NOTE:
Please keep in mind that this review is old, so while some editting
has been done to make it read a little more timelessly, a lot of it
is obviously dated. As such, where some things may be noted as
'spoilers', they probably no longer are.
In
a world of so many long-running series (Shonen Jump adaptations and
otherwise), it's very rare for a shorter show to make a long-lasting
impression on the anime world. There are a few examples obviously,
like Fooly Cooly and the original Tenchi Muyo! OVAs (though this one
defaults a little bit due to having longer-running spin-off titles),
but essentially most, no matter how big the fan base, just don't seem
to have lasting power over the years when compared to the 'big boys'
of Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto.
That's
where Haruhi Suzumiya comes in. Few fan-bases for a show are so rabid
and so powerful than this one, so much so that you'll hear about this
little gem just as much as you will Naruto. It's that big.
Also
known to just about everyone is that Haruhi Suzumiya started off not
as a manga like most anime adaptations, but as a light novel, written
by Nagaru Tanigawa with illustrations by Noizi Ito. There's a total
of nine books so far, with a tenth due out this year or the next.
Like
with most huge titles though, I'm late into it. After hearing about
it from just about all of my friends and reading about it online, I
finally picked up the first book about a year or so ago, and I really
enjoyed it. Only recently was I able to get a copy of the first
'season' as released here by Bandai however, which is what I'm
reviewing now.
TMHS,
as it's abbreviated, is the story of Kyon as he enters his high
school years, with a cynical mind-set. As a kid, he apparently found
the normal world boring, and was much more inclined to read or watch
stories involving secret organizations, alien conspiracies, and
people with super-powers than he was to enjoy the real world. Growing
up though, he's realized that none of that stuff is possible in the
real world, and is ready to slog his way through the mundane journey
that is life - much like the rest of us.
That's
where things take a turn for the 'worse' for our hero. In the seat
just behind him in homeroom, sits a girl who is about to change his
entire world - Haruhi Suzumiya. Hyper, demanding, self-centered, and
incredibly eccentric, she stuns Kyon and the rest of her opening
statement that if there are any time travelers, aliens, or ESPers
(think psychics), they should come to her. That's where the entire
story begins, as an off-hand comment made by Kyon soon after causes
her to make the S.O.S. Brigade (Saving the World by Overloading it
with Fun Haruhi Suzumiya Brigade), bringing in three other people who
are soon revealed to be more than they seem. Yuki Nagato, a quiet
girl who loves to read, who is also an alien (of sorts); Mikuru
Asahina, a timid, well-endowed beauty, who is also a time traveler
from the future; and Itsuki Koizumi, a mysterious and seemingly
always smiling boy, who is also an ESPer.
And
thus, as they say, chaos and hilarity ensues. From saving the world
from the 'Godly' side-effects of Haruhi's temper, to playing
baseball, to ocean cruises, to even normal things like a school
festival, and all the way back, Haruhi is one surreal experience of a
show. It's that surreal feeling that makes this show so good I think.
I mean, let's face it - the entire concept, maybe not exactly like
this, has sort-of been done before. The idea itself is nothing
revolutionary. Any other author could have come up with this and it
would have been an okay story, but at an episode count of 14
(speaking only of the first 'season' of course, as that's all I've
seen), it would have been quickly forgotten in the realm of other,
newer titles. No, what saves Haruhi from falling to the way-side is
incredibly good writing as well as some of the most interesting
characters ever seen in this kind of a story.
Speaking
of the characters, this is definitely a character-driven story, so
let's talk about the individual members of the S.O.S. Brigade a bit.
Starting with Haruhi herself, I have mixed feelings on her. At first,
I (much like my girlfriend) absolutely hated the character. She's
bossy, downright female-dog like more often than not, and she pretty
much shows no concern for her friends who are forced to put up with
her in the hopes that the end of the world doesn't reign down upon
them. As the series goes on, she does become a lot more bearable, as
she does learn to care a bit more about her friends, and her
eccentricity becomes more funny than annoying. In the end though, she
is definitely my least-favorite character in the series.
Moving
onto Kyon, there's not a whole heck of a lot to say. He's the real
main character of the story, as everything is told directly from his
narrative, so you're supposed to like him a little bit. Still, I find
his cynicism a bit much at times, given that he's now living exactly
the things he once wished for. Would it kill him to crack a smile
sometimes?
Yuki
Nagato is another one that I'm not really sure how to feel about. A
friend of mine is a huge fan of her, but to me she's kind of just
there in the background. She's a lot like Mori from Ouran to me, a
'couch' of a character - they don't say a whole heck of a lot, but
the show just wouldn't be right without them. Truth be told, Yuki
does have one of the most badass moments in the show though, when she
bare-handily takes down one of her own kind after Kyon's life, but in
the end I just can't say I like her or dislike her really.
Now
Mikuru...ahh...there's my favorite character. In fact, I'll admit it
right now - I have a huge fan-boy crush on the character. I mean,
look at her!
Can
you blame me? Didn't think so.
She's
absolutely adorable, full of cute charms, and I'm sure a lot of
people hate her on principle as pretty much a human incarnation of
all that is 'moe', but you know what? If it's done well, I think moe
can be an endearing trait. Chalk me in with Haruhi and Konata in that
regard!
The
final member of the brigade, Itsuki, I think almost would have made a
better lead than Kyon, personality wise. He's a lot more my speed for
a lead character, cracking little jokes from time to time, generally
happy, and he seems to be an all-around nice guy. Well, with the
exception of annoying Kyon for fun anyway. When I think about it now,
it wouldn't work with him as the lead since Kyon's anti-Haruhi nature
is needed to make her character bearable at all, whereas Itsuki
thinks she's a God and also finds all those annoying traits of hers
'charming'.
The
animation won't disappoint either. I'm not lying when I say this is
one of the most beautifully animated TV anime I've ever seen. Maybe
it was because of the popularity of the novels, maybe it was due to
how short the original episode count was, or perhaps a mixture of
both - either way, this show is absolutely gorgeous.
So,
in closing, Haruhi Suzumiya is one hell of an anime ride, unlike any
other. Is it a must-see title? I wouldn't go so far as to put it up
there with some others I consider must-see (like the first Fullmetal
Alchemist, Air, and Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart), but it's
certainly a show that I think everyone should at least check into.
It's definitely one that you have to see to believe. So with that in
mind, I bring this review to a close. It was a long one, but hey,
it's been a while.
