Been thinking about the rich symbolism and metaphors woven into HQ!!, in particular re. Oikawa and his character journey.
Seijoh being trees has stayed in the back of my mind for many years. I thought little of it at first, but being older (and wiser) now, I see the parallels; trees take years to put down roots so they can eventually grow tall and strong - just like how young Oikawa saw his peers’ raw talent and felt a deep resentment and fear he’d never match up. Kageyama’s like a bird who’s always had the ability to fly vs. someone who can’t, who wishes he could but wasn’t blessed with wings. To come full circle at the end with Oikawa achieving his dreams, going abroad, further than anyone else… it makes his earlier struggles hit home and feel more gratifying than ever, like when a tree finally blossoms and its branches hit the clouds and meets the birds again.
Maybe I’m reading too deeply into it, but that’s just my personal interpretation of it all. It’s been fun to revisit such a dear character in my art again.
Store (if you want these as prints, let me know! I can make some)
