The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006–2009) User Reviews

Creative, witty, and inexplicably appealing

[Vorn_the_Unspeakable · 9/10 · 17 September 2006]

Okay, let me start off by saying that, on the whole, I don't like anime very much. I've enjoyed a couple of the oft-cited "classic" series, but regard the medium as a whole in exactly the same way that I do American television: namely, that a good 90-95% of it is utter tripe, with the remainder falling anywhere from "watchable" to "decent." This being the case, it's no wonder that I don't like the self-deprecating anime parodies out there. I don't get most of the jokes, and the medium itself enforces a certain style of humor that doesn't appeal to me at all - loud, hyperactive, lowbrow, and completely over the top.

So, when I started watching this series at the behest of a friend, I was primed for disappointment after the first couple of episodes. I figured that the characters were supposed to represent cliché characters from shopworn story outlines, and that their actions were supposed to be similarly satirical. I could kind of see where it was coming from, but didn't think that it was all that clever - lots of "wacky, fun-filled high-school shenanigans and goings-on, only now we're being ironic about it." At about the third episode, my opinion drastically changed.

It was at that point that the strengths of this series started to manifest themselves. The quirks of the non-chronological episode order, its snarky sense of self-awareness, and, above all, clever humor with (gasp) a well-executed straight man.

In what I consider to be a rarity in any medium, this show presents well-thought out, witty interactions between diametrically opposed characters. Protagonist Kyon's perpetual sense of vaguely annoyed resignation provides the perfect foil to the actions of title character Haruhi's generic "anime-like" exploits. It's a break from formula, and it works incredibly well.

Based on that strong foundation, the series further succeeds with a truly phenomenal level of attention to detail. As previously stated, the episodes air out of chronological order. I considered this to be a gimmick at first, but it works surprisingly well. The chronological sequence of events makes sense logically, but the aired order of the episodes more closely follows the traditional structure of Aristotelian drama. The order chosen leaves no narrative gaps that cannot be filled by simple inference (but while it is possible to guess what happened in an unaired "preceding" episode, one still feels compelled to watch exactly how those events unfold), and superb planning prevents any plot holes or contradictions. I watched this series a second time immediately upon completing it the first time, and I was amazed at how well even seemingly inconsequential events were all tied together.

The last point is indicative of the extreme attention to detail in every area of the series. While the stock "anime" character designs grate a bit, the background art is exquisite, realistically rendered based upon actual photographic references. Animation quality is also excellent at important points. For example there is a musical performance late on in the series in which the characters are shown actually playing a song - this may sound trivial, but the subconscious effect of watching (film-quality) animation which actually corresponds to the soundtrack is incredible.

In short, I love this series for some reason. By its very nature it is something that I generally dislike, but its execution is so unique and well-carried out that I can't help it.

Great series - a lot like the novels

[rickenbackerazn · 9/10 · 12 August 2006]

Good animation, nice character design, and a light-hearted story make Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu enjoyable to watch.

After my first viewing, I thought that this anime was pretty good, but but was much better on for a second watch.

This is because it is done out of chronological order, and once you re watch it in correct order you notice connections you didn't see before. (OR it may be that you see a second meaning to some events you didn't notice before) You may want to read the original novels (not manga) by Tanigawa Nagaru before/after seeing this. The anime is very good at visualizing every detail in the stories it shows.

However, there are some short stories from the book that are not animated, but are referenced to.(bamboo w/ wishes attached shown in episode 14) Overall, this anime is actually very good once after brief analyzation of the plot (reading the book improves upon it as well). It is a nice break from the shounen-jump anime that seem to be taking over.

Worth watching carefully

[cvr2 · 8/10 · 27 August 2006]

At first sight this is yet another highschool anime with lots of excuses for 'fanservice', but there is a lot more going on. The 'fanservice' is part of the plot, the main character is a tired cynic (unusual), and most importantly there is a clever plot that ties all the episodes together, and that poses some interesting questions. The episodes are deliberately non-chronological, and it is certainly worth watching the series again in chronological order.

The series is worth watching carefully, because there are a lot of casual hints in there that foreshadow and explain things, plus a good number of in-jokes about other series, anime and other.

One of the biggest surprises of the year

[wictor · 10/10 · 9 July 2006]

Suzumiya Haruhi no yûutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) might at a first glance make you think that this is just another animated school comedy/drama. Well, it's not! The setting just happen to be a school environment. This is a comedy alright, but a very smart one with a lot of sarcasm. And the characters does have a psychological sublimeness which is almost in the same class that can be found in the works of Ingmar Bergman. The episodes is aired, as it seems, out of order, i.e. the pilot is in fact episode 11. This makes it possible to present small clues to upcoming episodes. The show is an adaption of Nagaru Tanigawa's popular novel series about Haruhi Suzumiya.

What about the story then? Like in all the episodes does the story revolves Haruhi Suzumiya, who tries to ease her own boredom by embarking in adventures. Haruhi her self has no interest in ordinary humans, and actively searches for aliens, time travelers and espers (persons with supernatural forces). To find this sort of people she has formed a club which she calls the SOS-Brigade (Save the world by Overloading it with fun: Haruhi Suzumiyas Brigade). Except for Haruhi, the other members of the SOS-brigade is Kyon. He is the real protagonist of the show. It's trough his point of view that we follow the story. He just happen to sit in front in class when Haruhi came up with the idea to form the SOS-Brigade. He is quite sceptical to most club activities and tags along just to ensure that Haruhi don't go to much to the extremes, and he is the only one in the class that Haruhi likes to talk with. Another member is Yuki Nagato, which is the "indispensable silent member" and is also the only remaining member of the Literature club, which room the SOS-Brigade has occupied in the quest for a free club room. She doesn't mind that the SOS-Brigade uses her clubroom, as long as she can sit in a corner and read her books. She also participate in the brigades activities. Mikuru Asahina was "voluntarily arrested" by Haruhi because the club needed a Lolita-like mascot for anything suspicious to happen. She often act as the clubs maid. The last member is the always smiling Itsuki Koizumi, who happens to be the "mysterious transfer student" (meaning he transfered two months in to the semester which Haruhi finds to qualifies as mysterious).

Haruhi thinks that all members but Kyon are some random picked people in school, but the do indeed have their own interest in her.

A great surprise!!

[teraneugenio · 10/10 · 14 December 2006]

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu is a very high-rated anime in almost every review page you'll find on the web. So I really wanted to know why, and I was anything but disappointed.

If you can get past the very bizarre (but rather funny) first episode, you'll find yourself in a very entertaining and much strange world. A very well drawn, perfectly animated world, that is.

I can't tell much of the story without spoiling it, so I'll just say that it's a high school comedy... and yet it's not. I can't really say what it's about, really.

Seriously, I'm a HUGE anime fan, and I've got around 50 full series, and I'm not kidding when I say that, even though I haven't finished watching Haruhi Suzumiya, it is actually standing in a very high rank in my personal collection. I fell in love at first sight with this one, and I assure you that, at the very least, you won't be indifferent to its irresistible charm. Trust me, I don't go around giving a 10 to every thing that I watch.

Welcome to the SOS Brigade!!

[Ysquare · 2 November 2007]

A 2006 online poll of Japan's top 100 favorite animated television series of all time, conducted by TV Asahi, placed this series in fourth place. That tells you everything you need to know. So go and watch it.;) I won't comment on the story, simply because I don't want to ruin anything. I only urge you to keep watching after you saw the first episode. The Animation is really good and above TV average. The best thing about this series is, that there is finally something new. I mean it's not groundbreaking but still it offers a fresh new idea and likable characters. You won't regret entering Suzumiya Haruhi's world.

and the best thing a movie is coming soon

One of the best

[dvbar1 · 10/10 · 17 May 2007]

I tend to fall in and out of love with anime, as the more you watch the more you notice a lot of shows are just poor copies of the few gems or rehashes of old formulas. But every once in a while one of the true gems comes along and it's originality just blows you away. Haruhi is truly one of those shows. Many anime series are originally manga and sometimes the translation into an animated show is rather poorly done and doesn't utilize the benefits animation has over static drawings. Haruhi is actually based on a series of light novels and fires on all cylinders, beautiful animation, great voice acting, great music and a complete and well paced story. Watch it you won't be disappointed, and I'd suggest watching it in broadcast order it works so much better that way.

One unique and hilarious anime

[GWolf32 · 10/10 · 15 December 2006]

From the get go, you won't be able to look away, and you won't want to. "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu) is one of the most entertaining animes I've seen in a long time. If you can look away from the insane, and sometimes perverse, humor, it's easy to find a brilliantly constructed and masterfully executed work.

Part of the brilliance comes from the fact that the episodes are not in chronological order, so you may not understand some of the things they talk about at first, but as the series progresses you'll find yourself saying "ah, so that's what they meant!" Even though this might confuse some people, after watching the show you'll be hard pressed to make a case against telling the story in this fashion.

After all the focus is on the characters. The title character, Haruhi Suzumiya, is by far one of the most eccentric heroines of any anime ever. Her opening speech to her class, in which she declares she is "not interested in normal humans," and is searching for "espers, aliens and time travelers," is absolutely bizarre, but she's lovable that way.

Then there's Kyon, the "normal" guy who is pulled into the madness surrounding Suzumiya-san. He's the narrator, and his quick wit always makes the scene that much more entertaining. He finds himself caught in the middle of various factions all trying to influence Haruhi Suzumiya, and the other three characters are representatives of these factions; ironically, they are the very beings Haruhi is searching for, and yet they cannot reveal themselves to her.

The first is Yuki Nagato, a quiet girl who happens to be the only member of the school Literary club, and also a representative of the Integration Thought Entity; she is basically an alien, though the best description of her is a computer program in a human body. Her purely emotionless responses make her comically deadpan and always make you think there's more than meets the eye. Then there's Mikuru Asahina, the time traveler, who happens to be incredibly cute, a major ditz, and the subject of Suzumiya's plans to advertise her club, the SOS Brigade, to the world. The end result is that Suzumiya does things to her that border on sexual harassment, making her dress up in fetish uniforms. The final character is Koizumi Itsuki, the timid and perpetually optimistic philosopher who happens to be Haruhi's "esper," though he can only use his powers in certain conditions.

The end result of all these characters is a comedy unlike any other, that is both crude and deep, and always brilliant. Don't believe me? Watch the first episode, their "student film." You'll see what I mean.

You may get a headache watching this

[ebiros2 · 7/10 · 3 July 2009]

Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is based on somewhat pat formula by now of Japanese school drama anime. The formula somewhat goes like this:

1. The main protagonist comes from world outside the normal society, and has super powers.

2. There's a very beautiful and sexy girl in a supporting role.

3. A normal character is in there who shares the main role in the story.

4. Unusual things happens in an usual social settings.

5. Sometimes the story is about the main protagonist, and the normal character that connects to the existence or destruction of the world.

6. Absolutely no effort is spent by anyone to gain all the magical powers. They just have it.

7. Usually, people outside of this tight nit group is not aware of their super powers, and goes on with their daily lives.

So there you have it. Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi is made along these lines which became the success formula for comics and anime in Japan. Even though it follows a pat formula, the series is superbly crafted and the episodes are always set in an interesting back drop within the normal social settings which always morphs into unusual circumstances surrounding Haruhi Suzumiya. Each player in the story brings some unusual insight into the daily life that usually we are not aware of. The philosophical twist of their insights are what makes this series extra entertaining. The visuals are first rate, and done beautifully.

The crazy ideas Haruhi always seem to come up with along with complicated settings of the story may give you headache from time to time. It's further complicated by the fact that the episodes are played out of sequence which further adds to the confusion. When I watched the episodes in the chronological sequence, some of the plots finally made sense. I recommend you do the same. It's much more entertaining to watch the series this way. Google

List_of_The_Melancholy_of_Haruhi_Suzumiya_episodes

for the correct sequence of all the episodes. And oh, you might notice the headache while you're watching this like I did. Let me know if you had it too.

Another Masterpiece of Anime

[mrusty5 · 10/10 · 25 July 2008]

I first heard about The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya from a reviewer on Youtube. He literally slapped the show with a big bad rant, condemning it rubbish and confusing. Curious, I decided to watch the show (once I got the order of the episodes right, thanks to those who made the lists), and I found it absolutely brilliant and enjoyable to watch. Great memorable characters who are full of life and are absolutely lovable and hilarious; a unique and not over blowing plot that makes sense now that I've watched the show; and two of the best anime moments in history, in my opinion. Plus the opening and ending themes are great.

The anime, based on a collection of successful manga novels, follows a simple plot, once you understand it. While the show's focus is on the main character, Haruhi Suzumiya, the point of view is from her friend Kyon. Kyon is a regular high school student who doesn't really believe in supernatural stuff (e.g. Santa Clause, aliens, time travellers, ghosts, espers) but he soon ends up talking to Haruhi, who is the most oddest girl in the school and would prefer to date an alien, considering all men worthless. She even joined every club in the school to find something interesting, but quit as quickly as she joined. Upon "advice" from Kyon, Haruhi decides to form her own club with Kyon's club. Setting up in the literary club room, Haruhi forms the SOS Brigade - its mission to investigate supernatural cases (think Scooby-Doo minus the dog, the masked man and the Mystery Machine).

Haruhi "recruits" three extra members. The first is Yuki Nagato, a bookworm of sorts who speaks very little and spends most of her time reading and sitting. The second is Mikuru Asahina, a shy girl who is forced into the club by Haruhi who thinks they need a cute mascot to get some things done. She is often forced into costumes by Haruhi to further her cuteness. The third is Itsuki Koizumi, a friendly and sociable transfer student who is always smiling. While Haruhi thinks her group is filled with normal people she couldn't be more wrong. While Kyon is as normal as you can get, the other three on the other hand are rather unique - Yuki is an alien, Mikuru is a time traveller from the future, and Itsuki is an esper (a person who has ESP). All three have come to watch over Haruhi who may just have the powers of a god, and if she becomes bored, she may be able to discover her powers and create a whole new world, and Kyon is involved somehow.

The show is worth watching with great characters, music and some hilarious and wonderful moments. However, for parents, there is some sexual references including Mikuru's cleavage being exposed or touched several times, and several swear words used as well. Apart from that, the show is one of the greats.

Anything but Boring

[bmoore07 · 6/10 · 6 November 2015]

"I believe that just imitating is boring" – Theme Song Lyrics

The definition of 'melancholy' is a prolonged state of mental depression but the funny thing about this series' title (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) is that this anime is anything but depressing. It's engaging, intelligent, and promising; in fact, it's nothing like the other school-oriented series that share the same genre. Sure, the early episodes of Haruhi Suzumiya have a dangerous obsession with fan- service but there's a unique charm to this series that helps it remain interesting. One of the most crucial aspects in making this series consistently enchanting is the show's titular character: Haruhi Suzumiya.

More often than not, the female lead character in an anime is a one-dimensional cardboard cutout, an attractive walking stereotype who wears skimpy clothes, who cries on-cue, who is naturally shy, and who only exists to please the male main character. For someone who has seen this character type over and over and over, Haruhi is a breath of fresh air. More than a few people who have watched this series complain that Haruhi is a selfish, scheming control freak, and that's true but I'd rather see Haruhi in a series over the army of mindless robots that have invaded the anime world. From the beginning, this series is about Haruhi's endless pursuit for the spectacular and how the people in her life are affected by it. In the series' theme song, Haruhi is listed as the "Ultra Director", and that's a fitting title for the character that lords over the essence of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi is a character with multiple occupations; she's a baseball star, a club president, a skilled detective, a film director, a passionate photographer, a world-class manipulator, a God-like deity, and one very talented singer (In what's easily one of the highlights of the series, Haruhi performs a song at the school festival that she barely practiced "God Knows", and she simply tears it to shreds). Like the show itself, Haruhi proves to be nothing less than unique.

One of my favorite things about this show is its music, a great jazzy soundtrack that can be repetitive but never comes across as dull (in serious, dramatic scenes, epic music is inserted and it fits like a glove). I've seen plenty of titles with great animation; however, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya tops them all in this department, its sharp, beautifully drawn animation serving as visual eye-candy for the audience. Not only is the animation great but the series also displays a creative flair with it too. During the second episode of a two- part mystery, the show uses a grainy live-action segment shaded in red in one scene and a simplistic sketch in another. What I love most about Haruhi Suzumiya is its appreciation of various genres and its change of setting. In episode 1, Haruhi provides a summary of moe (a key element in the school genre) to one of the main characters. In the 1st episode of the two-part mystery, the detective genre and its nuances are fully explained. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya isn't just a school-oriented series with a touch of mystery. In one episode, the focus is on a baseball tournament. In another, it's about a nerdy computer game (Battleship in space!) that Haruhi and her gang venture into. More often than not, the series transforms into a sci-fi/ philosophical drama, and it's what Haruhi Suzumiya is best at.

This series is a likable one but, unfortunately, it's one with flaws aplenty and the characterization is among its most noticeable faults. The only exceptions are Haruhi (of course) and Kyon, my favorite character. He's an average joe who serves as Haruhi's voice of reason (who she rarely listens to); he mostly voices his opinion with witty sarcasm and often breaks the fourth wall. There's an actual purpose to Haruhi and Kyon being present in the show's plot, unlike the other characters. Yuki Nagato is that one bespectacled female that you seemingly must have in order for an anime to be an anime, the quiet, purple-haired alien who talks in a dull, dry, uninspiring monotone (Getting rid of her glasses is the only change Yuki undergoes in the series). Mikuru is the walking stereotype that I mentioned in the Haruhi paragraph, a warm-hearted, docile, time traveler who's in this show purely for fan-service purposes. Perhaps the most disappointing character of the bunch is Koizumi, an easygoing ESPer who serves as damage control when Haruhi's God-like powers become a problem. For me, he's a fairly interesting character because, every now and then, you could see he's hiding something underneath that permanent smile of his (like the Mole scene during the final moments of the two-part mystery). Unfortunately, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya never shines the spotlight on Koizumi, which would've made the series a lot better overall, and the other characters (besides Haruhi and Kyon) received the same treatment.

Whatever flaws I found in Haruhi Suzumiya were highlighted by the thoroughly unsatisfying last episode, which (kinda) wrapped up the series in a nice way but failed to resolve the plot's issues. The opening and the wildly popular ending theme aren't all that great. The character designs all appear very similar, especially the females. By themselves, these flaws aren't that big of a deal but, when combined together with the issue mentioned in the previous paragraph, the show overall comes across as a problem. This is a good-but-not-great parody of the school genre with a few truly memorable moments (the classic episode 6, the two-part mystery, and the aforementioned "God Knows" song) but, somewhere along the way, it lost its charm and was unjustly handed a mediocre finale. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, in the end, was disappointing but at least it stands heads-and-shoulders above the legion of run-of-the- mill school series… and Angel Beats.

A refreshingly weird series (spoilers are minor)

[refresh_daemon · 9/10 · 28 June 2008]

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is an anime that left quite the impression on me. Partially for the characters, many of whom fall into anime fantasy/sci-fi stereotypes, but placing these stereotypes in the rather mundane setting of high school is a twist that I appreciated. Then there's the somewhat insane titular character who is something else: a headstrong, almost amoral, girl with ridiculous amounts of talent and a secret that she's not aware of.

The set-up for the series is a bit of a mind-trip. Essentially Suzumiya, unbeknown to herself, is a sort of super-powerful being, capable of god-like feats of creation and destruction, as she can destroy and rebuild reality to her whim. Our narrator and primary character is Kyon, a high schooler whose sympathy/curiosity for Haruhi appears to cause her to drag him, against his will, into a club she's starting to spice up her life, because she's bored with the normal life. Searching for adventure, she claims three more unusual members, each with secrets and they all end up being dragged into her crazy schemes.

There is a bit of crazy, but enjoyable, philosophic consideration early on as we debate whether the world is merely Haruhi's creation as she gets bored of the old one and whether our characters exist to serve her or serve her to continue to exist or whether they could exist without her. It's a bit of a conundrum, but an enjoyable one all the same. While sci-fi/fantasy scenarios do occasionally occur in the series, I think the joy of the series lies in how normal things are, while there remains this tension in knowing that if things are too boring, Haruhi might destroy the world in hopes of making it more interesting.

The art is clean and in line with what I've come to expect from the anime that typically gets imported to the US; I like the character designs and while there isn't a whole lot of action in the series, I think it sits better that way. The series is narrated from the mind of Kyon and he doesn't play an omniscient narrator but only comments on what he knows and what he feels. He's has a lot going on in his head, but he doesn't actually speak a whole lot so it's good that we get to hear it.

The voice acting in the English dub is acceptable enough, but I prefer the Japanese acting over it. There are some stranger aspects to the series, some of which both parodies and traffics in fanboy-ism, which I found amusing. For the first season, I have to admit that there's a lack of closure, as the series doesn't really have an larger story arc, but seems to take things one at a time, so it's an easy series to pick up and put down, although I think that because of its rather entertaining qualities, it's still quite hard to put down. It's also based on a series of light novels and the author was directly involved in the writing of the series.

Even though it's based on the novels, I still wish that the over series had stronger story arcs, but I love how naturally we get to watch these characters develop and how well the series can play out the quiet moments as well as the crazier ones. Seeing Haruhi grow herself was quite a treat as well as watching the relationships develop between the SOS Brigade (Haruhi's club).

It's not for everyone, due to its mind-twisting premise and "extra-ordinary beings in a mundane world" setting. It probably won't sate fanboys who are into action/sci-fi/fantasy and might be a little too off-kilter for the more relationship-oriented drama lovers, but for those willing to try out something a little different, or that like strangely quirky series like this, I think The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a rather refreshingly unique and enjoyable series. More please. 9/10.

Yeah I agree with some of the reviewers here, you do get a pounding headache from Haruhi!

[Irishchatter · 6/10 · 2 September 2018]

I honestly felt exhausted after watching this because like, Haruhi is a character that you bloody can't stand for one minute. She reminds me of some people I know for real and they are a lot worse as she is lol! However despite her being an annoying brat, Kyon was the most likeable character in this series. I really liked Crispin Freeman's narration as well as being the character!

Although I really felt the series could've done better by keeping Haruhi becoming less of an annoying character. That's why I'm giving it a 6/10 rating....

Sort of Good...Totally Annoying

[Jiszmo · 5/10 · 27 January 2020]

The show started out really excellently. Then it kept interest while you are waiting for the mystery to be solved. Then you are still waiting for the mystery to be solved, as the show just keeps stalling. Then you are still waiting. Then you are still waiting. Then you are still waiting. Finally it becomes obvious the show has no mystery. It just wants to show the daily lives of a group of high schoolers. It's cliche as hell also. Almost every episode, Ive seen in other animes. ABout the time of the repeating summer episode, (which lasts 8 episodes, repeating themselves in a groundhog day type fashion, with only slight variations in dialougue, same animation) I said screw this. It's obvious the show is going nowhere, and quit watching.

Anyways, the show had potential but never delivered on it. I gave the 5 I gave because it was pretty entertaining anyways. But ultimately it felt like it was drug out infinitely, since the entire series could have been done in just a few episodes. The entire rest of the series is filler. One of the few animes I stopped watching half way through. And so angry I wasted my time.

Philosophy/Sci-Fi/Anime Drama all in one awesome show.

[aidan-clare · 9/10 · 31 July 2009]

This show is great. Not only is "Haruhai Suzumiya" a very well written anime show, it also reflects things like Philosophy, Science Fiction and a little religion. It's hilarious at some points and "cute" (for lack of a better term) at others. Actually this may be effect to my lack of experience with Japanese anime shows, but it is one of the best of its genre I have seen.

I mainly have to give credit to the writers. I haven't seen such brilliant scopes of imagination in a television show since the original Star Trek. I hope the writers continue to add strange new characters and give more insight on the already great characters that have been added.

9/10

Great beyond any human description.

[janus-rackelldant · 10/10 · 14 December 2006]

I have no words to really describe this series.

The premise behind this concept (a highly hyperactive girl with a very eccentric personality which ends up whirling up a team of oddballs into her own rendering of the world, which after all was a creation of Haruhi, since she wants a world with aliens, espers and time travelers) is a breath of fresh air in a world ridden with repetitive anime series and non innovative TV shows.

Characters are well developed, and you will end up loving them, some less than others. The word to describe the animation job does not exist, since "excellent" would really fall short to describe how was done. There are many funny situations which either will make you smile or put you into deep thoughts. Don't fall for the impression of the first episode, since that's only the tip of the iceberg, as the novels are yet to come.

The only problem comes due to the lack of chronological order in the episodes, but you can solve that problem, no?

Conclusion: Unquestionably, one of the best series of 2006.

Aliens, Time-Travellers, Sliders and Espers Please Read!

[hellfire_30 · 10/10 · 6 April 2007]

On the surface TMHS appears to be yet another generic high school drama; but surprisingly hidden away underneath is immense amounts of depth, originality and eccentricities that will not only render it unforgettable to the viewer, but also makes it indisputably one of the best animes that the medium has produced in the last few years.

We see the world through the eyes of Kyon, who on his first day of High School meets Haruhi Suzumiya, a girl that boldly claims to the rest of the class she has no interest in 'normal humans' and to top it off casually invites any aliens, time travellers, sliders or espers to meet up with her. Kyon stares in disbelief, wondering if shes joking or has a few screws loose. However defying his gut instincts he begins talking to her. In doing so it soon becomes apparent she isn't some ordinary high schooler. Not to long after, she creates her own aptly named 'SOS Brigade' school club, and drags Kyon amongst other highly unfortunate people to attend.

Nothing in this anime conforms to the usual standard conventions, Kyon the protagonist is an overly cynical pessimist, and contributes a witty narration to the show. A far-cry from the usual 2D male leading characters that tends to populate the medium. The episodes themselves are not chronological,and forces the viewer to think about the events unfolding and how they relate to prior instances. This is a stroke of genius; the effect is like a jig-saw puzzle, as a new piece is layed we get more of a sense of the bigger picture. Previous scenes are now given entire new meanings, and the realization of them are profoundly satisfying. This does mean however that it feels dis-jointed (its anything but), a very cleverly written script has bypassed this problem and ensured that it flows smoothly from start to finish.

The story itself is strikingly original, but I won't delve further than the simple bare-bones plot outline I gave earlier, as it will no doubt spoil it for you. However what I will mention is the plot incorporates a vast array of genres, ranging from comedy to sci-fi. How they managed to accomplish this in the space of fourteen episodes is beyond me, and no doubt a huge achievement in itself.

TMHS is a true gem, which has such diversity and depth that it will appeal to pretty much anyone with an interest in anime. Watch it, rather unusually this is something that lives up to the enormous hype that it has received- and even exceeds it.

Successful at Everything

[fagdamager · 10/10 · 29 May 2017]

Is there anything that compares to Haurhi in modern Japanese animation? Honestly, no. It's such a brilliantly constructed deconstruction of not only Anime, but fiction in general that hits every single note just right. It's a journey, though we rarely travel beyond the school's grounds. Does it have faults? Yes, but only in the most tertiary, unimportant departments. There's no point focusing on them, just as there's no point in delving into the positives. If you like anime, you are essentially required to give this show a viewing, just like Evangelion ten years before.

If you read this review, even if you've already seen the show, please, if you ever cared about me, this random anonymous person on the internet, just please

WATCH THIS IN THE ORIGINAL BROADCAST ORDER.

You can find a guide on Wikipedia. This isn't personal preference or an appeal to tradition, it was deliberately designed to be viewed in that order. Pay attention, use your brain, and I promise you the experience is 10x more rewarding.

Wierd and ordinary

[william-eugensson · 7/10 · 13 June 2022]

A very strange and interesting show. Some parts I really did enjoy and some not so much. Some characters seem to have a lot of depth while other are shallow. I can imagine this being really great when it was released, I probably would have liked it more as a teenager.

Great first season

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 11 June 2010]

I had heard good things about this series long before it got a UK DVD release so when I saw it for sale I didn't waste any time in getting a copy; I have no regrets. When first released the episodes were not shown in chronological order but as the DVD had rearranged them into chronological order I watched it that way rather than in broadcast order.

At the start it looked like it was going to be an ordinary school based comedy; Kyon is an ordinary school boy who gets chatting to classmate Haruhi Suzumiya, she is interesting in things like aliens, time travellers and people with ESP but nobody else appears to share her interest... when Kyon casually suggests she starts a club to find others who share her interest he doesn't that she will take up his suggestion and press-gang him into being the first member. The next three members have equally little choice about joining: Yuki, the sole member of the literature club whose room is taken over, Mikuru who is dragged in because Haruhi wants a 'moe girl' in the club and finally transfer student Itsuki. Haruhi is the kind of girl who gets what she wants, this is partly due to her 'genki girl' personality and partly because unbeknownst to her she is effectively God... she wanted aliens, time travellers and ESPers and she got one of each in her club although they can't tell her as they believe the universe could come to an end if Haruhi were to learn what she was.

This might all make it sound like a weird science fiction show but despite the odd situation it is a comedy with lots of laughs. Haruhi is one of the most memorable anime characters I've come across, her boundless enthusiasm means she can do things that would be considered very wrong were a normal person to do it... her methods of persuasion include blackmail and sexual harassment, usually of poor Mikuru. I'd certainly recommend this to anybody wanting a good laugh and something a little different, I can't wait for the second series to get a DVD release.

These comments are based on watching the first season in Japanese with English subtitles.

The Movie's Better, Though

[ianwagnerwatches · 7/10 · 2 February 2022]

Review Date: 2013

Haruhi Suzumiya = 7.8 "Uniquely Delightful"

animation was great, art was ok, soundtrack was mediocre but lovable, story was pretty great, the narrative was great, characters were good, and it was very yet inexplicably original.

The series was consistently fun and charming, telling a relatively unique supernatural/highschool story with metaphysical themes about perception and God with a silly and stretched yet truly intriguing premise, tying it all together in a way that I find hard to describe. A phenomenal series that currently holds the place of my second favorite anime, if we pretend season 2 never happened. I'd give it an 8, but season 2 was a piece of sh**, and I mean sh**. With the exception of season 2, it's more than likely I will be rewatching this series over and over again. Pure happiness.

pretty good dub

[renegadeviking-271-528568 · 8/10 · 6 January 2017]

If you're looking for a entertaining light-hearted for the most part and comedic anime then look no further as you have a great one right here. This series has already been out for a few years so the basic premise of the story shouldn't be a surprise to anyone but the annoying part before this set was trying to get it into an anime fans library for a decent price and not be paying an arm and a leg for it. Appreciated that they added both the first and second seasons to this entertaining series as while the first season was a bit pricey it was somewhat affordable but what sellers were asking for the second season set was beyond outrageous. The animation and soundtrack fit nicely together and are done very well as the animation has a mix of the anime series Clannad and Haganai and the soundtrack keeps a level paced tempo with the usual comedic outputs during certain humorous scenes. The voice cast both for the subbed and dubbed are very talented and performed voicing their character roles nicely.

Some English dubbed voices you are sure to have heard from video games like Crispin Freeman and Johnny Bosch both very talented as well as two other long standing talented anime voice actresses Wendee Lee and Michelle Ruff. So for fans who were looking to complete their collection of this entertaining series or those looking for an entertaining series then here you have one that's well worth adding to your anime collection.

The first season of "Haruhi Suzumiya" is guaranteed to cheer you up with cute sexual innuendos, scientific mumbo-jumbo and a symbolic religious message hidden underneath the fan service.

The show is based on an oddball story, focusing on a high school boy named Kyon, who meets an unusual high school girl named Haruhi Suzumiya. The girl is a strange firebrand, who is more interested in aliens, espers (psychics) and time travelers than in actual humans. Somehow, Kyon strikes up an unusual friendship with this girl.

However, Kyon never planned on getting involved with starting up Haruhi's own club, the S.O.S. Brigade. The club's mission is to spread happiness around the world, through all the fetishes that anime geeks would love. Aliens. Psychics. And an adorable time traveler girl with big breasts. The show pretty much covers all of Kyon's experiences with Haruhi, the bossy dominatrix who may have mysterious powers of her own.

Although it is hard to discuss this series without revealing some major spoilers, the show is a major hit with college anime clubs in America for many reasons. The first episode is a big home movie spoof, where the high school characters try to act like Haruhi's favorite anime characters in an embarrassing film project loaded with weird jokes. The ending credit sequence features the funniest and most infamous anime dance, performed by Haruhi and the other members of the S.O.S. Brigade. And the philosophical members of the S.O.S. Brigade always treat Haruhi like she's a supernatural being who has the willpower to change humanity as we know it.

Granted

[Mysterygeneration · 7/10 · 18 January 2024]

Numerous reviews I've read about this show are mixed; some people really enjoy it, while others don't think much of it. Since I adore this show, I find it nearly surprising that some others don't too. However, the anime won't be appealing to you if you don't like the show's inherent randomness and wackiness.

The configuration is as follows: In other words, Haruhi Suzumiya, a girl, is a kind of god who possesses the ability to alter reality. She doesn't even know that she has this ability. Combining the aforementioned power with her wish to meet espers, aliens, and time travelers, she creates a club where these beings congregate (though she is unaware that they are anything more than regular humans) and meets Kyon, a perfectly normal guy who is the first regular person she gets along with. We follow her club, the SOS Brigade (Save the world by Overloading it with fun, Suzumiya Haruhi's Brigade), as they engage in a variety of entertaining and entertaining activities.

From a narrative perspective, the anime can be classified as episodic since each episode features a new incident, but there are also connections between the episodes, maintaining a genuine chronological order. To further complicate matters, they were initially broadcast out of chronological sequence, adding to the confusion and randomness. Although I personally think the chronological sequence is preferable to the broadcast order, I have heard some individuals disagree. I will do my best to provide a list of ups and downs:

Broadcast order: (+) There will be some excellent character development; (+) The series' conclusion occurs at the very end; Allusions to unwatched episodes (-) The first episode may frighten you, but persevere through to the very end!

Chronological order: (+) A linear plot (-) A rather mid-series ending (-) Character growth that could feel a little stagnant between episodes.

I thought the setting and the plot were both excellent. At the end of an episode, you can feel as though you've watched more than one because each one included so much content. This is partly because of the pacing, which switches between a hyperactive and quick pace that suits Haruhi's persona and a sluggish, traditional slice-of-life pace.

The animation style employed in the show is superb. The majority of the series Kyoto Animation has worked on have outstanding animation (note: exceptional, not always faultless). Kyoto Animation most certainly lives up to their name. The coloring is excellent, the characters move with such fluidity, and there are some nice extra features. Another plus is Haruhi's variety of hairstyles. Excellent lighting effects are also included.

The music video is mediocre. Even though it's not the best, it's still decent. The BGM is appropriate for this kind of show, and the OP/ED themes are appealing stand-alone tunes. The voice acting is also excellent; they do a great job of capturing the hyperactivity of Haruhi and the snarky, laid-back personality of Kyon.

Many critics deduct points for the characters because there is hardly little character development. However, guess what, people? It's a comedy/slice of life anime with 14 episodes. If you're looking for character growth, don't watch these. There are situations when rating anything requires some thought. Low character development doesn't detract from my rating of this kind of anime.

Granted, the characters are a tad cliché; the couple of hyperactive girls and a laid-back guy is nothing new. It's also not uncommon to see a moe/loli girl or a quiet, shy girl. The distinctive presentation of the characters in TMoHS, however, was what really elevated them to such a high degree of quality. I almost forgot that the characters were based on well-known anime character types.

Season 2

[ethSin · 10/10 · 5 April 2010]

Note that the 2009 season consisted rerun of the first season as well as 14 new episodes in between. I will only refer to the new episodes in this review.

A lot of people hated the second season (mainly the "Endless Eight" episodes), but I actually really liked it. One criticism to it was the laziness by Kyoto Animation, but I beg to differ. Every single scene in the Endless Eight episodes were redrawn, and there were no recycled scenes. This is actually harder than brand new episodes, because it's like writing a paper on same topic 8 times without self-plagiarism. I personally really enjoyed watching the brand-new-old-episodes where every episode has slightly different drawing styles, and they obviously put more effort into cinematography in latter episodes. It also made me feel the tediousness of the same events happening, much as what Nagato had experienced in anime. And when Kyon finally made a move... that was nothing short of epic. The ending of the final Endless Eight episode, even the afterthoughts, were extremely satisfying. I must admit though, I always watch anime series after the final episode has been aired, so I did not experience the excruciating wait for new episodes. That may have worked in my favor.

"Sighs of Haruhi" episodes weren't an amazing conclusion to season 2, but it was decent. I feel the second season wasn't meant to be a sequel, but as an anecdote to the first season. It probably would've been more appropriate as an OVA (if there weren't so many Haruhi fans around the world, which makes financial sense to broadcast) As the first season, the animation was very good, voice acting was nothing short of perfection, and just plain Haruhi fun.

Wonderful show

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 4 November 2012]

I am a big fan of anime(and animation in general), right from almost anything Studio Ghibli, Akira, Ninja Scroll, Castle of Cagliostro and Ghost in the Shell to Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, the animated Miyazaki anthropomorphic Sherlock Holmes series and this(have for a while been interested in Naruto). This show, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, is wonderful, and I highly recommended the movie The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya as well, a film that doesn't disrespect its show in any way. The animation in the show has a beautifully ethereal quality, yet darkly atmospheric when needed. The character designs are quirky and quite unique with telling facial expressions, you get that a lot of this sort of depth in anime and I love it. The music fits perfectly with the contrasting moods, powerful in places and soothing in others. The writing is always intelligent and smart, with fun, intensity and poignancy in the mix as well. The storyline has so many clever ideas and told in a way that is accessible to anybody, with plenty to amuse the younger audience and the sharp intelligent writing of the dialogue and story will leave adults satisfied as well. The characters and engaging and never come across as obnoxious or under-written. The title character is in particular an interesting, well-developed and in a way complex character. The voice acting is appropriately dynamic if more in the Japanese version rather than the dubbed(it is good to have an English dub for those new to anime or this show, but I find in dubs that feels on the stilted side in comparison to the Japanese version). Overall, a really wonderful show. 10/10 Bethany Cox