Review of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
In this review I've decided to talk about the anime as a whole with the exceptions of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya/Yuki Nagato. Enjoyment: 10 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is an odd show to describe. The only real way to explain why I enjoy the show in the way I do is that it’s a memory; the series was my first ever anime so I am slightly bias towards it. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it still, to this day, has a big impact on how I live my everyday life and my perception on life, my peers and the world. Plot: 9 The story revolvesaround Kyon, a completely regular high school boy who doesn’t believe in anything out of this world or supernatural. Kyon is a very interesting narrator to follow through the dramas of the series since he remains entirely disinterested and resigned throughout. His personality is most entertaining when rivalled by the outlandish oddball, Haruhi Suzumiya. Kyon is encouraged by his new friends to avoid her but happens to notice and point out a few of her strange quirks which is the start of an odd not-quite-friendship between the two. In a strange turn of events, we learn that she herself is not be what meets the eye.
Art and Animation: 8
Being made by Kyoto Animation, it’s not surprising that Haruhi has an excellent standard of animation and a beautiful art style really highlighting the beauty of the direction. The art is particularly impressive for the time and the movements are mostly smooth.
Music: 8
Haruhi is a particularly good example of the expression “less is more” in terms of its use of music. While no songs of the OST particulary caught my attention, the overall tone of the music and the atmosphere it creates are fantastic. Also, the first opening, while not massively popular, is an opening I personally adore and the ending is, of course, famous within the anime community for its dance (which I do have to admit to having learnt) but is actually a very upbeat song which I feel fits the feel of the show well.
Voices: 10
Dubbed or subbed? In my opinion it is no question. The sub, while very good, doesn’t have what the dub has: Crispin Freeman. While I wouldn’t say I’m a very big fan of his, Crispin Freeman’s portrayal of Kyon is some of the best English voice acting I have ever experienced during an anime simply because of the constant bored tone which I feel gives the show a layer that nothing else has (except for perhaps SNAFU).
Problems and characters:
I have very few problems with the show but if I had to give some my main problems would be:
-Endless Eight
-Unanswered questions
-Lacking character development for characters other than Haruhi and Nagato
-The last episode (if watched chronologically)
However, these don’t subtract from the actual viewing of the show too much. These points are simply minor annoyances that I only really had after the show ended. I do have to admit that some of these problems where handled in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya and, if there had been a third season, it is clear that these problems would have been solved. But, alas, due to understandable reasons that I now know of, season three is likely to never exist. I’m keeping my fingers crossed either way and I hope you will too.