Haruhi Suzumiya is a girl with more power over her existance than she ever could imagine


The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
In-Depth Anime Series Review by XenoCrisis0153


Psychics couldn't predict it. Aliens couldn't create it. Time-travelers could search the entire space-time continuum and not find anything else like it. What am I talking about and why am I making such references? If you've already seen The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, you know exatly what I am referring to. If you haven't seen it yet, then you must find out what you've been missing. Whether you're new to anime or have been a long-time fan, this series has plenty to offer. I present to you all my evaluation and critique of this unquestionably tremendous anime. Be warned, some minor spoilers may be contained for those who are not at least four or five episodes in.



A typical reaction of the S.O.S. Brigade members: Kyon (left) looks nervous, Mikuru (right) looks complacently
clueless and Yuki (middle background) is quietly just going with the flow.

First thing you might ask when you see the title of this anime is why is it called The "Melancholy" of Haruhi Suzumiya? You may continue by asking, "is this an anime about a depressed or sad girl?" "Is it about a girl who makes other people sad?" "What happens when this girl is sad?" And probably the most underlined question you'll ask is "why should I even CARE that this girl is sad?" So the appropriate question of the multitude of questions listed above is: "what happens when Haruhi is sad?" This is the question this series centralizes itself around. Not to give too much away, basically you should understand that high school freshman, Haruhi Suzumiya, unconciously controls the universe. Whenever she wishes for most things to happen, they happen. I'm not saying ice cream falls from the sky everytime she's hungry, but some of the major things in life that she desires usually become reality through some unusual method of creation.



That stare only means one thing.... Haruhi isn't happy... and we all know what comes next!!
Wait... you're the one person in the world who DOESN'T know???  Then be sure to watch and find out!!

So what are some of the things Haruhi Suzumiya has wished for? She's always had an interest in supernatural beings such as aliens, time travelers and espers (people with mind control and psychic powers). And by unhesitatingly announcing to her classmates that she is seeking such individuals and subsequently forming a club with the same purpose, it is as though she has created some cosmic "wish list." Soon after, one of each of those exact entities has arrived right under her nose... though she doesn't even know it. The greatest amusement of the series is that we as viewers know how close to the truth Haruhi is, yet she's so oblivious to it.



Cold... Calculated... Sagacious... I wouldn't have Yuki any other way!!

Looking at the story-development of this anime, there is a very unique, very unordinary, very special, and most importantly... a very interesting approach to how the producers carried out the display of events: the episodes do not run in the actual sequence order. What I mean is, the episodes are not in order. Therefore, we see the aftermath of some events before we see the actual events themselves. Because the story unfolds like this, audience members really need to scrutinize every minute visual detail, every word of dialogue, every action performed in order to follow along appropriately. This goes for supporting cast, as well. There is very little filler as even the most redundant and inane scenes have importance later on. If you're like me, you'll find yourself jotting down little notes after each episode because you'll need to get your bearings straight everytime you begin a new episode.



Like a poor fightened kitten, Mikuru always gets nervous whenever Haruhi has a new idea to
attract new business for the S.O.S. Brigade.

Probably an element even more attractive than the uncommon story-development approach and the plot is the cast of characters. Every fan has their favorite, but at the same time, most people may have trouble picking out someone they don't like. As mentioned, Haruhi Suzumiya is the central character as the charismatic and perpetually energetic president of the S.O.S. Brigade (her oddity-seeking school club). Along for the ride is her classmate and our narrator known only as "Kyon." He's the most down-to-earth member of the club, for more than obvious reasons, but the commentary and observations he makes bring the events occurring to him and us into a much brighter light. Basically, he acts pretty much the same way we would act if we were in his shoes which makes him very personable and easy to relate to.



The other male member of Haruhi's club... Koizumi may appear to be a yes-man,
but he's always in control of what happens around him

Coming from all walks of life (literally), we have the rest of S.O.S. Brigade. Mikuru Asahina is the upper-classman, yet she seems to be the most adolescent of the group. However, when she discusses her other-worldly occupation, her personality seems to do a complete 180-degree turn. It's just enough to keep you on your toes. Haruhi is completely unsuspectful of Mikuru's real identity, but she keeps her around for other reasons, mainly as the club's eye-candy to attract new "business." Yuki Nagato is the quiet, reserved, discreet member of Haruhi's club. Yuki keeps to herself a lot and doesn't seem to fit in with the rambunctious and wild Haruhi, but when trouble brews, Yuki is always first into action and ready to unleash her impressive prowess in defeating any challenger with calculated proficiency. Koizumi Itsuki is the other male student involved in the club and he tends to only speak up when events concerning him arise. From those on the outside, he seems to be very agreeable, becking to Haruhi's every demand, but there's more stirring in the background than Haruhi could ever know. Plenty more could be said about each of these characters, but that would defeat the purpose of watching the series.



No better place than a canal-side park to search for aliens, time travelers and espers, right?

As with other anime series I review, I seriously consider art and music. Kyoto Animation (the company that brought us Air, Kanon 2006 and Full Metal Panic (Fumoffu and Second Raid)) has done an absolutely brilliant job with the animation quality. Character design, backgrounds, and object detail is nothing but astonishingly well-drawn. Even more importantly, there are plenty of scenes involving special effects and it is no surprise to hear me report that they too are done with great care. Also to be noted is the dance sequence performed during the ending animation since the motions of the characters are perfectly fluid, a feat that is difficult to capture when animating. For music, the opening theme "Bouken Desho Desho" and the closing theme "Hare Hare Yukai" are both lively and entertaining. They both set the mood for each episode and stay true to real tone of the series. In-episode music is appropriate, fitting, and engaging. Some of the background music sounds as though it was lifted from the Katamari Damacy soundtrack.



Mikuru in Battle-Waitress Mode... I wonder who could mean to do harm against this
cute angel.  Better be for a good reason!!

For some series critiques, finding negatives is easy. For other series, it is a little difficult. In the case of Suzumiya, it seems almost next to impossible to find even one tiny little thing to knit-pick about. I suppose the only thing I could offer is that despite there being such a huge following and such an outpouring of love and support for this show, it seems as though there's the possibility of this being a hit-or-miss series. Some polls I have seen have the scores listed as being just really high and really low... not many scores in the mid-range. Be forewarned though, this IS an anime that will require you to think, to be observant, and to require a little bit of processing of information. If this isn't what you're looking for, you may not find the appeal that others have found. It is a requirement though that you must watch AT LEAST two episodes since the first aired episode is actually a fake student film and not actually a "real" episode of the series. The 14-episode long run is a real disappointment, as well. Fans across the globe are already clamoring for more, myself especially.



You'd be a fool to think that docile bookworm Yuki couldn't stand her ground in a good fight.  Go Yuki!!!

Looking over the series as a whole, I am ecstatically pleased with how it turned out. Not since 2004's Mai-HiME have I been so glued to a series before. I've found The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya solidly entertaining and positively engaging. Whether I'm laughing at the harrowing ordeals Mikuru is put through, Haruhi's bloated sense of ambition, Yuki's ambivalence or Kyon's observations, I am continually engaged in each and every episode. Having the episodes run out of chronological order has even made the series fun to watch as it is a completely different way of teasing the audience. Had the series run as normal, some of the magic may have been lost in the delivery.



It's not snow.. it's... well, a little difficult to explain  ^_^;

Anime has entered a new era and MoHS has raised the proverbial bar another fifty notches or so. A challenging and engaging story, adorable and interesting cast members, a truly awe-inspiring plot theme, a unique and groundbreaking form of story development, pleasing music, gorgeous visuals and a fresh mix of comedy, action, and science fiction are truly the greatest formula any series could hope to achieve. Haruhi-ism has affected anime fandom and the Harutards have spoken: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is the anime of the millennium that is not to be missed. I highly recommended to all anime viewers; including individuals of all ages, both genders, fans of any genre, and those who are from this dimension and beyond.



So there ARE things in the universe that make Haruhi blush!!


THE SCORES:

Animation (Objects/Background/Special FX) - 10/10
Music (Opening/Ending/Background) - 10/10
Characters (Personality/Design) - 10/10
Story (Plot/Development) - 10/10
Overall (Entertainment Value/Rewatchability Factor) - 10/10.... Perfect scores across the board!!



You'll be sure to love this series, Haruhi guarentees it!!

If you're interested, here's a look back at my Spotlight Review written in May 2006
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

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Published on: 2006-07-20 (66777 reads)