'Harukana Receive' Isn't the Female Version of 'Haikyuu!'

I love Haikyuu!.  It’s easily one of the greatest sports anime series ever made.  However, right from the start, I’ve always thought that it would’ve been better if it had been about a female volleyball team.  Seriously, though guys are objectively better in the sport (as what is true with almost all sports), watching girls play volleyball is somehow more appealing.  With this in my mind, I’ve always been on the lookout for a female version of Haikyuu!.

That is probably why I got curious with Harukana Receive – even though it’s an anime about beach volleyball, not volleyball.

The anime focuses on the team of Haruka Ōzora and Kanata Higa (“Harukana” is a portmanteau of their names).  Haruka is a tall city girl who is mightily self-conscious of her height.  One day, due to the nature of her parents’ jobs, she has to move in with her cousin Kanata and their grandmother in Okinawa.  There, she encounters volleyball, and quickly becomes enamored with the sport.  Meanwhile, Kanata has had plenty of experience playing beach volleyball already, and had even won tournaments when she was in middle school.  However, the combination of a past trauma and her insecurity for being short made her quit playing.  But Haruka’s gusto proves to be infectious.  Soon, Kanata regains her love for the sport and starts playing again, with Haruka as her partner.

Harukana Receive is nothing like Haikyuu!.  It’s not nearly as exhilarating and riveting – not by a long shot.  The character arcs are formulaic, and the themes are generally lightweight.  However, the matches can be occasionally fun to watch.  In addition, the bright, enthusiastic atmosphere produced by its tone and characters (especially Haruka) often brings some warm, fuzzy feeling.

And since this is an anime about beach volleyball, voluptuous girls are frequently shown in bathing suits.  Hence, it can be visually naughty.  But it’s within the parameters of being adequately tasteful.  In fact, the execution is not even blatantly fan service-y.

In the end, the 12-episode debut season of Harukana Receive is nothing special.  Perfectly watchable.  But most likely to be forgotten.