The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie

XO Look at all this motivation people. So much blogging and it is only the 6th. I hope I can keep this momentum up. XD Counting down the days until once again I am full of apologies and lateness.

Oh and I had a great day. XD Caught the last pokemon I can get on my pokewalker, was only nearly killed once, and work went well. GO ME! Time to do something really fun and blog The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya!

A late Merry Christmas present to us all? XD Good old Haruhi always thinking about the big picture though...

If you haven’t watched the first two seasons…well you are out of luck and will be lost. Spoilers for OOCness and vicious stabbings.

Total cat abuse!

Movie Summary: OH SNAP you don’t get one! XD Because my post is long enough without my paragraphs of doom ya’ll. Go to Wiki and read their version of a summary. The only thing I would really add is all the talk about people being sick and stuff means NOTHING. It is not important. Also every morning Kyon gets up the cat is abused by the little sister.

Holy crap people. Holy crap.

This is directed at both the awesomeness of the movie and the length of the movie. In case that wasn’t obvious.

But yes folks. Long movie was LONG. Being the special person I am I thought oh I will start watching the movie after 11 and start blogging it around 12:30 and hopefully have it up before I went to bed at 1:30/2 am. WRONG FOLKS. Well as you can tell by it being the next day and all.

XO Finally our girl after like an hour off screen!

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is 2 hours and 43 minutes long. Yeah folks. I thought it was more like an hour and 20 minutes at the most. Not that most people are complaining though. Most fans get enough of this franchise so they were probably loving every minute of it. XD But it is a pretty long movie for those who haven’t seen it yet.

In terms of the actual movie…this is me being impressed folks. Only a few things bothered me/didn’t feel right. But overall the movie was great and worth the wait. :( Sad is me that most of us had to wait at least until December 18th to see a decent subbed version of this movie.

Should I start with the stuff I liked or didn’t like? Hmmm. Since I had a pretty good day today I will start with the positives! A new and happy Tenchi for 2011. Let’s see how long that lasts.

Cry more. Not really, cry more. It moves me.

I like how upset and depressed Kyon was for most of the movie. Yes that is something positive people. Kyon usually is annoyed or very slight amused over things. He doesn’t get depressed or sad over things. Or rather nothing terrible has happened to force him into those emotions. Sure his life has been in danger and the entire world was almost destroyed. But nothing as horrible as losing all his friends okay people.

Descent into crazy land. Minus the Line and nonexistent yaoi.

So yes I like that an anime showed a boy ALMOST crying. I think I saw a few tears but almost crying is close enough. Because most of the time boys are shown being tough and breaking beer bottles with their heads and what not. The thought of them actually showing how scared and upset they are inside is almost unheard of. So when Kyon had a natural reaction to waking up in crazy land I enjoyed it.

See if someone looked at me like that I would be not talking to them ANYMORE!

By the way everyone else in crazy land was stupid. If someone was ranting about me being a dead killer, manhandling my friend/me, or generally talking insanity I would have run away from them or called the cops. I would not have engaged in crazy talk.

I am here to rescue our future stupid!

I like that Kyon only had to think about staying in this world for only a second. I am not referring to the computer decision, I am talking about before when he was first talking to alternate Yuki. I thought that Kyon would have taken more time to really consider hunting down Haruhi and walking down this crazy path to destruction. It was almost like wow should I stay here….no of course not that is insanity. So yeah I like that Kyon complains everyday about the SOS Brigade and Haruhi and all the crazy people but at the end of the day he didn’t think twice about going back to find them.

AWWW! You need a hug too!

I like that Itsuki was able to admit that he likes Haruhi. Not that it is something I should like as I am a proud yaoi fangirl. And don’t even try to tell me that Itsuki only views Kyon as a friend. MHM people. MHMM. But yes. Even if I pretend Kyon and Itsuki have something going on I do see that Itsuki also likes Haruhi. Our Itsuki has a duty to protect Haruhi and thus has to keep his distance. That and he knows Haruhi likes Kyon and keeping Haruhi happy is more important than his love for her. But alternate Itsuki was able to express (over a train..) that he was jealous of Haruhi’s attention on Kyon. :( Poor Itsuki.

Why yes an alien.

I LOVE that Yuki was the one behind this whole mess. And not only for the reasons that Kyon stated. Of course I believe all the reasons that Kyon stated. Yuki has been watching over Haruhi for a long time (or 3 years). She had to go through all 15,698 million summers of hell. She is the one constantly saving people from harm. She is the one everyone counts on to get out of a weird situation or provide information. Being the super back bone to the group must be hard.

Nope. Just a typical day in my life. Nothing to see here.

I also believe that Yuki was trying to give Kyon a better life. Because Kyon does complain all the time that he hates all this crazy adventure crap and all he wants to be is a normal high school boy. So Yuki tried to give Kyon that life. Not that it would have ever worked given the fact she kept his memories intact but you know.

Oh and she loves you.

But the reason that Kyon glossed over or simply doesn’t know is the REAL emotion that Yuki wasn’t used to is love. Just like Itsuki can’t tell Haruhi how he feels Yuki can’t tell Kyon how she feels. Of course she might not know how she feels but if she did she wouldn’t be allowed to tell. Because Kyon is the chosen one. So not only did Yuki create a world where Kyon could be a normal boy she created a world where she could be a normal girl, Haruhi would be out of the picture (who do you think put Itsuki and Haruhi together in that other school?), and they could be alone in a club. Love.

But I like that even though Yuki was in love/ having problems with her emotions she made an out for Kyon. Sad that she has to think like that, making plans three years in the future after the pressure of Haruhi but when you are a protector of the universe you have to do harsh things. I thought it took Kyon way too long to find the KEYS but I like that the book was involved.

Watch this movie only because of this scene. WATCH IT NOW!

I LOVE that Haruhi was curled up like a little caterpillar at the end of Kyon’s bed. And I hate caterpillars so that is saying a lot. XD But Itsuki telling Kyon she had been there the whole time was AWW. Haruhi being trapped in the sleeping bag and having a spaz attack was AWWW. And Haruhi pretending she wasn’t worried because she loves Kyon was AW AW AW. XD It was a very necessary scene. It shows why Itsuki and Yuki keep their mouths shut. It shows why Kyon went to such lengths to get this back. Just aw.

Also Haruhi is still insane.

I also loved all the little mentions of the two seasons the movie had. Like Kyon having Haruhi pull up her hair into a ponytail. Or Kyon talking about the endless summers or the movie. Just the little details one would probably remember better if they had just got done watching the series.

And this went on for way too long...

Some of the things that I thought were a bit special was the internal monologue that Kyon was having with his nonalternate self. I thought it went on for WAY too long. And it not remind you of another famous show and its internal monologue ending? Shinji was way more emo though.

Of course you think it is fun crazy pants XD

Haruhi totally believing Kyon was..special. I guess it made sense since John Smith told her two times about alien adventures and changing the world. And if alternate Haruhi is regular Haruhi of course she is going to jump on the chance to be more amazing or something. Just felt a little weird.

And this is the part where I would have screamed bloody murder, kicked him in the balls, and found the biggest football (soccer) player to kick his ass. Alternatively I would have cried on the floor. NOT INVITE HIM INTO MY CLUB!

I thought alternate Yuki trying to spend time with Kyon was super, super creepy. Like he came into the room and attacked her. But because he helped her with a library card or something she wants him to join the club. Like no. He is a crazy person. Back away from the crazy person. Do not let him use your computer (what were you hiding?!), do not invite him to your house, and do not walk home alone with him.

Behold the moe!!!

But of course I am sure this is everyone’s favorite part, moe Yuki. Had Kyon treated the situation different I could get behind it. But Yuki should have acted more like Mikuru (can’t believe I typed that) and been crying in the corner.

Forever a crazy person.

I am really not sure about the Ryoko deal. Like why did she get to come back? Last time I checked creating a happy world for Kyon to live in doesn’t include the person who tried to kill him. Was she herself the whole time? Because I am not really buying that she magically showed up to stab Kyon just at the right time. Not getting that whole thing so I guess I rather forget that part. Or wait for someone to explain it to me. XD

Thanks for trying? I guess?

I think the back and forth time traveling was a bit hard to keep track of at times. Of course NOW I understand who saved Kyon (Kyon who just got done eating Christmas Eve food) but at the time I was like oh okay. There is just 5 of everyone or something. Then the whole No there are Two John Smith conversations. That makes sense NOW but while I was watching it I was struggling to remember the first two seasons and if this time traveling already took place or something.

See it all worked out!!! XD

However I do like that this all tied together with Adult Mikuru waiting for Kyon 3 years in the past. It didn’t feel forced and it went well with the entire series. Of course then you start thinking about how none of this is possible because how can you go back in time if it never happened in the first place and blah blah. My husband would just say ENJOY so I shall try.

Do I even need to say that the art was gorgeous? Because it was. I really liked alternate Haruhi’s new look and how distraught Kyon looked. Beautiful as always.

Since we quickly reaching two thousand words I guess I should wrap this up. I really enjoyed the movie. It was well worth the wait. Also it makes sense that the movie was released during Christmas time. XD

Kyon is so amazing at everything XD

But yes folks. This movie was worth almost three hours of confusion, heartache, and the need to give Kyon a hug. So the folks who gave up after Endless Eight the movie really redeems the series. Go watch it NOW!

Well now if it is a reasonable time because dude this movie is like three hours long.

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Haruhi Endless Eight survivor reporting in!

Please make it stop!

I have survived The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Endless Eight. I shall join my fellow anime lovers in the corner as we hold each other and share our own personal horror stories. I might be the only one in the corner though as most avid TMOHS already watched these 8 episodes months ago.

I am here to issue a warning to anyone who has yet to see this series: DO NOT WATCH ALL EIGHT EPISODES OF THE ENDLESS EIGHT! You might think it is a good idea and that you want to be a true fan by watching every brain numbing minute but don’t. Just don’t. No one will take away your anime fan card and no one will point and mock you in the streets. The ones who have gone before you regret their decisions to be stubborn and stick out the craziness.

The only episodes you MUST see in the crazy 8 saga is the 1st, 2nd, and 8th. Save yourself the hassle and skip the other 5. You have been warned.

I was warned too. I didn’t listen. This is my story.

I also want to add that the reason I marathoned the entire series of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya on Super Bowl Sunday was so I could be ready when the movie was subbed. In my mind it came out on the 6th and would be up shortly on the internet. For some reason I forgot that popular anime movies actually take place in movie theaters in Japan. That the only video we would be getting this soon would be a badly tapped piece of crap in a dark movie theater. So…..while I am happy I watched the series as I had been putting it off….it makes Endless Eight seem like a bigger waste of time than it actually was. So maybe…my disappointment slightly clouds my judgment in this post. But only slightly.





Summary of Endless Eight:

Kyon is mindlessly wasting time during summer break when Haruhi calls twice demanding he meet them at a certain location and to bring certain supplies. When he gets there it is revealed they are all going to a swimming pool and Kyon and Koizumi are going to bike the girls over. After an exhausting ride Mikuru and Haruhi go swimming while Yuki sits off to the side looking bored. Later all five of them go to a café where Haruhi reveals that she has compiled a list of fun activities they must do before summer break is over. Koizumi looks over the list as if confused while Mikuru requests they go goldfish scooping. They all part ways but (in most versions) Kyon stops Yuki to ask her if she’s alright.

I do love seeing the different yukatas they wear each episode though.....

The next day Kyon and Koizumi wait as the girls buy yukatas. Kyon especially drools over Mikuru. Upon arriving at the festival Haruhi and Mikuru go goldfish scooping as Yuki zombies herself to a certain mask stand and purchases a certain mask (Kyon often tries to pay). Haruhi always mentions the mask but usually is distracted right away with demanding to do fireworks. She then tells the group they are going to go cicada catching the next day. Haruhi says whoever collects the most bugs will get to be chief for one day. Mikuru sucks at bug catching and Haruhi always wins. She insists on freeing the bugs because one day they might return the favor.

Something is missing I know it....

Kyon, Mikuru, Yuki, and Koizumi then work as frogs in a supermarket opening. They receive no pay as all Haruhi wanted was the frog costume Mikuru was wearing. The group then usually goes star gazing where Haruhi talks about how wonderful the Martians might be. From there it differs in each episode what happens next. The group competes in a fishing tournament, goes to a batting cage, swims at the beach, does a fright night at a graveyard, karaoke, bowling, and watches a movie. At the end of this two week craziness Haruhi crosses the last item off her list and looks disappointed that all is done. She tells everyone they have a free day the next day but she is keeping it free just in case. On August 31st, the last day of break, Kyon realizes that his homework is nowhere near being done and sorta just gives up.

On August 17th the entire series of events starts over again. Kyon and Koizumi start feeling like they are experiencing déjà vu but don’t act upon any of their weird sensations. Each repeat the gang is wearing different clothing and sometimes says slightly different phrases but the scenes more or less play out the same each time. Endless Eight episodes 2-8 then have Kyon receiving a phone call after the part time job. He meets Koizumi, Mikuru, and Yuki in a park late at night where Mikuru explains she can no longer travel back to her time. Koizumi explains that she can no longer go travel to the future because the future no longer exists. Haruhi has set them on a loop repeating their last two weeks of summer. He also explains that while everyone loses their memories during this process one being remembers all. Yuki. She deadpan explains that they have gone through this loop 15XXX times with slight variations. Kyon is horrified at what poor Yuki has gone through. As the episodes progress Mikuru becomes less understandable during this meeting.

Is Kyon more horrified for himself or Yuki?

After Haruhi falls asleep during the stargazing Koizumi jokes that Kyon can stop this loop if he confesses his love to Haruhi. Kyon always turns that idea down but sometimes he gets really ticked if Koizumi volunteers to do it in his place. At the end of the two weeks the gang becomes depressed when Haruhi looks over her finished list and wonders what else they could have done. As Haruhi tries to leave the café Kyon knows that he should do something and sometimes jumps up from the table as if to stop her. But he never does and August 31st comes around. Sometimes there are random scenes of the sky and something flying through it but they appear randomly in the episodes. He decides that doing his homework is futile and goes to bed knowing the loop will repeat itself.

Those long paragraphs are exactly what happens during episodes 3-7. Besides outfit changes, slightly different dialogues, and extend scenes (sometimes riding to the pool isn’t shown, sometimes it is) the scenario is exactly the same each time. DO NOT WATCH EPISODES 3-7.

So why did I watch episodes 3-7? Besides the fact that I am a moron of course. The reason I watched all these episodes because I was under the impression that Kyon was slowly going to discover what Haruhi really wanted to at the end of summer break. I thought during each cycle something would stand out and in the end it would be worth watching every single minute of Endless Eight. I was wrong.

I didn’t know I was wrong until episode 8. As it’s been established before I come up with tons of crazy theories and speculate on what is going to happen next during NORMAL shows. We weren’t dealing with a normal show here so the theories and craziness were increased tenfold.

To be fair to myself the episodes did a pretty good job of trying to confuse the viewers. They focused on issues that one would assume was important and therefore made someone want to watch each and every episode. But beware viewer none of them mattered.

You see this scene? Doesn't matter. But it's cute.

You know that scene at the festival where Yuki picks out a mask? Doesn’t matter. I thought maybe Haruhi was jealous at the thought that Kyon didn’t think to buy her a mask. It was so exact each time I thought it had to be important. The fact that Haruhi made a point to pause when Yuki explains that mask made me wonder. But it means nothing. Just probably something Yuki did each time to break up the boredom.

I love the frog suits!

Another thing that I thought was important was when Haruhi mentions she wants to decorate the club room with her frog costume. It was a really random thing for her to say and for me to pick up on but I thought maybe that is what she wanted to do on the last day of break? I don’t understand how Haruhi works okay!

He looks pretty serious to me. Also pretty.

Then I thought well there must be a reason why Koizumi keeps bringing up this “I love you business”. Kyon would get jealous sometimes at the thought that someone other than him would be uttering those words to Haruhi. Kyon is so cute when he is in denial. The first time Koizumi suggested this love business stuff he looked really serious, like perhaps he really does love Haruhi. But again this doesn’t matter. Even if it’s necessary.

So around episode 5 I started to think outside the box/the episodes. Maybe it was someone’s birthday! It’s Haruhi’s birthday and she doesn’t want to make a big deal about it so she just casually mentions that the day has been set aside. In reality she is sitting alone in the club room waiting for people to show up and at midnight she wishes to start the two weeks over. WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?!

Stop the madness!

So episode 8 finally rolls around and the end has to happen now. Because truly fans are rioting in the streets now and there might be some talk of storming the studio. Episode 8 goes just as episodes 2-7 did until the August 30th café scene. Haruhi sighs and wonders if there is anything left to be be done. Everyone sits around at the table silent. You would think after being told that the weeks have repeated themselves 15,XXX they would try SOMETHING each time to stop it. Just sitting there in silence is utterly stupid. More stupid as Yuki should be saying “Um you guys sit at the table each time and say nothing. Maybe this time you can try something”. But what would be the point in being proactive about the situation.

Warning: This scene means nothing.

This time Kyon has decided enough is enough. He is going to stand up and make sure their future happens. It is time for melodramatic flashbacks and that image of the sky. It is time for Kyon to give himself that same pep talk speech he does at the café scene but this time he is going to do something.

Okay.....

Look! His hand is glowing! He has received the power to change the world. He has gained the knowledge that will help break the cycle. GO KYON GO!

Don't pat yourself on the back too hard there Kyon.

X_x WTF? Homework? You haven’t finished your homework is your brilliant plan?!?!?!

.....WHAT?!

Haruhi’s face sums up how I feel right now.

We are not amused! Haruhi is not amused for us all!

Kyon continues to rant on how these past two weeks he hasn’t been able to do any of his homework and he implores everyone to come to his house and finish their homework together. Rome lend me your notes! Haruhi is stunned at first because this is the most random plan ever….then starts screaming at Kyon that he is not allowed to make plans on his own and SHE is the one who is in charge of summer events and SHE IS COMING TOO!

I would have gone with the word nightmare but okay....

Kyon and Koizumi end up in the classroom September 1st. That’s right folks the future has been saved because of homework. Koizumi muses that Haruhi probably never thought about doing homework with friends and how stressful not getting the work done might be. The boys play poker for fun and Kyon would have won big on his hand. The end.

THAT’S IT PEOPLE! Even though Kyon says that the déjà vu sensations gave him hits they really didn’t. And if they did they were completely lost on me. Kyon never got a déjà vu sensation the one time he talks about homework with Haruhi. In fact that scene seemed so nonimportant I didn’t really touch upon it in the summary. Kyon also didn’t make a big deal about it during the end of each episode. Sure he never got his homework done but that was something that was only affecting Kyon. Why would Haruhi reset the summer each time for something she thought was no big deal?!

I could be generous and say maybe Kyon’s passing comment to Haruhi about getting homework done really did affect her. Maybe in the back of her mind (since she is in love Kyon) she feels bad that she is running the group ragged and that Kyon hasn’t gotten his work done. She sits there looking at the list knowing she has forgotten something. Koizumi may be right and that getting homework done really didn’t dawn on her so that is why she is unable to remember that she was concerned about the situation. Perhaps on August 31st Haruhi packed up her backpack and remembered what Kyon said about homework.

Homework never saves the day. This episode is a lie.

Or maybe….the person who created season two hates all the viewers and wanted to play the worst joke in history. That the ending is supposed to make no sense and Kyon thought of something random in an attempt to save the future. That none of this is supposed to make sense. That they deliberately tried to make us focus on events that we thought were going to be important when in reality there was nothing to pay attention to.

Which sounds more probable to you?

Now…in a slight defense a lot of time was placed in making each episode slightly unique. No cutting and pasting going on in these eight episodes. But in the end I don’t think it was worth that time and effort. A lot of fans are pissed. Those who aren’t are trying to delude themselves into thinking this was the greatest ploy in the history of anime. Stop guys. Just admit that we are all mad for waiting for season two and getting this hot mess in return.

So let me repeat this again. DO NOT WATCH ENDLESS EIGHT EPISODES 3-7! THEY ARE NOT NEEDED TO ENJOY THE HARUHI EXPERIENCE! You are not missing anything. You will retain your sanity and love the series more.

This all being said…the rest of season two is special. But I can see how fans feel cheated by 8 of the same episodes and 6897 of the cast making the Mikuru movie. Hopefully the actual Haruhi movie will have fans happy once again. In 6 months of course....

I survived. Just barely.

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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Season 2 Episode 1 (sorta kinda....maybe?)

This week marked a special event for many anime fans across the globe. The long awaited day had finally arrived. Those whose patience were tested an inch from snapping were handsomely rewarded. Truly this is the exact opposite of Judgment Day.

Shame on you ALL!

And what exactly is this awesome event? Well, the second season (sort of) of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. REJOICE MASSES REJOICE!

At least I hope there are people rejoicing though. I mean, this anime did first air in April of 2006. Granted that 3 years really isn’t that long of a time period but this is anime we are talking about. A market that has dozens of new shows coming out 4 times a year. After a while people probably got tired of the studios antics and how they were constantly April fooled about when/if a second season would be released.

For those who have been patient reap your rewards and read on.





When the spring 2009 anime line-up was announced there were many upset people across the web. What was this “rebroadcasting” nonsense? Hadn’t loyal fans been put through enough with the “deleted” website that might contain clues to a second season? All that information about the second season being put on hold due to people not agreeing where the series should go was believed yet angered many. So when people saw this rebroadcasting crap they expressed their anger in the form of upset smiley faces -____-.

Yet they (we) were wrong. This was another trick by the studio and we were so use to their tricks we couldn’t actually believe that they were telling us the truth. XD Silly surprises.

Haruhi is like the twin sister my parents never wanted.

The reason behind the whole rebroadcasting this was this series is now being shown in chronologically order instead of INSANE wtf is going on order. So the first few episodes were season one and everyone rolled their eyes. But now, this new episode is number 8 chronological and thus had to be “delayed” as it were. This show borders on this makes NO sense at all so it would have ruined the feel of the series if they had started the spring season off with episode 8.

If you want to continue being a cash cow you better start caring!

Is it a little bit too late though? Are people flocking to this new discovery with renewed spirits for their favorite anime? Or have they suffered from LOST syndrome and grew bored with the huge time in between seasons? Only time will tell but for me it has only been about a year. Had it been three years since I first watched this series I might have a different mindset but a year seems about right for a second season.

Given that this series is a bit unconventional it would be a little special and hard to make a proper summary. Well, maybe not given the fact that the series is now being broadcast in chronically order. But I wanted this episode independently of the others thus it seems random like usual. So yeah, no summary.

In terms of personal opinion this episode felt different to me. I can’t pinpoint what it was exactly but the show felt different. The characters sounded different even though they don’t. Their faces looked a bit off and almost SD at points. Even Kyon’s dramatic run on sentences had lost something but I am not sure WHAT. I am just so good at explaining things.

Art style anyone?

The first part of the episode was pretty boring. Given Haruhi’s usual antics the writing down of wishes was very very tame. Almost normal. Had it not been for Kyon’s fun killing spirit about the whole thing I might have fallen asleep. Crazy Haruhi would have made them write down wishes and later that night accidentally taken them to a dream world were their wishes came true in very bad ways. But….nope. She just may have broken the law to obtain the bamboo shoot but that is barely on the radar with insane Haruhi. You let me down you little psychopath.

Is petty theft all you got O great Haruhi?

The real interesting part of the show consisted of Kyon getting sent back to the past for no reason. Or at least for no reason as of yet. Sometimes Mikuru’s vagueness gets on my nerves. But Kyon was willing to go along with it so he can only blame himself.

Err, okay.

In the past they meet up with Haruhi the middle schooler and she was acting as crazy as ever. Or really, perhaps it was the start of the crazy. In any event Mikuru’s mission was to have Haruhi and Kyon meet in the past. For what reason we are not sure why.

Such a way of words.

But the results of said meeting are….well the entire series. Three years ago Haruhi might have just begun to fall into crazy land. If Kyon had not confirmed her crazy ideas and told her where she could find espers, time travelers, and aliens she might have given up all that “nonsense” and moved on to something else. Perhaps even be normal. Perhaps she would not have had that power at all.

Best codename ever.

So walk with me down this scary thought pattern of thinking. Haruhi creates things with her minds. Perhaps the only reason that aliens, time travelers, and espers exist is because Haruhi wants them to. Someone at time traveling head quarters made Mikuru take Kyon back in time. Kyon then tells Haruhi about time travelers thus making her believe they could actually exist. So according to some of the Brigade members three years ago SOMETHING happened. And that something could be their very existence, that Kyon’s words made her create aliens, time travelers, and espers.

The only school that can house all the crazy.

So in effect…the time travelers sent Kyon back in time to make sure they will exist later? X_X Or maybe that was not their intent but that is how it sounds. That is full of grandfather paradox, Novikov self-consistency principle, and a bunch of other concepts that fly over my silly little head.

As long as 378974 Sakura's don't start showing up I think I will be fine..

Add that to the possibility that Kyon might be the one with the real power and this show is turning into a real cluster….well you know. Everything is a result of Kyon’s casual words. At this rate it will be hard to tell what the heck is going on but that is the point of the show right?

Are you telling me this is all my fault?

I think people who follow the manga will better understand this show than those of us who are only currently on the anime. The time jumps are expected and they already know how most of this is going to play out. Not to say it’s not an adventure now but I am sure they are experiencing something different than I am.

To me this series might be better watching it as a complete whole rather than one episode at a time. It is already made of special without watching the videos out of “order”. So perhaps I will watch the entire series once season two (sorta) is out. But I am pretty much lying and I will watch the new episodes when they come out and I will continue to be confused. It is in my nature! So I hope that this season (ish) makes a little bit of sense and maybe something gets explained. Or if they don’t at least make season three come out in a timelier manner.

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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya series report

So, as I think I have already stated, I like reading other people’s blogs and looking at their convention pictures. I kept coming across many pictures with people doing some crazy dance and girls in school uniforms with a yellow ribbon in their hair. After a little investigating, I discovered this anime series was called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and it is EXTREMELY popular. Of course, I was about a year…or two late finding out this anime and I am sure there are tons of reports about this series already. The great thing for me was I did not have to sit around every week waiting for a new subbed, I could dive right into the series (of course, the longer you wait to watch a series, the more likely it will become licenses and it will get pulled from the internet…so maybe those people who watch it when it first comes out are on to something…).

The Hare Hare Yukai dance that really has
nothing to do with the show :O

So, here is the basic plot of TMHS and yes, there are going to be some spoilers, more so later in the blog. :P The show starts off with Kyon starting high school and talking about how he is leaving behind the childish ideas of aliens, time travelers, and espers. So of course the girl sitting behind him in class announces that she is looking for such beings and that normal humans are boring to her, making a great first impression. Despite his friend’s warnings, Kyon makes the mistake of talking to the girl, Haruhi, and tells her instead of being bored with every club on campus and complaining, she should start her own club. Next thing you know, she has stolen a club room that only has one member anyway, demands that one member Yuki and Kyon join, and sets off to find two other members that fit her needs. One by one, each member of the S.O.S Brigade (the name of the club) approaches Kyon and informs him that they in fact are aliens, time travelers, and an esper who were all sent to watch over Haruhi and obtain data from her. Kyon can kiss goodbye any thoughts he had of his high school life being normal as he slowly sinks into the crazy life that is Haruhi.


Major spoilers for you...

My first reaction when watching this show was….wtf??! 0_o It made no sense. The first episode had some poorly made movie being shot and we were given no character introduction or any clue on what was going on. I did a little research to make sure I was even watching the right show when I found out that TMHS was broadcast a little different than normal animes. Instead of being shown in chronological order, the episodes were shown in the nonlinear narrative perspective of Kyon. The episode I just got done watching was actually episode 11 chronologically speaking, but was episode one when they were broadcast in Japan. So, with that in mind, I realized that making sense of this anime might not work until the very last episode. Knowing that it was not going to make sense actually made it make MORE sense in the sense…I knew it would not make sense. Some people watch the series the broadcast way first, then the chronological way. If you wish to watch it the chronological way, you need to watch the episodes in this order: 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 14, 4, 7, 6, 8, 1, 12, 11, 9. I decided to watch it the broadcast way and can see how the storyline would have seemed different and certain events would have made more sense.

Thinking too hard may hurt your head.

My next reaction was…right, this guy has stopped believing in aliens, espers, and time travelers and he meets a girl who ONLY wants to meet them. THEN all three of these specific people are gathered in the same club? It almost had me taking a magical eye roll, until Kyon is told WHY they are all there: Haruhi….is God/god. Yuki is actually an alien data collector….THING who was sent by her creator because THREE years ago, there was a huge spike of energy and her creator believes that Haruhi has the ability to control the universe or in fact create another if she so chooses. Mikuru is actually a time traveler trying to find out why no one can go back in time beyond THREE years from this present day. Itsuki turns out to be the esper and his organization is in charge of stopping the grey space Haruhi creates when she gets angry or bored. Oh, and he and other members of their organization gain their powers THREE years ago. Their explanations of who they think Haruhi is differs a little in each story, but the bottom line is Haruhi has the power to change things to her will and preventing her from being bored with this world and destroying it is one of their top priorities. Naturally, Kyon thinks they are all crazy, but soon they prove to who they really are (Mikuru actually proves her way via a future self whereas Yuki basically is stabbed a million times and lives and Itsuki becomes orb man to destroy Blob monsters from destroying the grey area.) Now, I do not know about you, but this plot sounded VERY original to me and seemed beyond different than anything else I have ever heard. At first you think that Haruhi was choosing these members based on what she perceived were a must have according to shoujo mangas: Yuki is the meganekko, Mikuru is the moe type, and Itsuki is the mysterious foreign exchange student that transfers in mid semester. Then you realize that they have been gathered because of Haruhi’s desire to meet them. It is often wondered if they exist only because Haruhi wanted to meet them and if they came there to study her because of their own free will or was that a desire too. Kyon has stated that those three should come out and tell Haruhi who they are so perhaps she would not be so bored and it would protect the world. The three answer that some individuals want them to do that, but they fear of what damage that might cause if Haruhi becomes aware of her powers.

Are you okay?!

So, even if you ignore all that crazy godlike abilities/the world ending issues, this show is STILL great. Because of Haruhi’s short attention span, the S.O.S Brigade is always up to something. Oh, I suppose I should explain what the S.O.S Brigade is/does. As I mentioned before, Haruhi decided to make her own club since she decided all the clubs on campus sucked and only had normal people in them. Although there is a slight difference in what S.O.S stands for due to the language differences, it was translated into English to stand for “ Save the World by Overloading it with Fun, Haruhi Suzumiya's Brigade”. As for what the club does…well the original goal of the club was to find espers, aliens, and time travelers. Of course she already IS and since those people are not going to tell her who they are, that is not what the group ends up doing. It turns into Haruhi gets bored and decides they are going to enter a baseball tournament, go visit a creepy island, or film an action movie with Mikuru as the star. The four other club members usually sit around in the club house waiting for Haruhi to think of what to do for the day.

This of course is the proper way to hand out fliers to people.

Like many others, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out WHAT happened three years ago! I had all sorts of theories in my head, the most bizarre one involving some kind of butterfly effect twist where this Haruhi was trying to make up for future mistakes she knew was going to happen. Did three years ago she got some magical wish making device that allows her to control the world?! Was Haruhi even human?! Well folks, we were finally told what happened and it is something that seemed so ordinary, it made me upset at first. I mean, it seemed rather lame that suddenly the world changed because a girl suddenly realized that her world was very small. The ordinary things that happened to her at school and home happened to many people across Japan. Basically, she found out she wasn’t special and that changed how she saw the world and her place in it. It is not clear if she had those powers before that time or her recognizing her place in the world changed her, but at that moment, time travelers could not go any further back in time (some believe that is when Haruhi created this world), the espers got their powers, and the aliens in space felt…a disturbance. So..after finding out the plot of this show was based on the fact a kid could not handle she was special was a little -__- at first. It wasn’t anything supernatural or awesome or even mildly stupid about this scenario. It was just…reality. So after I got done watching that episode, I actually thought about it and decided…maybe I understand (as much as one can understand MOHS). When we are all little kids, we think our world is so important and HUGE, we know 12 people and we go on the best adventures ever. Mom makes the best cake and Dad’s job is the most important job in the world. Then one day it hits you that…yes, everyone has basically the same class make up as you, everyone goes on little field trips, and yes, everyone gets a homemade cake on their birthday (or store bought to be safer…). So, Haruhi could be anyone. Anyone who had those kinds of thoughts and decided…you know what, I understand that I am a normal person, but I strive to be more. I will discover things no one else knows and prove everyone wrong. I will make things happen. Perhaps her powers come from her determination to make things happen. Yes, I am getting all deep about a show whose real purpose might be something completely different, but this is how I feel about the show. After a while, anime shows with normal kids who have powers can start blending together. But MOHS goes a different route; this show’s main character with a power does not even KNOW she has a power. She thinks she is a normal person and tries to spice up her life while other’s around her try to make sure she does not accidentally break reality. The show never explains WHY Haruhi can do the things she can do, it is only explained what happened right before she got them. That sorta mysterious atmosphere I find interesting. I would also like to add I have yet to read any of the manga where I hear there may be answers to this.

Birth of god?

Another thing we gain with this piece of information that…Haruhi is just a normal girl with normal emotions (of course her emotions can destroy everyone and everything…let’s just put that aside). She acts tough and hard sometimes, but she was lonely kid who just wanted someone to pay attention to her. She got that when Kyon first spoke to her and that is why she reacted so quickly to him. When you watch the show in the broadcast order, it seems as if Kyon and Haruhi develop a relationship much slower than they actually do. Kyon is the only one who does not want to give Haruhi her way all the time, that he wants to trust in her enough to know she will not destroy the world because she is told no. Haruhi wants Kyon’s attention and only picks him to start a new world over with. She also wants to start a new world over because she is jealous of Mikuru’s relationship with Kyon. She gets jealous, bored, angry, ect. She is just trying to function as a normal girl and it is interesting watching Kyon try to treat her like a normal girl instead of the god he is told she is.

A jealous Haruhi is a scary Haruhi.

Another thing I enjoyed about this show is how Kyon reacts to the situations he is placed in. He almost seems like the main character in my mind, as we are told things from his point of view. Sometimes he comes off as a very cocky guy who just will not believe all these things are happening. He tries to protect Mikuru from Haruhi’s constant molestings and Yuki from Haruhi forcing her ideas on her (and possibly selling her for computers…). I also find it interesting we never learn his name the entire series, as Kyon is a nickname (someone else pointed out we are not told his sister’s name either, I cannot remember that). Kyon’s prospective on what Haruhi is or could be is different from the others. They are around her for different reasons and perhaps not of their own free will. Kyon is there because he wanted to talk to her for whatever reason and he feels she is just a normal girl (deep down). He does not give into her and I think that is what Haruhi likes about him. Kyon also might give a more honest account of what is happening in the show (aside the fact he is in love with her of course) than anyone else could. Also, seeing his reactions to how much his actions have a cause on the world.

The blurry kiss that saved the world!! (we think..)

People have said MOHS is the best anime ever and others have said it is WAY overhyped. Without all the hype, I might have never heard of this show and I am glad I did. It was a very fresh anime with great art. It had “stereotyped’ characters that were really different than the norm. It was a high school set story that had them doing basic things with a scifi twist. The romance is not forced and there are plenty of crack moments that kept me laughing, my favorite being the space commanding scenes. The only downside is 14 episodes did not seem like enough for this anime. There have been talks for a second season or show for some time now. Hopefully it will come out soon, as this show has a great following. I for one will be one of the ones waiting for the next chapter of this show and hope it is as great as the last!

Watch the show OR ELSE!!!!

I enjoy how the camera angle changes during their storytelling.

Another camera view change :O

Singing God knows when you might be a god... but at least she is happy :)

It is just slightly dangerous with the transparent monsters of doom...

and the huge epic bugs!

A winning Haruhi is a happy Haruhi.

Winning keeps our world alive :O

A little bit of romance.

See, can't you see the love?!


Extortion is god's way!

Read more!