Review of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

STORY - 9 ART - 10 SOUND - 9 CHARACTER - 9 ENJOYMENT - 9 Absence. Something so powerful in the face of the yearning tendency many of us have in common. Imagine the things most important to you vanishes in the blink of an eye and the result is similar to the discussion found within this long yet well-spent movie. Watching the prequels first is a high recommendation from me as Disappearance will be an upgrade. The establishment of the characters and some significant plot points beforehand will most likely add to the amazing experience I felt during the whole duration. If we say the anime series to be ashow of mainly comedic reactions, this one took on a serious and humanist approach to supernaturalism, almost a total contrast. While the characters seemed kind of bland in the series, the movie felt different and fresh. That was because of the focal development in the characters, particularly that of Kyon and Yuki. The character-driven story imbued an extra layer to their personality. How the bizzare events of the movie affected their psychological and emotional traits was thought out well, giving out the hidden side to their personality and true feelings. In conjuction with the slower pacing, it brought in a mystery element as an intriguing aspect. Mesmerizing me into the story was so effective that I went through quite a rollercoaster of emotions, whether that'd be the familiar feeling of melancholy, the state of blankness, or simply goosebumps. For the majority of the time, the plot remained unpredictable with a couple of great plot twists that shook the story up. A resembling narrative factor found in this movie and the series was the inner monologuing. Not only does it serve to provide the audience with Kyon's thoughts and perspective, it also showed the change in the structure of the story. From the more calm pondering to the raised emotions, everything transitioned well from one event to another.

Another thing that was reminiscent to the anime series was the art style. Take the already crisp looks from the series and improve it with a firmer structure and you'll get an art style more breathtaking than ever. Some artistic techniques helped in blending the story on a visual level such as the whitewashed feel. The desaturation of colors expressed the void in Kyon's heart, or what one would call the hollowness and nothingness when despair lurks behind you. An immersion of this level was a perfect piece for the movie's engaging atmosphere. Lighting effects, particularly the headlight scene, stood out beautifully as an elevation to some momental scenes. To show a newer perspective on the characters, the animation factored into this when closed emotions pour out through the fluid movement of their body language. The silence in the air reinforced the enigmatic environment, a helpful thought-provoking component that served as a chance for viewers to connect the dots together or to let the plot sink in for a bit. As some plot points were quite complex, the slower pacing and lack of sound helped in stitching the events together. In turn, few background soundtracks were used but this was a great example of the balance between amount and effect. Each tracks amplified the atmosphere, letting consideration pave way to a more lasting impression on the importance of a couple of moments. And lastly, the emotive voice acting was fitting for each of the characters. Their old or new personality, their reactions to the events, their interactions with one another, was the culmination of the outstanding narrative formula plus the complementary audiovisual that came with it.

Disappearance was a movie that kept on giving throughout the whole duration. The time spent have not been in vain as I was rewarded with a satisfying anime movie experience that provoked a deeper level of appreciation towards the characters and premise of the franchise. Supernaturals, wouldn't they be a fun thing to have in life?