From Embers to Blue Lock, sports manga's forgotten simplicity is the reason they can't catch up to Haikyu

Haikyu is one of the definitive sports manga in the medium, and its simplicity is an element that some more recent series, such as Blue Lock and Embers, have forgotten, which is a shame. This is an element that author Haruichi Furudate pulled off magnificently with his volleyball series, making it a lot more accessible and captivating for a lot of people.

Moreover, while Blue Lock and Embers have their strengths, their visuals and storytelling usually deviate greatly from the essence of the sport—in this case, football. It is true that every sports story is not just about the game itself, but Haikyu always managed to find a balance and make volleyball a pivotal path for the characters to grow and evolve.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the manga/anime and reflects the opinions of the writer.

Explaining why Haikyu's simplicity makes it a superior option to the likes of Blue Lock and Embers

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It is fair to say that series such as Blue Lock have become some of the most popular sports manga in recent years. However, there is also no denying that the emphasis on being over the top and rarely giving the game the focus it deserves tends to be its greatest weakness. It has been said time and time again that series such as this one or Embers tend to be a lot closer to battle shonen than sports, which is something that didn't happen with Haikyu.

The latter maintains the focus on the sport at the center stage while developing the characters and maintaining the games at a very grounded level. This, in return, makes for a much more compelling narrative since Hinata Shoyo and the rest of the Karasuno volleyball team have to compete like in real life, with no true emphasis on histrionics that can distance the story from the game.

Author Haruichi Furudate adheres greatly to the game of volleyball and makes it the biggest strength of the series, which is something that Embers and Blue Lock tend to lack. This is especially telling during the stories' downtime when the likes of Hinata and Kageyama tend to practice and train to develop new abilities, thus making their growth feel a bit more natural.

More details about these similarities

Kageyama and Hinata as seen in the anime (Image via Production I.G.)

Haikyu also has another virtue, which is staying quite focused in terms of visual representation, while Blue Lock and Embers tend to go for panels that are a lot more bizarre and exaggerated. Granted, to each their own in terms of artistic liberties, but sports manga tend to work best when adhering to reality, as evidenced by the legendary success of author Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk manga in the 90s.

Furudate understood this and spent a good amount of time in the series explaining the mechanics of volleyball and the virtues and flaws of each character from the Karasuno team. This gives the audience, perhaps with a majority that doesn't understand the sport, a greater understanding of what is going on and builds a greater connection in Haikyu.

Final thoughts

All in all, Blue Lock and Embers are two football manga that have built their own reputations and don't need to be a copy of Haikyu to succeed. On the other hand, it is also important to understand that simplicity and clear storytelling usually go a long way, especially when it comes to sports manga.

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About the author

Kevin is an expert anime writer at Sportskeeda who endeavors to keep readers apprised with the latest news and trends in the genre via his content. The groundbreaking Dragon Ball series captured a young Kevin's imagination, introducing him to the entrancing world of Japanese animation. Since then, he has been a staunch follower of the works of many artists, including Berserk's creator, Kentaro Miura, who he admires greatly for his unparalleled work quality.

With a BA in Public Accounting, Kevin’s dip into the world of content began 7 years ago when he took up writing. Since then, he has written for numerous websites, including Nerdgenic, Stretty News, MusikHolics, and BookNerdection.

He maintains very high ethical standards in his content by placing a strong emphasis on transparency, and obtaining comprehensive information off the web to fully capture nuances.

Kevin has has had the privilege of interviewing several musicians, including metal band Stryper’s Michael Sweet, Bobby Blitz of Overkill, and Saxon’s Biff Byford.

When not immersed in the anime world, Kevin writes comic book scripts and books for his own projects. He also enjoys reading and watching football.

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Edited by Meenakshi Ajith