome this insecurity(maybe not fully, but still more than half-away there)was Hinata. I related to his struggles in a core level. His highs and lows, and constant hardships just because of the thing he can't even control, being assumed to be younger than he is, etc. All of these parts resonated with me like nothing else did before. I adore Hinata for showing me how to accept this part of myself and for giving me motivation to work harder
haikyuu was how i got into volleyball and improved my self esteem in athletics. i was either too short or just not good enough in every sport i found interest in lol
I feel this, not physically but mentally. Dyslexia but wanting to be a game designer, to DM entire worlds in TTRPGs? No support in school or collage and what 'support' there was put me into a place I could not learn due to it was just a dumping ground. One day, said to hell with it. Forced myself to learn, pushed through until I adapted as much as I could and only me, myself and I got me to where I am. Glad people now have support, but back then? Fook em
Thankyou so much for making this video. I’m a disability support worker (new to the field) and videos like this are beyond inspirational and valuable to me. I’ve been trying to find anime which seem to represent disability well but like you put, there’s so much inspiration prawn. It’s so great to be able to hear your perspective on things. I’m going to have to watch this again because you made so many great points, but what really struck me was your point about reliance on other people and restrictions. It’s something that is always super important for me to keep in mind, because I’m not there to just move people from place to place or complete menial tasks for them, I’m there to support their independence. And that differs so much from person to person. Your point at the end hit home for me as well. I have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, which at its worst was definitely disabling for me, although post brain surgery has been a huge improvement. For years I used to hate the idea of seeing someone with Epilepsy on a show or in a story. Because to me it was fantasy and I wanted to identify with someone who was ‘better’ than I was. Now I’ve realised that a healthier mindset would have been wanting to see someone LIKE me succeeding. Heck I’d even be stoked to see a show that has a decent depiction of severe anxiety and panic attacks without being troped to hell and fetishising it. I will have to admit I’d probably still find it quite distressing to be watching a seizure on screen, but I think it would be worth it, not just for me but for the representation of it so more people know about it. Anyway that was a bit to unpack, but again, thankyou so much for this video. You have really nailed point well. I’ll share this video with the people from my disability support training class.
What an incredible video. I do not have a disability so i could have never imagine this mazing show could be perceived this way. Thank you for making this video
As someone experiencing a chronic disability, and having been trapped by those experiences for the past several years, haikyuu has been such a boon, such an amazing story that i think about often- but never in the context of the disabled experience. Thank you for putting this out. It obviously means a lot to many of us. Furudate is such a master of storytelling, but this analysis brought out another dimension of appreciation that i probably would never have discovered otherwise, even if it exists less explicitly in the actual story and more in our experiences. But that’s also the power of storytelling and universal art, right? I hold this anime and manga so close to my chest for many different reasons, and you’ve given me yet another precious one. In addition to your analysis, my own take away from the entire story was that one boy loved volleyball so much that he made me love a sport i cared not one bit about before, and he struggled and fought his way to keep doing what he loved, growing and maturing so much in the process. It reminds me that in spite of my own disability, there are things like this- like great storytelling- that i love to the point that i will find a way to keep loving it, even when it feels physically impossible. Thank you!!
I'm so glad I checked this video after watching your Hades in-depth lore video. This perspective is something that had not crossed my mind once. Amazing video!
This is such an interesting perspective on a story I love so much. I never would have thought about it from this angle, all my thoughts around it are about how it gets you invested and hyped for the team by getting you emotionally invested in the characters in a way real sports can't, as well as the final arc in the manga. Manga spoilers below I just want to say though, I'm jealous that you're able to see it as 10/10 after the timeskip, I felt so betrayed when it threw away what I expected to be the next two thirds of the story. And I couldn't even finish the final arc with how it felt like it was mocking the idea that all these characters would have meaningful arcs after the first year, giving us business cards for each of them instead of anything actually telling us how they changed and grew as people. And how it gives you the spoilers for the next 2 years of tournaments that were supposed to be 2 years of growth and change in how this massive cast of teams and players play. If there's some perspective or idea I'm missing that makes the timeskip good I'd love to learn it so I can finish this story without feeling like a knife is being driven into my back.
As someone who absolutely loves the timeskip, here's my perspective. In real life, there aren't character arcs. You lose contact with a friend from high school and run back into them eight years later and they're an entirely different person. The timeskip, to me, reflects that. Everyone has evolutions, both on and off screen, whether we get to see them or not. More importantly, though, is the running theme- that's been going throughout the entire manga, ever since we first met Kenma- of liking something not meaning you have to pursue it. All the characters we see in the timeskip are reflective of that, since while they all love volleyball, they don't all take it as their life's goal. We see that even in Hinata, who goes pro. We see how much he enjoys beach volleyball, how much it's now engrained into him, and he could have absolutely stayed in Brazil and gone pro in beach volleyball. But he doesn't. He returns to Japan and goes pro in indoor volleyball. For every story we see onscreen, there are a million taking place off camera, and I think that's the point of the timeskip. Everyone has a story. It just so happens that the story of Hinata's first year ended where it did. The reason they told us what happened in years 2 and 3 was to tantalize us, urge us to imagine. This is what fanfic is for.
I got shivers about a thousand times while watching. Not being dealt the best or even acceptable cards in your life, learning to live despite that... Thank you for this creation! It really moved me.
Wow, that was a very interesting perspective! I always though about it as a neat underdog story, but now I see it with new appreciation, even though the mangaka didn't necessarily wrote it with the disabled experience in mind. Amazing video as always!
Fantastic reading of the series, it definitely resonates with the story strongly and adds even more depth to it. Thank you for making this and sharing your perspective!
This video is absolutely amazing. Ive never thought of this, but it makes so much sense now, cuz i really resonated with any piece of media as much as i did with Haikyuu Thank you soooooooooo much for this!
hey, thanks for watching! i hadn't even really considered that i'd only spoken about 3 teams but you're right - definitely could have brought up a few more too. just shows how good Haikyuu is.
Thank you for making this Video! I’m disabled myself (legally blind) and was looking for representations of our community in anime for ages. I watched a few episodes of Haikyuu before but never thought about it in a way like that. But the things you pointed out make so, so much sense that it hurts. I really want to see more things like that and I really wish that there would be any story or character that represent people with disability how they really are without constant interpretations or workarounds like in Haikyuu. That would be really awesome.
This was an excellent. Haikyu is an anime/manga I thought I’d wouldn’t gel with, but it has a lot of heart, and great characters. You discussion about it has shone a new light on it for me, and it shows how art can resonate with people. Keep up the amazing work man !
Thank you very much for covering this series. I don't have any disabilities so hearing whenever I hear your POV and how this series I absolutely adore touched you. Every rewatch, every reread I go through, I just end up being a big 'ole crybaby. Loved all of the character arcs and the message Haikyuu teaches.
I really love this video essay!! I literally have so much to say, but I'll try to keep it short. Firstly I can really relate to the topic since I also have chronic pain and had to stop doing dance as a teen, it is still saddening that I can't do something I love. But this video also made me realise that in all this I'm really more of a Washijou, being mad when other people get this I've never had and that is a good insight I think. Secondly I also find a very reassuring representation in Kageyama since I'm diagnosed autistic and he has A LOT of those traits. Kageyama's story shows how in the wrong company he seems mean, even if that isn't his intention and when he came to Karasuno he found people both willing to accept those sides of him, but also explain how he can change. It's really rare to get someone calmy explain what you could say to different people to make it easier instead of just calling you a bitch or just slowly distancing from you. I really love those moments in Haikyuu when Kageyama is obviously trying to copy Sugawara or Sugawara or Ennoshita tells him outright what he could do or say and Kageyama trying to follow through! That could also be connected to what the video said about romanticising since characters with autistic traits are most often seen as comedic or just mean. But in Kageyama's case it's presented as a problem that he also would like to solve and it's honestly so different from other anime portrayals. All in all, sorry for the long comment... but such a good video that really gets you to think and it's so nice to have the insight of someone with a disability!
KINGK's Xenoblades video brought me to your channel and I'm really glad it did. I hope you continue to grow as a creator, because it's been a while since i've seen a lineup of essays as thoughtful and well produced
I keep finding videos to give me more reasons to love this show, hearing your unique story was beautiful, thank you so much for sharing it! I'm excited to continue sharing this show and video with more friends for years to come, amazing job!
Aw, I enjoyed this one a lot - really love hearing another perspective on a show I really like. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on Ousama Ranking - but either way thanks for this one :3
thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed! and i've actually been meaning to check this out - will fast-track it to the top of my list, thanks for the recommendation :)
That was a very interesting take on a sports anime at I often only view as "following the usual JUMP magazine agenda of the underdog team winning in the end due to friendship and trying to better themselves". It's interesting to see it from the perspective of disability being represented in a show the way you have referenced it. I'm glad the anime/manga gave you a positive outlook, too. Funnily enough, I just had to think of the anime "Princess Tutu", because the basic premise of it is "a person wanting to do a thing (here, dancing ballet) but being unable to do so due to bodily restrictions (not the right body parts for it at first, then seemingly 'no talent' for it), then needing to use magic to seemingly fix "the issues" only for that to be flawed as well. It might not be to your taste, because it also has a lot to do with fairytales and storytelling as the crux of the show. But maybe you'll like it.
This was the first show that hooked me in enough to make me to go out find and read the manga. It's beautiful and I'm very happy to have experienced it.
Hi, this video was lovely! I had to skip to after the spoilers because I haven’t finished season 4 but this show had a very similar effect on me. I have felt so beat down by trauma and mental health and this show really lifted me up. I’m glad it brought you a fresh Perspective on your disability as well, it was wonderful to hear! If you don’t mind a recommendation I would maybe consider my hero Accademia, it has a similiar concept of a character who doesn’t measure up and has to work through that. Though it’s quite “Shōnen”, it’s got heart. the music is done by the same guy who does haikyu as well so it’s excellent! Anyway your videos are dope! Thank you :)
@@claudnero fair. People honestly simplify anime too much. Shonen is just refers to shows for teenage dudes, so Regular Show is a Shonen. Also another rant: whenever a high quality American animation comes out that’s not a comedy, its called an anime. Like I don’t see any similarities between Castlevania and Toradora. Castlevania feels more like Game of Thrones than it does anime.
hey, thank you for watching! i'm glad to know the show resonated with you too. i have seen MHA, and i'm actually up to date on the manga too - it's a good recommendation because i do really enjoy it, and Deku is absolutely a really great protagonist :)
I have seen a bunch of videos about haikyuu but this is one of the most unique perspectives on this wonderfull show. Haikyuu trully is a great show and thank you for sharing this video! Btw i have never truly understood how harmfull inspiration porn truly is for both the disabled and the non-disabled. I usually don't think about that sort of stuff all that much but it is a shame how much prejudices people have before talking to each other. Makes me think about the Little Prince where the MC says that instead of describing someone by tangeble and physical attributes, you can also think about the emotional and intangeble side aswell. Lost track abit but again, thank you and have a nice day!
As an avid volleyball player since grade school into HS, I fell off before college. This anime was so true to playing the sport, but this was an absolute treat to listen your take on how it's similar to a disabled person. Appreciate the video and found this one after I finished the length you Hades one 🥰 new sub for sure!
This is interesting! I really like Haikyuu for mental health representation purposes; Hinata definitely has ADHD and Kageyama is one of the most autistic individuals I’ve seen in media. That just goes to show how impactful our own perspectives can be, I suppose, lol.
Even without this perspective, as an autistic person with adhd and dyslexia (the holy trinity I know) seeing characters that i could identify with like Kageyama and Tendou felt so good. Like Kageyamas struggles because of his lack of social skills and fear of change probably weren’t intended to be because of autism but I connected with him a lot
I haven't read it yet, but "Real" is a wheelchair basketball Manga by the same mangaka behind "Slam Dunk" and "Vagabond." Given the excellence of his other works and from word of mouth "Real" is definitely worth checking out. Great video by the way
i fucking loved this. you expressed EXACTLY how i feel about this series and why it means so, so much to me. i really hope this will get more views!! also, if you don't mind me asking, what is your accent? i feel like it's similar to mine, but i could be wrong, lol. amazing video nevertheless, keep it up man!!
thank you! that is very kind :) so i am scottish and live in scotland, but i spent my early years in yorkshire - that's why it can be a bit hard to place my accent, it's a little bit of a mixture!
@@Ludiscere ohhh how interesting !! i lived in yorkshire for a while but im actually irish. but i can definitely hear what you mean now that i know, lol.
@@Ludiscere I'll be soon studying linguistics and it was really hard for me to figure out your accent because your Rs have rhoticity but the rest of your accent sounds a bit English. Also I really loved this video. I've never thought of myself as disabled but I have a connective tissue disorder that causes chronic pain that I have on a daily basis that gets worse when I'm more active. Because of this I've never really been able to play sports, even if I pushed through the pain my connective tissue disorder gave me "low body awareness" where essentially my coordination is way off as well as causing other things that have made me worse at sports. I'm very tall so growing up people always told me I should play basketball and I used to hate basketball because it was so hard for me but when I realized how much of an advantage I still had from being tall I did feel a bit sad that I missed out on being able to play it because if it weren't for my condition I could've been great.
ive never actually heard anybody reccomend haikyuu in any way to make me wanna watch it, but this video might actually make me go check it out. thanks for the video! and sharing ur experience :)
You deserve to be huge. I just binged most of your videos! Your writing style puts to shame most of the college essays I have to read. You have a knack for extended allegory that really sells the stories you are trying to tell! Can I ask what field you work in? Such a powerful writing voice. Have a great day!
I think you'd love to hear that Argentina's main alternate setter, Matias Sanchez is about Hinata's height post-timeskip and is killing it professionally and in international tournaments!! (Coincidentally he's one of the closest setters there is to Kageyama's precision and to Hoshiumi's overall skill)
Huh. I've never watched haikyuu but I'd heard about it because this one person on tumblr made a paravolley AU of it where all the characters had various disabilities and they all played sitting volleyball. It's pretty cool.
Being autistic (especially an autistic girl diagnosed late), I've always struggled with making friends. I never understood what set me apart from my peers, making it hard to even learn how to make friends. It's hard to understand people, even on the simplest basis. I can see my experiences of just trying to communicate through haikyuu. Its fantastic, really
I don't really know how to phrase this properly right now due to The Emotions, but Haikyuu's been really important to me for a lot of reasons I couldn't place. Watching this in bed after my back flared up and walking has become a bit too much again for a little while, and just... yeah. Yeah.
As someone just informed, 1/3rd of the way in I might add and right before a big test, I will not be allowed to even try to obtain the vet tech degree I was seeking due to my wheelchair and the fact I am unable to wear a closed toed shoe making me an OSHA violation for the surgery requirements for the degree, I can maybe settle for a Vet Assistant degree, if my grades are good enough to make up for failing the parts I will not be allowed to try, this resonates... I would like to see a story in media where the disabled character fails at their inspirational journey, sure it would be a major downer, but it would be more realistic they'd have to settle for less or other than their dream.
I've read all sorts of manga but seriously, along with Witch Hat Atelier and Koe no Karachi, Haikyuu will always stick with me. I couldn't really articulate then why I found these three better than all the other media I've read or watched, but I just know that I love them because they're so very real...so relatable.
Hey! I have Ehlers Danlos and use forearm crutches myself, so as a fellow user of mobility aids I feel obligated to ask what your favorite one you’ve used is? I’m sorta new to this whole “wow walking hurts” thing, so I’m always scouting around for options.
Excellent video, it was incredible. With respect to your condition, give a shot at reading Real, by Takehiko Inoue. I say that because it is a story that delves into disability and the experience of the athletes who have disabilities, be it allegorical or literal. But after Haikyuu it really is one of the most influential sports stories that moved me and gave me some perspective on how incredible some people are in this world.
I haven’t seen the series yet, but this video was great. I have seen good stories that you might label “inspiration porn” like Forest Gump, and I think they can show that a disabled person can do well in the world, but the fact that it’s the only representation is not a good thing. I have a mental disability, so it’s a bit different, with my physical abilities actually being really good, but I get why people would hate “inspiration porn” as it seems to be for “typical” people.
To me, this was one of the reasons why I found the cast of The Pet Girl of Sakurasou so likeable. Normally I don't like Slice-of-Life shows, and you know that typical "Autistic" behavior that tends to somewhat be thrown in some shows I just find cringe worthy. In that show however, it clearly dug into not only what it was like for the character experiencing it, but also did a fantastic job at contextualizing and portraying the behavior of those around. Things like trying to control them without their input and more subtle things like expressing emotions and understanding the difference between expressing emotions vs not having them, that last bit something I feel a lot of these similar instances miss.
Please keep making videos :) I just today found your channel and after 2 videos you definitely made a sub out of me. A loyal one at that. Amazing content ❤️
I love hearing about how Haikyuu resonates with different people, and this was such an interesting perspective and analysis I had never considered before! Beautiful video-thank you for sharing this!
I think a lack of resources is interesting in the context of class differences in Haikyuu as well. Karasuno and Nekoma's matches weren't called 'battle of the garbage dumps' just because their themed animals were a crow and cat (though that too can be a class thing, especially compared to Shiratorizawa's eagle mascot), but because they're both public schools who don't have the resources and money the private schools do. Karasuno wouldn't have improved as well and fast if they hadn't been invited to the training camps hosted by other schools, who again had the funds to hold a long training camp for multiple clubs. Karasuno meanwhile had such trouble with funds their club advisor was willing to dip into his own savings just to get them a bus to said training camp. Overall a very interesting video and perspective on the series, so glad it popped up in my recommendations.
what a great point, thank you for commenting
As someone with Cerebral palsy who loved sports but missed out on so much because of my self and my disability this show means so much to me in various different ways. Its great to see someone talk about those elements of the show
i am really glad to see someone else here who loves the show for a similar reason to me! thanks so much for watching, glad you enjoyed :)
For the love of god use a different abbreviation for cerebral palsay
Being Autistic and 5.5 (pretty short for a man), I think this series would have hit a sweet spot for me if it came out when I was a teen.
I used to be the kid that everyone would pick last during gym class, which was pretty demoralizing.
People use to also pick on me because of how short I used to be as a kid, I was pretty tiny.
Short kings for life!
It's not unusual for Haikyuu videos to make me cry, but this really broke me. Especially the point towards the end about representation being so invaluable and able to change someone's life; not only is it extremely relatable but also important to emphasize. I honestly don't comment often because social anxiety hates me even on the internet, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experiences and providing a new perspective :)
I have never heard a point like this articulated. Due to not living the life or hearing testimonies I’ve never thought of anything like this. I cannot thank you enough for the strength it took to make this video and share your story so that others can hear a message that needs to be told. You mentioned hoping you could find a way to use your situation to your advantage, I think this is it. Sharing your voice, your story, your thoughts and experiences and opinions. Being the creator that you are has affected the mentality of more people than anyone could ever guess, and for that you should be proud
I've loved Haikyuu for a while, and have watched the whole anime about 4 times already, (even my dog is named Shoyo...), and I've always felt the sort of connection to the story that you talk about but never had thought about it that way, I just thought I really like the story and there was nothing more to it. To clarify, I'm neurodivergent, and even though my experience isn't legally considered an "actual disability" where I live, it still impacts my whole life obviously. And something that I always liked about Haikyuu is that it doesn't rely on that whole "if you make an effort you can do anything" as if the person were in a void and they just needed "effort" to deal with their difficulties, but it did show that you also need a proper environment and support for that effort to start making a real difference. But the thing is, I had never put a lot of thought into this and why it resonated with me so much... This video really made me think, and I'll probably be thinking about it for the rest of the week...
This video definitely deserves more love. I was so thrilled to see a Haikyuu video that also talks about disability!
I am disabled and I wish I could explain just how well written Haikyuu is. The part about the difference in experiences due to the barriers they faced is SO GOOD. I talk about it constantly! And no one gets it!
Thanks for this, great video and articulated so well.
as someone who suffers from various mental disabilities and has chronic leg pain, i burst into tears multiple times throughout this video.. honestly, you described everything perfectly. I feel like my reasons for loving Haikyuu are pretty much the same as yours. This show holds such a special place in my heart, and it's nice seeing other people that love this show for the same reasons as I do.
Honestly, this was the most interesting discussion of any media I've heard or seen in quite a long time. Thank you for sharing some of your personal experience and perspective.
wow, what a kind comment! thank you, that honestly means a lot to me.
I knew this video was coming for a loooooooong time. Absolutely brilliant man, you had me tearing up at the end.
Also, I can think of like 20 absolutely AMAZING moments in the show/manga that demonstrate your point and are so cathartic and beautiful that you didn't even mention or show, and that just speaks volumes about how fucking brilliant Haikyuu is the whole way through.
Fuck, I need to rewatch it...
you're too kind pal, thank you. honestly it would be easy to make this video 5 hours long talking about all the good stuff that could have backed up the points, but i tried my best to restrain myself this time. always gives space to do another haikyuu video though, heh heh. lemme know when you do your rewatch!
This is probably the most unique Haikyuu perspective video. I enjoyed this new perspective and now see Haikyuu in newer lights everytime.
As someone who played American Football in middle and high school, watching this show reminded me of the in-game thrills. All of the highs and the lows. The none stop action and constant attempt at proving you were better than the person who tried to tackle you. I miss it every time I rewatch the show. But I had to stop playing after my second knee surgery. And while I don't have the same disability, I do understand, whole heartedly, where you're coming from.
Good shit, my guy.
Greetings, comment lurkers! I'm a disabled marching band kid. I have not yet finished this video, as I want to articulate my thoughts beforehand and add an edit in afterwards, but here's a small rundown of what my sport is like for me: Medication, mobility aids, breaks so I don't pass out, more medication, more mobility aids, putting my joints back in their sockets in the middle of a run, sitting out again so I don't pass out, and repeat. I have two conditions, EDS and dysautonomia, which cause most of my troubles on the field. I found Haikyuu before either of my diagnoses and it's been a crutch for me ever since. Throughout everything, I've had a story of someone who was at a significant disadvantage come out victorious- the classic underdog story. But it wasn't JUST an underdog story. It was a real one. No one in Haikyuu had it easy, but the part that hit home for me was how illustrated Hinata specifically had to work twice as hard to achieve a goal only to see the gap between him and everyone else get wider, and then seeing him work to close that gap. Can't wait to watch this video, I'll edit and see y'all on the other side :)
EDIT: Wow. Just...wow. This video summed up everything inside that brain of mine perfectly. Go watch it if you haven't already. PLEASE.
This is honestly the best expresion of inclusivity making sense to a person that hasnt faced it in a way that makes sense of the struggle and lack of representation. I work with people who have chalenges every day, and I still learned so much from watching this. Thank you!
What an absolutely stunning video, I love how haikyuu can be seen through so many perspectives, that's what makes it such a beautiful story. This video reminded me also of that scene with Kuroo, and how the idea of "lowering the net" (thus making volleyball accessible to him as a child) spurred him not only to play volleyball but also to extend this passion to making sure as many people as possible can find a passion in volleyball. Kuroo's idea may not be as directly related to Hinata's fight, but I still think it relates to this discourse about disability
When you said that disability rep in the usual media was mostly "inspiration porn for abled people" it resonated so deeply. Fantastic perspective.
Amazing vid. I myself am a type 1 diabetic and can totally recognize some of your reflexions in your video. I actually took up volleyball because of Haikyuu. The themes in the story about being able to do a sport, even if your body is not the most suited for it, really resonated with me. Haikyuu taught me that to love doing a sport is far more important than how good you are at it. Really appreciate your video, actually teared up in the end. Thank you so much! Sub earned.
MANGA SPOILER ALERT! [you were warned] I think you have really hit the nail on the head here. I saw one commenter describe Haikyuu!! as the anime for losers, by which he meant anyone who knew how it felt to put your all into something, and still lose.
He only had half the story I feel.
Because it is totally about a multitude of characters, overcoming physical, or mental health issues, in pursuit of the thing they love. With Hinata and Hoshiumi, it is height . With Kenma and Yachi it is social anxiety. With Nishonoya it is overcoming his mass of childhood phobias. Asahi and Yamaguchi, their insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. Tsukkishima fights against despondency caused by his brothers failure and deception. And the one that really shook me hard, when I finally realised the truth of his personal struggle, was Kageyama overcoming his grief, the fight with his teammates at middle school being the symptom, not the cause.
More importantly, it shows you the people who helped them find their way. Nishonoyas grandfather, Kurosawa friendship with Kenma, Hinatas relentless positivity [which actually helped several people]. That you picked up on the difference it makes between getting support and not getting support, really does seem to relate to the disability issue well. I missed that, I’m not physically disabled, though I do feel mental health issues have frustrated almost everything I’ve pursued[though not always to the point of defeat]. Yeah, when I have had support, I have usually succeeded anyway. No support, rarely turns out as well.
Thanks an amazing video, thanks for sharing. Haikyu is the most inspirational piece of media I’ve ever experienced. It is so relatable to so many, because it is about life struggles and how unfair these can seem [or just are plain unfair]. But also it helps you see how some things, might be overcome.❤
Came for a Haikyuu analysis, was blown away by a fantastic essay about disability.
I know your condition will be sensitive and you don't have to go into if you're not comfortable, but I just wanted to ask about the chronic pain you're dealing with. I have a friend whose health has been deteriorating due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and now at age 28 the pain has started to become overbearing for her, especially in her back. She's mostly using painkillers to suppress the pain, but is wanting to seek out a long term treatment. As you'll know, every person is different, and it's usually a case of trying different things and seeing what works, but I just wanted to ask what treatments (if any) you've had to help manage the pain of your cysts, and is there anywhere we could look for more information?
thank you for your kind words :)
hmm, this is a tricky one. i'm sorry to hear that, CFS sucks. how it went for me is that i was placed on a variety of neuropathic painkillers (cause my chronic pain is nerve-based) from my young teens to about 23/24 years old, like gabapentin, amytriptyline, even duloxetine (honestly was a zombie while on this), but none ever had any positive effect and the side-effects were often pretty unpleasant. so, for the last few years, i've been dealing with it without any sort of pain medication and just using my experience with my own body to dictate what i can do, and what will exacerbate my symptoms. surgery isn't really a viable option for me as it stands either. however, i think that sometimes there can be a bit of overlap between the neuropathic pain medication and conditions like CFS - perhaps something like gabapentin and pregabalin could help? those are the two i'd been on before that gave me the least severe side-effects. i'm also not entirely sure where to look for more info, because there's not many places to find info for my own disease so after a while i pretty much stopped looking. that being said, one thing i did a few years back was got on a waiting list through the NHS for a kind of group-therapy thing, where 12 or so people with chronic pain met up once a week for a few hours and there was a physio and a psychiatrist who led the sessions, encouraging you to speak about your condition and trying to give you helpful info. this didn't help me as much as i hoped, but i know it really helped some of the other people there. could be worth talking to her GP about whether or not this kind of thing would be available?
i hope this helps in some way!
Great video! This made me view Haikyuu in a new light and appreciate it even more than I already did. Thank you!
the new movie has me watching all these okd videos but truly the way you frame disability here and explaining how it relates to haikyuu is just wonderful. I do that a lot where my personal experiences inform my readings of media texts but I have never come across one that talks about disability, and it is truly wonderful. It makes me relate to Haikyuu more than I have before. I love this video a lot!
Your view count to quality ratio is the most absurd thing on youtube. Yet another excellent video, thank you.
this is a really kind thing to say. thank you very much :)
Hello! I just wanted to say I loved your analysis and words on Haikyuu! I, personally, injured my leg a long while back when I was in tackle football back in highschool. I tore my ACL and only have 50%, if that, of my meniscus left. Ill never be able to do contact sports again or even go pro like I was hoping for with soccer which I was doing as well at the time. If it's too cold I physically struggle to walk and usually require assistance with walking or even using a cane to alleviate the pain and I also have to be careful when running, going up stairs, or even turning around. When I first watched Haikyuu, I was brought to tears because I had begun watching it right as I had gotten injured. It was there for me when I physically couldn't walk or lift my head up and would simply be sobbing the entire day because I was in so much pain. This video brought back all those good memories about Haikyuu and I completely understand when I say that Haikyuu is one of the most interesting stories I have ever had the pleasure of watching, and that is even acknowledging the faults it has at some points. Its arcs are interesting, the characters are full and dimensional, and most of all it is able to speak to the audience emotionally. Great job! ❤❤
For me it’s the atmosphere, especially in training scenes, arcs ,montages and etc where you see the characters just interacting in not necessarily meaningful ways but the vibes , beautiful skys,landscapes and characters make an amazing cohesive vibe. The best way I can describe it is visual lo-fi if that makes any sense. Anyway love the vid keep it up
I recently wrote a (half assed unfortunately) dissertation on Sports Anime and the Influence they have on real life sporting behaviour. Haikyuu was my main influence because I currently play Volleyball consistently against some of the best players in the country and I owe that all to my finding and the existence of Haikyuu. I feel like you, amongst a small few on TH-cam, very strongly are capable of putting together incredible arguments for why Haikyuu is more than the media and how it affects the world beyond its fans. It's something I wish I would have wanted to better emulate during the conception of my own work, but I think this was a beautiful tie in to your own personal journey and think that this is the type of video that helps inspire both academically and practically.
I absolutely love haikyuu, especially with the underdog story line, because I found many of the characters that I could relate to, or I could relate it to friends or family. I have a friend that has a nervous system related condition/diseases that fluctuates the amount of pain levels in their body, so they can go from being in paralyzing pain, to the point where their limbs won’t cooperate, to little pain day to day, along with temperature fluctuations, cold when hot, hot when cold, and other problems. This video helped me to relate to them better, although I have always tried to help, I always saw them as the person they are, and their personality rather then and physically/mental problems they have. Although I have been friends with them for a least 10 years, which is the majority of my life. On a more personally note, I related to kageyama, kenma, lev and many other characters for not understanding social cues, anxiety, hyperactivity, and other things, as showing some related characters that show some neurodivergent traits, similar to autism, adhd, and others. I connected to these characters because they acted similar to me at times, or how I used to act. You brought a different light out of haikyuu that I had grasped that was there, but didn’t know how to explain it in words, it was amazing to hear some of my background thoughts voiced into words. Amazing video! :)
I can't express just how much I love the series, I believe that it gave me the confidence to pursue my own goals. I'm an able bodied person, and never considered the show in this way, but I believe that it makes a LOT of sense now that I can see it.
The game with Inarizaki was definitely my favorite, and I can't express how proud I was to see Hinata land the receive, and then do it AGAIN. I haven't read the manga, so I appreciate the timestamp lol and I can't wait to see what happens next.
And about the part where you started to believe that you could actually succeed even with your disability, you already have, at least for me. I've learned a lot from your channel, from your video about Brothers and how it deals with family and loss to your video on Life is Strange and how it tackles choices. Even in this one video I've learned so much. As an aspiring game developer looking to create my own organization anything I can get I'll take, and you present your views on various games in a way that makes sense and is actually useful. It can be hard to find someone consistently like this, and I'm not sure if it's because you have a lot of time to yourself from not being able to walk or if you're just naturally good at it, but your channel is great all the same.
My life was also completely changed from a single piece of media, and it was a video game that I've poured so many hours into that came at just the right time and that had inspired me to try to give back to the world by creating my own game in the hopes of allowing someone else to also get that experience. I can tell you one thing, I'm not physically disabled, but I felt seen in another way for the first time and I can confirm that the feeling is in fact indescribable.
Thank you for sharing your experience and perception of both the world and Haikyuu. It really puts into perspective how difficult things can be in a digestible way. And while I'm not sure what you could do since I'm not even sure what you'd be interested in, I hope that somehow in some way you'll find it, even if it's just being a youtuber like you are now.
That's amazing! What game inspired you so much?
bro I bursted into tears at the last part omg. thank you so much for this
I have lived with Autism Spectrum Disorder my whole life. Its not been easy for me in the social aspects of life. Yet despite this being a struggle, I've found things im good at, things I enjoy, and have found some things pretty challenging yet satisfying as some characters in Haikyuu.
YES! I have a invisible disability, CP. You really put into words what I couldn’t about that makes the story of Haikyuu so special. Great video! Also I love your Hades vid too!!
Really amazing perspective !!! I’m glad you love the story as much as I do
hi! i haven't finished the video yet, but i would like to recommend an anime called "ranking of kings" for you! i am also disabled and this show spoke to my heart even more than haikyuu did! the main character is a disabled boy and his growth alongside his disability just means so much to me.
here's a quote from it i love: "Because of what you are missing, you have experienced many things that an ordinary person never would. While they maybe painful, they will surely help you clear your own path. So love everything about yourself." it relates also to hinata's experience, letting hoshiumi be the little giant and learning in the end to work on his own strengths
finished it! it's so wonderful to find more reasons to love something you already love.
This video is just so well made it gave me goose bumps.
Thank you for speaking out loud about disability. Haikyu story did resonate so much with me especially when it's about confidence in teammate and the power to persevere! I think this show is about that too, how the team spirit and the confidence that your teammate give you can help you grow !
Thank you for the video, and please continue to speak about that kind of subject :)
Even though I am an able-bodied person, I am a short girl. I started watching Haikyuu around the time when I started getting negative attention for my height. I was a professional dancer but due to my height difference with my other teammates I was put in a children's team at our studio. I know its' not that serious, but constantly getting pushed back, made fun of by my original crew members and getting left to do th dance tricks of a younger team despite being the most hard-working (not my words, but the words of our choreographer) and easily top 5 in terms of skills (again not my words) was heart-breaking. I sacrificed a lor for my dance career including my physical health, childhood and mental stability (as I literally started having panic attacks because of the constant pressure to prove myself) just to be staright up told by our choreographer in front of everyone "you do so well, but your height sticks out'. Mind you, i'm not even THAT short, I am 4'11.
I left the studio but sadly the nasty comments still followed me everywhere. I know that some people enjoy being short but my experience was extremely unpleasant. Being told ' if a man likes you he is a pedo' when you're an adult by your male friends can be upsetting.
Anyway, one of the reasons I was ablle to overcome this insecurity(maybe not fully, but still more than half-away there)was Hinata. I related to his struggles in a core level. His highs and lows, and constant hardships just because of the thing he can't even control, being assumed to be younger than he is, etc. All of these parts resonated with me like nothing else did before. I adore Hinata for showing me how to accept this part of myself and for giving me motivation to work harder
haikyuu was how i got into volleyball and improved my self esteem in athletics. i was either too short or just not good enough in every sport i found interest in lol
Saw the title and I knew I had to watch this. Huge fan of Haikyuu! Can’t wait to see your take on this, sure it will be excellent!
I feel this, not physically but mentally. Dyslexia but wanting to be a game designer, to DM entire worlds in TTRPGs? No support in school or collage and what 'support' there was put me into a place I could not learn due to it was just a dumping ground.
One day, said to hell with it. Forced myself to learn, pushed through until I adapted as much as I could and only me, myself and I got me to where I am. Glad people now have support, but back then? Fook em
Thankyou so much for making this video. I’m a disability support worker (new to the field) and videos like this are beyond inspirational and valuable to me. I’ve been trying to find anime which seem to represent disability well but like you put, there’s so much inspiration prawn. It’s so great to be able to hear your perspective on things. I’m going to have to watch this again because you made so many great points, but what really struck me was your point about reliance on other people and restrictions. It’s something that is always super important for me to keep in mind, because I’m not there to just move people from place to place or complete menial tasks for them, I’m there to support their independence. And that differs so much from person to person.
Your point at the end hit home for me as well. I have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, which at its worst was definitely disabling for me, although post brain surgery has been a huge improvement. For years I used to hate the idea of seeing someone with Epilepsy on a show or in a story. Because to me it was fantasy and I wanted to identify with someone who was ‘better’ than I was. Now I’ve realised that a healthier mindset would have been wanting to see someone LIKE me succeeding. Heck I’d even be stoked to see a show that has a decent depiction of severe anxiety and panic attacks without being troped to hell and fetishising it. I will have to admit I’d probably still find it quite distressing to be watching a seizure on screen, but I think it would be worth it, not just for me but for the representation of it so more people know about it.
Anyway that was a bit to unpack, but again, thankyou so much for this video. You have really nailed point well. I’ll share this video with the people from my disability support training class.
What an incredible video. I do not have a disability so i could have never imagine this mazing show could be perceived this way. Thank you for making this video
As someone experiencing a chronic disability, and having been trapped by those experiences for the past several years, haikyuu has been such a boon, such an amazing story that i think about often- but never in the context of the disabled experience. Thank you for putting this out. It obviously means a lot to many of us. Furudate is such a master of storytelling, but this analysis brought out another dimension of appreciation that i probably would never have discovered otherwise, even if it exists less explicitly in the actual story and more in our experiences. But that’s also the power of storytelling and universal art, right?
I hold this anime and manga so close to my chest for many different reasons, and you’ve given me yet another precious one. In addition to your analysis, my own take away from the entire story was that one boy loved volleyball so much that he made me love a sport i cared not one bit about before, and he struggled and fought his way to keep doing what he loved, growing and maturing so much in the process. It reminds me that in spite of my own disability, there are things like this- like great storytelling- that i love to the point that i will find a way to keep loving it, even when it feels physically impossible.
Thank you!!
I'm literally crying, this video was amazing
Minute 25:58 had me sobbing
amazing video, i'm genuinely baffled on how it isn't massive already!
def gonna enjoy binging all of your videos now :)
I'm so glad I checked this video after watching your Hades in-depth lore video.
This perspective is something that had not crossed my mind once.
Amazing video!
been a fan of haikyuu for years and this video made me see it in a whole new light. thank you so much for this!
This is such an interesting perspective on a story I love so much. I never would have thought about it from this angle, all my thoughts around it are about how it gets you invested and hyped for the team by getting you emotionally invested in the characters in a way real sports can't, as well as the final arc in the manga. Manga spoilers below
I just want to say though, I'm jealous that you're able to see it as 10/10 after the timeskip, I felt so betrayed when it threw away what I expected to be the next two thirds of the story. And I couldn't even finish the final arc with how it felt like it was mocking the idea that all these characters would have meaningful arcs after the first year, giving us business cards for each of them instead of anything actually telling us how they changed and grew as people. And how it gives you the spoilers for the next 2 years of tournaments that were supposed to be 2 years of growth and change in how this massive cast of teams and players play. If there's some perspective or idea I'm missing that makes the timeskip good I'd love to learn it so I can finish this story without feeling like a knife is being driven into my back.
As someone who absolutely loves the timeskip, here's my perspective.
In real life, there aren't character arcs. You lose contact with a friend from high school and run back into them eight years later and they're an entirely different person. The timeskip, to me, reflects that. Everyone has evolutions, both on and off screen, whether we get to see them or not.
More importantly, though, is the running theme- that's been going throughout the entire manga, ever since we first met Kenma- of liking something not meaning you have to pursue it. All the characters we see in the timeskip are reflective of that, since while they all love volleyball, they don't all take it as their life's goal. We see that even in Hinata, who goes pro. We see how much he enjoys beach volleyball, how much it's now engrained into him, and he could have absolutely stayed in Brazil and gone pro in beach volleyball. But he doesn't. He returns to Japan and goes pro in indoor volleyball.
For every story we see onscreen, there are a million taking place off camera, and I think that's the point of the timeskip. Everyone has a story. It just so happens that the story of Hinata's first year ended where it did. The reason they told us what happened in years 2 and 3 was to tantalize us, urge us to imagine. This is what fanfic is for.
I got shivers about a thousand times while watching.
Not being dealt the best or even acceptable cards in your life, learning to live despite that...
Thank you for this creation! It really moved me.
Wow, that was a very interesting perspective! I always though about it as a neat underdog story, but now I see it with new appreciation, even though the mangaka didn't necessarily wrote it with the disabled experience in mind.
Amazing video as always!
Fantastic reading of the series, it definitely resonates with the story strongly and adds even more depth to it. Thank you for making this and sharing your perspective!
This video is absolutely amazing. Ive never thought of this, but it makes so much sense now, cuz i really resonated with any piece of media as much as i did with Haikyuu
Thank you soooooooooo much for this!
Volleyball is just a mechanism to tell a good story. Well done Haikyu!
Immediate click here right after seeing it in my sub feed. Lovely unique take and all that only with 3 teams out of many. Love it!!!
hey, thanks for watching! i hadn't even really considered that i'd only spoken about 3 teams but you're right - definitely could have brought up a few more too. just shows how good Haikyuu is.
Thank you for making this Video! I’m disabled myself (legally blind) and was looking for representations of our community in anime for ages. I watched a few episodes of Haikyuu before but never thought about it in a way like that. But the things you pointed out make so, so much sense that it hurts. I really want to see more things like that and I really wish that there would be any story or character that represent people with disability how they really are without constant interpretations or workarounds like in Haikyuu. That would be really awesome.
This was an excellent. Haikyu is an anime/manga I thought I’d wouldn’t gel with, but it has a lot of heart, and great characters. You discussion about it has shone a new light on it for me, and it shows how art can resonate with people. Keep up the amazing work man !
Thank you thank you for making this video. Thank for sharing your story and thank you for showing me just another facet of why haikyuu is amazing.
Thank you very much for covering this series. I don't have any disabilities so hearing whenever I hear your POV and how this series I absolutely adore touched you. Every rewatch, every reread I go through, I just end up being a big 'ole crybaby. Loved all of the character arcs and the message Haikyuu teaches.
This was interesting to listen to. I really enjoyed it! Thank you!
I really love this video essay!! I literally have so much to say, but I'll try to keep it short. Firstly I can really relate to the topic since I also have chronic pain and had to stop doing dance as a teen, it is still saddening that I can't do something I love. But this video also made me realise that in all this I'm really more of a Washijou, being mad when other people get this I've never had and that is a good insight I think.
Secondly I also find a very reassuring representation in Kageyama since I'm diagnosed autistic and he has A LOT of those traits. Kageyama's story shows how in the wrong company he seems mean, even if that isn't his intention and when he came to Karasuno he found people both willing to accept those sides of him, but also explain how he can change. It's really rare to get someone calmy explain what you could say to different people to make it easier instead of just calling you a bitch or just slowly distancing from you. I really love those moments in Haikyuu when Kageyama is obviously trying to copy Sugawara or Sugawara or Ennoshita tells him outright what he could do or say and Kageyama trying to follow through!
That could also be connected to what the video said about romanticising since characters with autistic traits are most often seen as comedic or just mean. But in Kageyama's case it's presented as a problem that he also would like to solve and it's honestly so different from other anime portrayals.
All in all, sorry for the long comment... but such a good video that really gets you to think and it's so nice to have the insight of someone with a disability!
Hey, you have a great voice for essays and I found myself binging quite a few of your videos! I enjoy your takes very much :D Keep it up!
This video is absolute gold. I can't wait to watch Haikyuu
KINGK's Xenoblades video brought me to your channel and I'm really glad it did. I hope you continue to grow as a creator, because it's been a while since i've seen a lineup of essays as thoughtful and well produced
means a lot, thanks for the kind words!
I keep finding videos to give me more reasons to love this show, hearing your unique story was beautiful, thank you so much for sharing it! I'm excited to continue sharing this show and video with more friends for years to come, amazing job!
Aw, I enjoyed this one a lot - really love hearing another perspective on a show I really like.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts on Ousama Ranking - but either way thanks for this one :3
thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed! and i've actually been meaning to check this out - will fast-track it to the top of my list, thanks for the recommendation :)
That was a very interesting take on a sports anime at I often only view as "following the usual JUMP magazine agenda of the underdog team winning in the end due to friendship and trying to better themselves". It's interesting to see it from the perspective of disability being represented in a show the way you have referenced it. I'm glad the anime/manga gave you a positive outlook, too. Funnily enough, I just had to think of the anime "Princess Tutu", because the basic premise of it is "a person wanting to do a thing (here, dancing ballet) but being unable to do so due to bodily restrictions (not the right body parts for it at first, then seemingly 'no talent' for it), then needing to use magic to seemingly fix "the issues" only for that to be flawed as well. It might not be to your taste, because it also has a lot to do with fairytales and storytelling as the crux of the show. But maybe you'll like it.
fantastic and insightful take on the topic, what a treat
This was the first show that hooked me in enough to make me to go out find and read the manga. It's beautiful and I'm very happy to have experienced it.
Hi, this video was lovely! I had to skip to after the spoilers because I haven’t finished season 4 but this show had a very similar effect on me. I have felt so beat down by trauma and mental health and this show really lifted me up.
I’m glad it brought you a fresh Perspective on your disability as well, it was wonderful to hear!
If you don’t mind a recommendation I would maybe consider my hero Accademia, it has a similiar concept of a character who doesn’t measure up and has to work through that. Though it’s quite “Shōnen”, it’s got heart. the music is done by the same guy who does haikyu as well so it’s excellent!
Anyway your videos are dope! Thank you :)
I haven’t seen Haikuyuu, but it isn’t it very shonen as well?
@@thomasffrench3639 totally! For me its just got a different feel as its not a battle Shōnen like DBZ or MHA/ Naruto etc
@@claudnero fair. People honestly simplify anime too much. Shonen is just refers to shows for teenage dudes, so Regular Show is a Shonen.
Also another rant: whenever a high quality American animation comes out that’s not a comedy, its called an anime. Like I don’t see any similarities between Castlevania and Toradora. Castlevania feels more like Game of Thrones than it does anime.
hey, thank you for watching! i'm glad to know the show resonated with you too. i have seen MHA, and i'm actually up to date on the manga too - it's a good recommendation because i do really enjoy it, and Deku is absolutely a really great protagonist :)
I have seen a bunch of videos about haikyuu but this is one of the most unique perspectives on this wonderfull show. Haikyuu trully is a great show and thank you for sharing this video!
Btw i have never truly understood how harmfull inspiration porn truly is for both the disabled and the non-disabled. I usually don't think about that sort of stuff all that much but it is a shame how much prejudices people have before talking to each other. Makes me think about the Little Prince where the MC says that instead of describing someone by tangeble and physical attributes, you can also think about the emotional and intangeble side aswell.
Lost track abit but again, thank you and have a nice day!
As an avid volleyball player since grade school into HS, I fell off before college. This anime was so true to playing the sport, but this was an absolute treat to listen your take on how it's similar to a disabled person.
Appreciate the video and found this one after I finished the length you Hades one 🥰 new sub for sure!
amazing video. it somehow reminds me to how takehiko inoue with slam dunk and real manga influenced haikyu's storytelling.
This is interesting! I really like Haikyuu for mental health representation purposes; Hinata definitely has ADHD and Kageyama is one of the most autistic individuals I’ve seen in media. That just goes to show how impactful our own perspectives can be, I suppose, lol.
Even without this perspective, as an autistic person with adhd and dyslexia (the holy trinity I know) seeing characters that i could identify with like Kageyama and Tendou felt so good. Like Kageyamas struggles because of his lack of social skills and fear of change probably weren’t intended to be because of autism but I connected with him a lot
I haven't read it yet, but "Real" is a wheelchair basketball Manga by the same mangaka behind "Slam Dunk" and "Vagabond." Given the excellence of his other works and from word of mouth "Real" is definitely worth checking out.
Great video by the way
i fucking loved this. you expressed EXACTLY how i feel about this series and why it means so, so much to me. i really hope this will get more views!!
also, if you don't mind me asking, what is your accent? i feel like it's similar to mine, but i could be wrong, lol.
amazing video nevertheless, keep it up man!!
thank you! that is very kind :)
so i am scottish and live in scotland, but i spent my early years in yorkshire - that's why it can be a bit hard to place my accent, it's a little bit of a mixture!
@@Ludiscere ohhh how interesting !! i lived in yorkshire for a while but im actually irish. but i can definitely hear what you mean now that i know, lol.
@@Ludiscere I'll be soon studying linguistics and it was really hard for me to figure out your accent because your Rs have rhoticity but the rest of your accent sounds a bit English. Also I really loved this video. I've never thought of myself as disabled but I have a connective tissue disorder that causes chronic pain that I have on a daily basis that gets worse when I'm more active. Because of this I've never really been able to play sports, even if I pushed through the pain my connective tissue disorder gave me "low body awareness" where essentially my coordination is way off as well as causing other things that have made me worse at sports. I'm very tall so growing up people always told me I should play basketball and I used to hate basketball because it was so hard for me but when I realized how much of an advantage I still had from being tall I did feel a bit sad that I missed out on being able to play it because if it weren't for my condition I could've been great.
ive never actually heard anybody reccomend haikyuu in any way to make me wanna watch it, but this video might actually make me go check it out. thanks for the video! and sharing ur experience :)
You deserve to be huge. I just binged most of your videos! Your writing style puts to shame most of the college essays I have to read. You have a knack for extended allegory that really sells the stories you are trying to tell! Can I ask what field you work in? Such a powerful writing voice. Have a great day!
adore this video, thank you so much
I think you'd love to hear that Argentina's main alternate setter, Matias Sanchez is about Hinata's height post-timeskip and is killing it professionally and in international tournaments!! (Coincidentally he's one of the closest setters there is to Kageyama's precision and to Hoshiumi's overall skill)
Amazing video, I cannot believe I am only seeing it now
Huh. I've never watched haikyuu but I'd heard about it because this one person on tumblr made a paravolley AU of it where all the characters had various disabilities and they all played sitting volleyball. It's pretty cool.
Thank you for making this video!
Nice vid, thanks for making and sharing
Being autistic (especially an autistic girl diagnosed late), I've always struggled with making friends. I never understood what set me apart from my peers, making it hard to even learn how to make friends. It's hard to understand people, even on the simplest basis. I can see my experiences of just trying to communicate through haikyuu. Its fantastic, really
I don't really know how to phrase this properly right now due to The Emotions, but Haikyuu's been really important to me for a lot of reasons I couldn't place. Watching this in bed after my back flared up and walking has become a bit too much again for a little while, and just... yeah. Yeah.
Haikyuu is the reason I play volleyball now. Been playing for less than a year and it's fun
I wish more of the haikyuu fandom would watch this and stop completely infantalizing Hinata.
Oh yeah, just found your channel from the Xenoblade video, cant wait to check this one :)
As someone just informed, 1/3rd of the way in I might add and right before a big test, I will not be allowed to even try to obtain the vet tech degree I was seeking due to my wheelchair and the fact I am unable to wear a closed toed shoe making me an OSHA violation for the surgery requirements for the degree, I can maybe settle for a Vet Assistant degree, if my grades are good enough to make up for failing the parts I will not be allowed to try, this resonates... I would like to see a story in media where the disabled character fails at their inspirational journey, sure it would be a major downer, but it would be more realistic they'd have to settle for less or other than their dream.
This was a spectacular Allegory for the disabled experience~
I've read all sorts of manga but seriously, along with Witch Hat Atelier and Koe no Karachi, Haikyuu will always stick with me.
I couldn't really articulate then why I found these three better than all the other media I've read or watched, but I just know that I love them because they're so very real...so relatable.
Hey! I have Ehlers Danlos and use forearm crutches myself, so as a fellow user of mobility aids I feel obligated to ask what your favorite one you’ve used is? I’m sorta new to this whole “wow walking hurts” thing, so I’m always scouting around for options.
This was a beautiful video
Excellent video, it was incredible. With respect to your condition, give a shot at reading Real, by Takehiko Inoue. I say that because it is a story that delves into disability and the experience of the athletes who have disabilities, be it allegorical or literal. But after Haikyuu it really is one of the most influential sports stories that moved me and gave me some perspective on how incredible some people are in this world.
I started watching in dub back in December and I immediately loved it and binged the first 3 seasons😭waiting for season 4 to come out in dub
I haven’t seen the series yet, but this video was great. I have seen good stories that you might label “inspiration porn” like Forest Gump, and I think they can show that a disabled person can do well in the world, but the fact that it’s the only representation is not a good thing. I have a mental disability, so it’s a bit different, with my physical abilities actually being really good, but I get why people would hate “inspiration porn” as it seems to be for “typical” people.
after reading "real" (manga from inoue) i was convinced disabled people are cool
To me, this was one of the reasons why I found the cast of The Pet Girl of Sakurasou so likeable. Normally I don't like Slice-of-Life shows, and you know that typical "Autistic" behavior that tends to somewhat be thrown in some shows I just find cringe worthy. In that show however, it clearly dug into not only what it was like for the character experiencing it, but also did a fantastic job at contextualizing and portraying the behavior of those around. Things like trying to control them without their input and more subtle things like expressing emotions and understanding the difference between expressing emotions vs not having them, that last bit something I feel a lot of these similar instances miss.
Regardless of whether I'll try to read the mangar or watch the anime, great work
Huh. A sports anime was the last place I'd expect to slot into the disability analogy, but most of the points were bitterly right on the money
Please keep making videos :) I just today found your channel and after 2 videos you definitely made a sub out of me. A loyal one at that. Amazing content ❤️