Haikyuu!! has become one of the most popular sports anime franchises of the modern era, turning high school volleyball into a story filled with rivalry, friendship, ambition and personal growth. Created by Haruichi Furudate, the original manga began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2012 and concluded in July 2020 after eight and a half years. The series eventually collected its story into 45 manga volumes, while the anime adaptation became one of Production I.G's best known works.
The television anime first premiered in April 2014, introducing viewers to Shoyo Hinata, a short but extremely determined volleyball player who dreams of becoming a great player despite his height. His journey becomes even more interesting when he joins Karasuno High and discovers that his former middle school opponent, Tobio Kageyama, is also there. Their difficult relationship slowly develops into one of the most important partnerships in the entire story. Production I.G handled the animation, with Susumu Mitsunaka directing the first season.
Over the following years, Haikyuu!! received four television seasons, covering Hinata's development from an inexperienced beginner into a much more complete volleyball player. The fourth season, Haikyuu!! To The Top, continued Karasuno's journey into the Spring High national tournament. However, the television anime did not adapt the entire manga, which left fans waiting to see some of the biggest matches from the later part of the story.
That continuation finally arrived in movie form with Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle, known in Japan as Gekijoban Haikyuu!! Gomisuteba no Kessen. The film was released in Japan on February 16, 2024, and focused on the long awaited official match between Karasuno High and Nekoma High. Their rivalry had been built up throughout the series, making the match one of the most anticipated moments in the entire franchise.
The movie is especially important because Karasuno versus Nekoma is not simply another volleyball match. Hinata and Kenma have developed a unique friendship and rivalry since their early practice matches and training camps. Karasuno's aggressive style contrasts with Nekoma's emphasis on receiving, patience and keeping the ball alive. The result is a match based not only on physical ability but also on strategy, psychology and the different ways the two teams understand volleyball.
After The Dumpster Battle, attention naturally shifted toward the next part of the anime adaptation. Fans had originally expected the story to continue through another major movie, but the project eventually became two separate anime productions. One is the feature film Haikyuu!! The Movie: VS The Little Giant, while the other is a special anime titled Haikyuu!! Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro, which can be translated roughly as Haikyuu!! Where the Monsters Go. Both projects are being produced by Production I.G.
The important point for fans waiting for the Monster anime is that it is officially confirmed. Haikyuu!! Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro is not a fan project, rumor or unconfirmed continuation. The official Haikyuu!! website and Production I.G have confirmed that the special anime will be released in 2027. The announcement was made in December 2025, alongside the confirmation of The Movie: VS The Little Giant.
However, there is one detail that fans should be careful about when discussing its release date. There is currently no officially announced exact day or month for Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro. The confirmed information is the year 2027. Some industry materials describe the special anime as a television broadcast, while the official Haikyuu!! announcement confirms its 2027 release without giving a specific broadcast date. Therefore, claims saying that the anime will definitely premiere on a particular day in 2027 should not be treated as official information.
The story of the special anime will focus on Fukurodani Academy versus Mujinazaka High, another major quarterfinal match taking place during the Spring High tournament. Fukurodani is led by Kotaro Bokuto, one of the most popular and unpredictable players in Haikyuu!!. Mujinazaka, meanwhile, features Wakatsu Kiryuu, one of the strongest ace players in the tournament. Their match happens at the same stage of the competition as Karasuno's battle with Kamomedai.
This is also why the title Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro is so interesting. The word "bakemono" can be associated with monsters or supernatural creatures, but in the context of Haikyuu!! it connects naturally with the series' idea of extraordinary volleyball players who seem almost monstrous when they enter their strongest competitive state. The title therefore fits a story centered around powerful players such as Bokuto and Kiryuu without suggesting that Haikyuu!! is suddenly becoming a fantasy or supernatural anime.
At the same time, The Movie: VS The Little Giant will cover the other major quarterfinal match, Karasuno versus Kamomedai. This match is particularly important for Hinata because Kamomedai has its own player known as the Little Giant, Korai Hoshiumi. Hinata originally became interested in volleyball after seeing the original Little Giant, so facing Hoshiumi creates a strong connection between Hinata's childhood inspiration and his current development as a player.
The two 2027 projects are therefore connected by the same stage of the Spring High tournament, but they tell two different stories happening at the same time. Karasuno's match explores Hinata's confrontation with Hoshiumi, while the special anime gives Bokuto and Fukurodani a much larger spotlight. This approach also allows the production team to cover more of the manga without forcing two very different matches into one movie.
Another reason the announcement matters is the status of the original manga. The Haikyuu!! manga is already complete, meaning there is no question about how the overall story ends from the source material. The challenge for the anime production is deciding how much of the remaining material can be adapted effectively. The 2024 film covered the Karasuno versus Nekoma match, while the two announced 2027 projects continue with other major Spring High matches.
For fans who are wondering whether Haikyuu!! is getting a traditional fifth season, the current official information does not announce a Season 5 television series. Instead, the continuation is being handled through the feature film VS The Little Giant and the special anime Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro. That distinction is important because many unofficial websites and social media posts continue to describe every new Haikyuu!! project as Season 5, even though that is not how the official announcements identify these productions.
The animation team is another reassuring part of the announcement. Production I.G is returning, continuing the studio's connection with Haikyuu!! that began with the original television anime. Susumu Mitsunaka is also listed as director and scriptwriter for both of the new 2027 projects. His return gives the upcoming productions a direct creative connection to the earlier anime and the 2024 movie.
For now, the safest and most accurate release information is simple. Haikyuu!! Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro is officially scheduled for 2027, but an exact release date has not been announced. The same year is confirmed for Haikyuu!! The Movie: VS The Little Giant. Until the official Haikyuu!! website, Production I.G or the relevant production partners announce a specific date, fans should treat any exact month or day circulating online as unconfirmed.
What makes the upcoming projects exciting is that Haikyuu!! is not returning simply for the sake of continuing an old franchise. The remaining story contains some of the most important volleyball battles in Hinata's journey, and the new anime projects are finally bringing those moments closer to animation. After the emotional conclusion of The Dumpster Battle, the next stage promises another collection of intense matches, rivalries and character moments that made Haikyuu!! special in the first place.
As of August 2026, fans can therefore look forward to two new Haikyuu!! anime projects in 2027. VS The Little Giant will focus on Karasuno versus Kamomedai, while Bakemono-tachi no Iku Tokoro will follow Fukurodani versus Mujinazaka. The exact release dates remain unknown, but the 2027 release window is officially confirmed. Until further announcements arrive, that is the information fans can rely on with confidence.