Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!! Blu-Ray Videos: “The Strongest Challengers,” “The Dumpster Battle,” and “View from the Top 2.”

My husband and I have been fans of the 2.5 D musical series, Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!!, ever since we saw their second show “Karasuno Revival” in Fukuoka in 2016. When their new Karasuno cast made their debut with “Fly High” in 2019, my husband, who was working in China at the time, made a weekend trip to Osaka just to see the show. (And he saw it twice!)

Unfortunately, seeing subsequent shows was made impossible to us and just about everyone else when the pandemic struck. Like all theater productions, Engeki Haikyu!! was hit hard by COVID. “The Strongest Challengers,” which began March 2020, had to cut its run short.

Despite the disappointment and financial loss this must have caused, Engeki Haikyu!! persevered. During the shutdown, they released an amazingly creative YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO-mLXG3MtA) with nearly every performer involved in the production. Then once things opened up, they went on to produce “The Dumpster Battle” and the final show, “View from the Top 2.”

And fortunately I was able to get these videos through Animate International (www.animate.shop).Thank you, Animate International for shipping internationally! Thank you, Toho Animation for producing the Blu-rays! (The videos are also available through amazon.co.jp.).

So for those who are sad that the Haikyu!! manga has ended and need something to tide you over until the next anime season, consider the Engeki Haikyu!! videos! You’ll need a Region 2 player to play the discs, and unfortunately, the show and extras are entirely in Japanese. However, if you read the manga, you will get the gist of what’s happening. In addition, various kind people have made show translations available for free on the Internet. At the writing of this post, my husband found subtitles for nearly all the shows and some of the curtain calls here:

https://kanasmusings.tumblr.com/post/614980635395833856/masterpost-engeki-haikyuu-subtitles

If you do decide to watch Engeki Haikyu!!, please support them by buying the videos! And for more details about the pandemic releases, please read on.

Contents

If you have any of the previous Engeki Haikyu!! videos, you’ll immediately notice some differences. The biggest difference is that “The Strongest Challengers” and “The Dumpster Battle” are a dual release that consists of three discs:

Disc 1

• The Dumpster Battle (edited and wide angle version)

Disc 2

• The Strongest Challengers (edited and wide angle version)

Disc 3

• The Strongest Challengers Backstage Footage
• The Dumpster Battle Backstage Footage
• The Dumpster Battle Curtain Call

The Strongest Challengers and Dumpster Battle dual release discs, disc case, and sleeve

Sadly, there’s no curtain call for “The Strongest Challengers.” Usually, that’s recorded at the final show, and it got canceled due to COVID. In addition, “The Strongest Challengers” video was not filmed before an audience. They still give a good performance, but I do miss watching the actor for Tanaka ham it up with the audience during curtain call.

“The Dumpster Battle” did get recorded before a live audience and have its curtain call, but it has obvious COVID modifications. The actors wear clear masks, which I didn’t find too distracting, but they sometimes interfered with the sound quality of the actors’ dialogue. Also, the curtain call was conducted in small, socially distanced groups rather than the mass lineup they usually have.

With “The Strongest Challengers” cut short and theater capacity limited for “The Dumpster Battle,” it’s not surprising Toho Animation packaged the shows together for the fans who couldn’t see it live. It certainly made it easier for me not having to order and ship two items.

Moving on…

View from the Top 2 discs, cover insert, and case sleeve

“View from the Top” consists of:

Disc 1

• View from the Top 2 (edited version)
• Curtain Call
• Special Ending Credits

Disc 2

• View from the Top 2 (wide angle version)
• Interview with the director, composer, Kotaro Daigo (actor for Hinata), and Ryunosuke Akana (actor for Kageyama)
• Backstage Footage
• Studio live session performance by the composer

Because I preordered my Blu-ray from Animate, I got a bonus item which turned out to be four buttons with Engeki Haikyu!!’s version of team mascots. I pinned them to the totebag my husband purchased at the 2019 Fly High performance.

Fly High tote bag with my View from the Top bonus buttons

Like “The Dumpster Battle,” “View from the Top” got filmed before a live audience with protocols in place (i.e. clear masks for the performers, no cheering from the audience). Unfortunately, a couple cast members tested positive for COVID while in mid-run so the last several performances, including the Tokyo grand finale, got canceled.

As a result, this curtain call isn’t the usual fun interaction with the audience where actors are as likely to burst into tears as they are to ham it up with their fans. Instead, each performer makes final remarks solo in front of their character’s team banner. It doesn’t have the same impact as pre-pandemic curtain calls, but I appreciate their efforts.

Production

The stage arrangement, aside from minor details on the periphery, were identical for the three Spring Tournament shows. This might have been due to budget constraints, but it does also make sense from a storytelling standpoint. (All of the matches are taking place at the Orange Court, after all.)

There are two (!) rotating tables at the front of the stage, an elevated platform at the rear, and a retractable ramp connecting the two levels. The front of the stage, the ramp, as well as the rear wall of the stage function as surfaces for Engeki Haikyu!!’s namesake high end projectors to cast their magic. This gives projections huge flexibility upon the stage and really makes images pop. Throughout the shows, you’ll see various cast members wiping off those surfaces (under the premise of cleaning the sweat off the Orange Court).

“The Dumpster Battle” and “View from the Top 2” also use flying harnesses but only very briefly. The majority of action is comprised of performers moving in sync with projections, dance numbers, and dramatic scenes.

Review

Most preceding productions incorporated two matches into a single show, but Engeki Haikyu!! dedicated an entire show to each of the Spring Tournament matches. Given the prestige of the competition, it was a good call. Plus, it was less exhausting for me as a viewer. “The Best Team,” which covered the Aoba Johsai rematch and the Shiratorizawa match, was a long show, and though I enjoyed it, I was worn out by the end.

Of the Spring Tournament shows, “The Dumpster Battle” is the one I’d watch over and over, even with the COVID masks. “The Strongest Challengers” was set up as a setter battle similar to “The Winner and The Loser,” but Kageyama doesn’t have the intense history with Atsumu that he did with Oikawa. Also, a lot of attention is given to the Miya Twins, but the Inarizaki team as a whole doesn’t have a distinct identity the way Dateko, Nekoma, or Nohebi do. Also, nearly every team has a signature dance move, but if Inarizaki had one, it didn’t stand out to me.

Nekoma, though, is a team included in several Engeki Haikyu!! shows, has a distinct personality, and has multiple rivals among the Karasuno team. The Dumpster Battle is the culmination of a relationship that dates back to old Ukai and Coach Nekoma’s youth, and Engeki Haikyu!! did a fabulous job incorporating all those elements as well as the childhood promise between Kenma and Kuroo.

On top of all that anticipation and emotion, the show capitalizes on Kenma’s gamer mindset to maximize projection effects. There’s a hilarious fantasy interlude at the opening of Act 2 that has nothing to do with the plot but uses their projections in a spectacularly entertaining way. (Seriously, I’ve watched that scene eight times, and I still think it’s awesome.)

It’s worth noting that the actors who play Kenma and Kuroo (and a few other Nekoma players) have been with the production since Nekoma first appeared in “Karasuno Revival.” As such, they get extra attention and screen time in the Curtain Call and Backstage Footage. So be sure to check that out if you’re fans of Kondou Shouri or Nagata Takato.

Oh, and Fukuzawa Yuu, who plays the Nohebi captain Suguru, returns to make commentary on the dumpster battle. This guy’s moves are so captivating, my eyes automatically jump to him anytime he’s in a dance number.

“View from the Top 2” runs into similar issues as “The Strongest Challengers” in that Kamomedai doesn’t quite have a memorable collective personality or signature dance. This matchup is mostly framed as a battle of little giants between Hinata and Hoshiumi before the OG of little giants, Udai. It also weaves in a Kageyama character arc outlining his journey from lonely King of the Court to one surrounded and supported by his team, but it has more to do with Kageyama and Karasuno than with Kamomedai.

Act 2 of “View from the Top 2” serves as a postscript for our characters. Hinata’s years in Brazil gets summarized a few lines of narration then the timeline jumps to the evening of the Schweiden Adlers-Black Jackals match where we see what everyone looks like post-high school. As they’ve done in other productions, Engeki Haikyu!! projects video of previous cast members (some of which interact with the live cast) to show how their characters fare as well. Although the manga dedicates three volumes to the Schweiden Adlers-Black Jackals match, Engeki Haikyu!! limits it to the highlights, which works well to wrap up the production without dragging it out.

Thus, Engeki Haikyu!! reaches its conclusion. Clearly, COVID ruined a lot of plans (including our plan to see the final show in person). To tell the truth, my husband and I were afraid the company would fold when “The Strongest Challengers” got canceled. Yet they persevered to bring Haikyu!! to a valiant finish, and for that, they have our heartfelt thanks and admiration.

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! Off-Season Character Goods

As mentioned in my previous post, Haikyu!!  fans are in the midst of a long wait for our next season of anime. In addition to fighting impatience, fans also have to contend with something else: a decline in character goods. There are hundreds of manga and anime in existence, and even as large as as Animate and The (Shonen) Jump Shop are, there’s only so much shelf space. As such, stores tend to stock merchandise of series that are currently airing or about to air, and only mega popular titles like Naruto get year-round dedicated space.

However, even though it’s been a couple years since the last episode of Haikyu!! aired, its fan base is apparently strong enough that my husband found some items on his last trip to Tokyo. It’s nowhere near the quantity and variety he witnessed in 2015, but he still found some interesting items to go with our Haikyu!! musical Blu-ray sets.

First, we have something that can only be described as really really random. Remember Shimada-san, the Karasuno alum who teaches Yamaguchi the jump float serve? If you’ll recall, he works at the family business, a supermarket called the Shimada Mart with a distinct piggy logo. Anyway, for some reason, someone thought it would make a marketable piece of merchandise, and for some reason. my husband thought I’d like it and bought it.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised they made a Shimada pig plushie considering a gal dressed up as the Shimada pig at last May’s Fanime Convention. At any rate, the pig plushie is still in its packaging, and if you want it, message me with your best offer.

This next item, on the other hand, I am totally keeping. It is the kind of accessory that sets you apart from all the other Haikyu!! cosplayers, and the best  ¥5000 my husband spent on this trip—a vinyl Karasuno gym bag! It’s got an adjustable strap and a side compartment in addition to the main one. Plus, it’s perfect for stowing street clothes during a cosplay meetup. I just have keep a close eye to make sure another Haikyu!! enthusiast doesn’t try to take off with it during said meetup.

And lastly we have an edible product: latte art in a package by Takara Tomy Arts! It’s kind of a cute concept, given the popularity of latte art. Apparently, they’ve solidified the milky foam stuff into solid discs. Just drop a disc into a cup of hot coffee, and you have insta-art!

However, it is a little disappointing that the creators didn’t choose a more detailed illustration for this product. My husband also bought the One Piece version to show what Takara Tomy was capable of producing, and as you can see below, the One Piece illustrations are much more intricate.

Next up: Really Random Souvenirs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! 2017 Musicals: “The Winner and The Loser” and “The Summer Evolution”

Haikyu!! fans are in the midst of a long waiting season as far as the anime goes. The last season was released 2016, and although it’s already 2018, there’s been no official announcement about when Season 4 will come out. Fortunately, the manga is still ongoing, and those in Japan had the opportunity to relive the drama in the Haikyu!! films and musicals.

As I mentioned in a post last summer, the Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!! production company presented the third musical The Winner and the Loser and the fourth musical The Summer Evolution in 2017. Unfortunately, my husband and I were unable to attend either show. Fortunately, as with their previous productions, the company collaborated with Toho Animation to release DVDs (Region 2 only) and Blu-rays of the musicals.

These are available through the Toho Animation online store and Amazon Japan, but both those outlets require a working knowledge of Japanese to make a purchase (and probably a Japan based credit card, I suspect). So my husband got them the old fashioned way: he ran to Akihabara during a 9-hour layover in Tokyo and bought them at Animate. (Arigatou, Animate!)

As with the previous releases, there are no English subtitles (although  the closing song for The Winner and the Loser does have English lyrics). And yes, it is pricey. Is it worth it? We think so! We only understand about one-tenth of the dialogue, but if you’re familiar with the series, you shouldn’t have any trouble following the overall plot. Also, the packaging, especially for The Winner and the Loser is really slick. The case includes a clear wraparound cover, and when you slide it off, you get a pretty cool image of Hinata in mid-jump. The Summer Evolution’s packaging isn’t quite as flashy, but its cast is the first to include females. Even though watching men play female bit parts is funny, it is nice to finally have actual women step onstage.

By the way, just like in the anime, the musical incorporates flashbacks in its storytelling. As such, these shows have references to previous productions, and those who’ve seen the first two musicals will have a more comprehensive entertainment experience.

Next up: Haikyu!! Off-season Character Goods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! Karasuno Revival musical DVD and more!

When my husband and I went to the Haikyu!! Karasuno Revival musical last November, we signed up for email updates from the production company. Thanks to Google translate, we’ve learned from these periodic messages that the third Haikyu!! musical, The Winner and the Loser, toured Japan last spring; a special Haikyu!! exhibition took place at Tokyo Dome; and their fourth musical, The Summer Evolution, is coming out this fall. Then just before my husband’s most recent business trip, we learned that Jump Shop stores would be selling Haikyu!! musical goods for a limited time.

My husband’s itinerary was all China, so we chalked it up as just another event we couldn’t take advantage of. However, due to some unexpected hiccups during his trip, his boss redirected him to Nagoya for the last bit of his trip.

Translation: he wound up with one full day to shop in Japan.

DVD for the second Haikyu!! musical

And shop he did. Not only did he find the musical goods at Nagoya Jump Shop, but the store, in anticipation of an influx of Haikyu!! fans, also had their own Haikyu!! goods in force. In addition, my husband has learned from previous trips that there’s no guarantee that a character good will be around the next time you visit, even if it’s just a week later. So if he sees something he likes, he gets it. Thus, he came home with quite a haul.

So to start, we have the Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyu!! Karasuno Revival DVD. This is the musical that we saw last fall. Yes, we liked it so much we want to watch it again and again. No, there are no English subtitles. Yes, the DVD requires a Japan region player, but that’s okay because we got one when we bought the DVD for the first Haikyu!! musical.

Jersey towels!

Next we have jersey mini-towels. As those who’ve visited Japan know, most Japanese restrooms don’t provide paper towels, so people carry handkerchiefs or small towels for drying their hands. Now fans can show their team spirit every time they head to the sink. Jump Shop had a towel for every Karasuno member, and because Daichi and Hinata are my favorites, my husband brought back 1 and 10.

Jump Shop also had jersey mugs for the whole team. My husband picked up a Hinata mug along with a traditional-style tea mug featuring most of the Karasuno team and several rival players. A nice detail of the jersey mug is that the inside of the mug has a manga-style picture of Hinata.

Chibi character tea mug and jersey mug

 

I think it reads,”Mou ippai!”(“One more cup!”)

Not to leave the Karasuno captain behind, my husband also picked up a Daichi clip and stamp. However, these items and the Haikyu!! pen alongside them are actually not from the Jump Shop but a random Ikebukoro shop.

Haikyu!! stamp, clip, and pen. The clip splits Daichi in half.

Also from another store (Ikebukoro Animate) is one of the best items of the bunch. When we visited last November, this team banner was part of a store display, but it wasn’t actually available for sale. This time it was, so now we get to show our support for our favorite volleyball team. Go crows!

FLY!!!

Next up: Haikyu!! themed snacks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! Season 3 Haul!

My husband boasts that he can now get to the Animate store in Nagoya, Osaka, Ikebukoro, and Akihabara without the help of directions. This says a lot about how he likes to spend his free time on business trips. However, in addition to the fact that he is an otaku, he like to make his rounds with these stores because each location actually carries different stock. So between four Animate stores and the Jump store in Nagoya along with the start of Haikyu!! Season Three, he returned with quite a haul of Haikyu!! goods.

Seijoh chibi charm (?) and padded pen case

 

Sports towels with school spirit!

Kenma on panda???

Apparently, Karasuno’s rival schools have quite following, judging from their representative goods. According to my husband, there was also a Karasuno sports towel, but the design wasn’t nearly as slick as Seijoh’s and Nekoma’s so he only wound up buying the ones for the rival teams.

Not to say that Karasuno got outclassed by its rivals in all categories. During my husband’s last trip, he brought back Hinata and Kageyama phone charms. Apparently, the collection now includes Nekoma’s setter. However, I don’t know what panda bears have to do with Tokyo, volleyball, or Nekoma High School, and Kenma just looks awkward sitting on it.

A fan for ace Bokuto and chibi themed erasers

Fits in the medicine cabinet!

While most of his purchases, like the chibi themed erasers, were “what-you-see-is-what-you-get,” we did get a bit of a surprise with one. My husband was trying to stick with practical items, ergo the simple plastic cup (something I’ve been needing for the bathroom) and towels. The eyeglass case also fell into that category. However, despite being a Jump store item, the proportions of the chibi crow on the are kind of off, enough to make it look like a counterfeit product. However, when I opened the case, I was pleasantly surprised by what is now my new favorite eyeglass wipe. And something that makes it extra special is that it’s a rare item that includes all twelve members of the Karasuno team and their support staff.

Eyeglass case and wipe

According to my husband, more Haikyu!! goods should be available as we get deeper into the anime season. However, I’ve got more than enough to keep me happy as Karasuno enters the finals against Shiratorizawa.

Go crows!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souvenirs from Asia: Haikyu!! Water Bottle

My husband has been traveling to Asia frequently for his new job and has fun bringing me various souvenirs. On his last trip, he dropped by the Nagoya Animate, a manga and anime store, and found this.

Haikyu!! water bottle. Nekoma print to the left also obtained from Animate but not included with the bottle.

It’s a water bottle. ¥378 (approximately $3.50 US) is pretty steep for 350 mL of water, but this beverage container is the most interesting I’ve encountered since I discovered Ramune. He picked it up because we are avid fans of the Haikyu!! anime series, and fellow enthusiasts will recognize it as the uniform of Kenma Kozume from the Karasuno rival Nekoma.

Please note the defined buttock region

It’s kind of cool, but at the same time weird. It’s missing arms and legs, but the body is quite defined. Defined meaning it sports a distinct outline of abs and buttocks. It’s weirder given that Kenma didn’t quite seem that ripped in the series.

I’m curious as to who the water bottle’s target audience is. Haikyu!! is a Shonen Jump title, which means its fan base is skewed towards guys, but I can’t imagine a middle school boy paying a premium to drink water out of a Kenma molded bottle.

Novel as it is, I’m at a loss as to what to do with it. Seems too nice to toss into the recycle, but I’m not reusing it (especially since it’d be super weird to be drinking out of a container with abs and buttocks.). I can sort of see it as a collectible, but  my non-otaku friends might be creeped out if they saw it on our mantel. For now, it’s in our bathroom as a reminder of what happens when anime and Japanese packaging technology collide.