The manga & anime sports series, Haikyuu!! soared in terms of popularity after its debut in 2014 due to its impressive storyline, unpredictable matches, and visible character development. Haruichi Furidate's manga masterpiece, with the aid of Production I.G, brought a new change to the existing sports anime formula, allowing Haikyuu!! to become a sensational and fan-loved show.

The crux of the series centers on Karasuno Volleyball team and the protagonist Hinata Shoyo. Regardless, Haikyuu!! does more than focus on the spunky protagonist. It depicts the impressive character growth of characters like Kageyama Tobio and Tsukishima Kei. Tsukishima is one interesting character that slowly evolved in terms of ideals and attitude throughout the Haikyuu!! series. So, how much has the character changed since Season 1?

RELATED: Haikyuu!! Special One-Shot Chapter Published in Celebration of the Manga's 10th Anniversary

A Fear-Driven Character

tsukishima holding a volleyball

In the first season of Haikyuu!!, Tsukishima was first portrayed as an unpleasant character with a talent for volleyball. At first, his actions were "off-putting" for Haikyuu!! fans because he was always that downer – the harbinger of the future, possible bad luck that comes with hard work, putting in much effort, and not reaping good results. The story's protagonist, Hinata, had to devise a working strategy: jump power to make up for his disadvantageous volleyball height. In line with Hinata's actions, Tsukishima's ideals had an irritating element since they downplayed the effort of the zealous character.

Despite Tsukishima’s snarky behavior, he is a talented volleyball player capable of performing well in a high-paced match. Coupled with his ball-handling talents, Tsukishima is a remarkably intelligent and strategic player on the volleyball court. Following this perspective, the cause of Tsukishima’s behavior, despite his apparent skills, was nothing short of a wonder. Unfortunately, Tsukishima's jerk-like attitude is constant throughout the first season of Haikyuu!! and the reason behind his anti-hard work ideal wasn’t shown until the series revealed his backstory.

RELATED: Haikyuu!!: How Nishinoya Uses His Height To His Advantage

As the story offers a glimpse into Tsukishima’s past, the reason behind his actions becomes apparent and relatable. Tsukishima's negative attitude was a poor attempt at not allowing himself to repeat the mistakes his brother made. Tsukishima embodies the fear of maximizing one's effort to achieve a goal and having nothing to show for it. So, his actions toward Hinata were most likely a reaction to his internal fears. Hinata is willing to put his all on the line to win, and this visibly irks Tsukishima. However, despite his unappreciated attitude, Tsukishima wasn’t totally a bad person.

In the second season of Haikyuu!!, he volunteered to help Hinata and Kageyama, Karasuno's pillars, with their academics. Kageyama and Hinata failed their exams, which was a requirement for them to participate in the Tokyo training camp. So, after much pleading, Tsukishima decided to help them, something he wouldn’t have done in the first season. This was the first visible change in Tsukishima’s character.

The Game-Changing Match

tsukishima's determination

Slowly, Tsukishima changed throughout Haikyuu!!. His growth was not a sudden burst of determination or a newfound desire to fully aid the Karasuno volleyball team. Most likely, Hinata and Kageyama's passion slowly rubbed off on him, and soon, he started relishing the thrill that came with tough matches. This continued until he changed significantly in the Karasuno-Shiratorizawa match. The members of Shiratorizawa volleyball team were outstanding players, some of which played at a national level. Naturally, Karasuno's biggest obstacle in the heart-stopping match was the ace of Shiratorizawa, Ushijima.

At a critical point in the match, Tsukishima was injured. The typical Tsukishima in season one would have given up and left the match. However, surprisingly, Tsukishima summoned the willpower and tactics to stop the nearly unstoppable spikes of Ushijima. Within the game, Tsukishima gave in to his innate passion and desire for volleyball. A passion he tried to subdue with his shaky, fear-induced logic. Thankfully, Tsukishima's hard-pressed determination wasn't a waste since Karasuno won the match, preventing any possible regression in Tsukishma’s attitude. The match's success cemented Tsukishima's growth and killed the anti-hard work attitude he showed in the first seasons.

Tsukishima didn't hate or dislike volleyball. In fact, he enjoyed it. He was passionate about it. But he wasn't brave enough to put in the best possible effort to realize his dream. Thanks to his passion-driven teammates, he was able to change for the better, exhibiting one of the best character development in Haikyuu!!.

MORE: Kuroko’s Basketball vs. Haikyuu!!: Which Is the Better Sports Anime?