THAT Animeblog » Suzumiya Haruhi

The Sighs of Haruhi Suzumiya V (END?)- And We All Fall Down (In Despair)

Calawain — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:22:08 +0000

Let’s all pray for Disappearance, for Yuki’s sake.

Surprisingly enough, the fifth episode of Sighs was actually pretty good, and got us back to the actual story and intrigue that makes this show fun to watch. Too bad we couldn’t have seen this a couple of months ago, but alas that’s a rant ~~for another time~~ at the end of this post.

They picked a wickedly awesome voice for this cat. It is also wickedly awesome that Kyon was engaging in deep philosophical discussions with said talking cat. Reminds me of that old saying where if you gave a monkey with a typewriter enough time he could write Shakespeare eventually. I wish we could have had more talking Shamisen.

Somehow I don’t think they have LARP in Japan.

This is the part of the series I find enjoyable, the competing truths of the world and the different groups competing for influence. There are many, many theories out there, from Kyon being God, to Tsuruya being God, and of course it being all a dream. A bit of a warning, that site can eat 3 hours of your time before you can blink.

That’s a pretty safe assumption to make.

It’s been pretty obvious from the start that Itsuki often tells lies and half-truths, and wears a rather false mask about himself. However, this theory regarding Mikuru has definitely grown on me time has passed. Someone perfectly designed to pull on what Kyon likes, and whose adult form seemingly manipulates Kyon into doing her bidding. Since Haruhi is immune from almost everyone’s influence, the multitude of groups out there instead have to try to get Kyon on their side.

Generally reliable sources have indicated that Newtype’s published TV schedules show the remaining four episodes of this season will be the last repeats from the first season. So, as I feared last week, the entirety of the second season of Haruhi will be Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody, Endless Eight, and Sighs. What a colossal waste of time most of the season has been. Basically, we had 14 episodes, 3 of which were any good.

Remember way back when? We seemed to be promised that fan-favorite Disappearance would actually be animated. They could always screw with us and air another season sometime after that, but I’ve heard nothing about that. I hope the Endless Eight sales crater as much as we all hope they will. Otaku rage power!

At least the last two episodes were good, right?

The Sighs of Haruhi Suzumiya IV- Kyon’s Rage (Plus Tsuruya)

Calawain — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:10:43 +0000

After 3 rather uninspiring episodes of Sighs, episode four brings us rage, drunken escapades, near fisticuffs, and of course, a stunning Tsuruya. All good stuff, even if it’s not Disappearance. The inspiration for this post was mostly the Kyon rage.

Yuki is very handy to have around for your everyday breaking and entering.

We at T.H.A.T. have dearly missed our namesake and her wonderful fang-tan laugh. Glad she gets some decent screentime in this episode, but it’s too bad we will probably not see the best parts of the story concerning her from later in the novel series.

Wonderful instincts Kyon.

I don’t find Mikuru particularly appealing due to her retarded personality, but I don’t blame Kyon for getting all hot and bothered over seeing her in that outfit. Mmmmmm~

Talk about a low tolerance for alcohol.

They had pretty good music playing in the background that definitely enhanced the rage I was feeling at Haruhi’s retarded antics. Very appropriate dramatic piano work.

Like I said, I don’t really like Mikuru’s character, the whole completely helpless, clumsy, and retarded moeblob stuff doesn’t do it for me. However, anyone should feel sorry for her and angry at Haruhi for the horrible treatment she receives at her hands.

Whoa, serious-face Fabulous Boy.

Angry-face Haruhi is definitely pretty scary, especially knowing she could destroy the world. I give Kyon major man points for finally having the balls to stand up to that. As much as many of us would like to see Kyon rage and actually hit her or stop playing along with her crap, there really wouldn’t be a show without it. So, we will just have to be satisfied with the fact that he finally let off some steam and was right about to throw down.

This scene was definitely the most emotionally charged scene in the series as a whole, and one that I wasn’t really expecting. I read the books quite awhile ago, but even so, it’s a much different feeling watching it come to life (or animation) compared to reading it.

For a bit more philosophy, consider that every living being has the instincts for self-preservation. So regardless of whether the world is a failure, those living in it would want to preserve it, and thus their own lives. DEEP, RIGHT?

Well that’s more like it, Fabulous Boy.

I suppose it was kind of cute at the end when she was thinking about the Kyon-arousing ponytails.

What’s ultimately pathetic about this second season of Haruhi is that it consists of one good new episode (Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody), the Endless Eight fiasco, and now just Sighs (one of the weakest arcs in the novels). So in 14 episodes we get one new episode, 8 episodes of trash, and 5 episodes of “The Making Of The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina Episode 00,” which doesn’t feel new at all since we’ve already seen the other side of most of these scenes. Rather disappointing if you ask me.

Crusader’s Ninja Edit for the Ultra Gorgeous Tsuru-chan

Tsuru-chan prefers to use her own body heat to dry off Mikuru…

You can size her and everything Tsuru-chan, I assume this will be done privately…

LET”S GET FRIENDLY…

I can’t help but think this was Tsuru-chan’s plan all along, and elaborate ploy to get Mikuru over for a slumber party…

It seems to be quite a coincidence that Tsuru-chan agreed to toss Mikuru with no towel while her home is just right there with the full knowledge that Mikuru would leap right into her arms…but I don’t trust coincidences.

I wonder what Tsuru-chan was thinking through all this…

Serious Tsuruya.

Tsuru-chan is most delighted that she now has a drunk Mikuru all to herself and the perfect excuse to clear her house of people who would get in the way. Night of Tsuruya and Mikuru that goes on forever and ever CONFIRMED. MISSION COMPLETE.

Troll /end

Calawain — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:15:59 +0000

Well, it took 8 episodes but they finally finished wasting all of our time. I would have thought it impossible, but I actually skipped entirely watching episodes 15-18 (and everything but the last couple of minutes of 19). From what I gather from the sad souls that actually watched them, nothing happened. The fun part is going to see how their DVD sales end up, because according to Sankaku it looks like the 8 episodes of Endless Eight will be released as usual, in two episode packs retailing at ¥6,930 ($70 US) each. I’m sure there will be some sad sacks who will drop $280 on 8 episodes of the same crap.

The question then becomes how much we lose by having them wasting time on this. There are still about 5 novels worth of material unanimated, including some of the best parts like Disappearance and Snow Mountain Syndrome. Does the fact that they spent 8 episodes on this mean we don’t get to see one of them animated? Probably, something has to give. That is what disappoints me the most out of all of this.

Suzumiya Haruhi 2, Episode 14- And Various Things Happened

Calawain — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:58:43 +0000

We got some new swimsuits and summer outfits, and then same stuff happened as before. I think this was the first time I’ve ever been bored watching an episode of Haruhi. Not even joking, I’m completely out of interesting things to say about the same events we’ve experienced multiple times already…

Suzumiya Haruhi 2, Episode 13- Fabulous Boy

Calawain — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:43:55 +0000

The numbering convention for this new season irritates the hell out of me. That being said I was happy we finally got into a bit of story here and more Nagato. This likely means new episodes for at least another 2 weeks to resolve this storyline if they plan on animating most of it. Good times.

BEEFCAKE

Different swimsuits this time…at least they showed some varying dialogue and scenes as to make it not look like they just re-used last week’s footage to save money. I also have noticed that these past two episodes have been a bit more overt with the fanservice then in season 1. Not that I’m complaining or anything, just an observation.

Those eyes…and I’d be bored to after doing the same stupid crap 15,000 times.

Hello there.

That’s a hell of a Groundhog Day. Or for those younger readers who watch more anime then older American movies, where are you K1?! On second thought, you people should all go watch the movie Groundhog Day if you haven’t. It’s classic cinema dammit. Damn kids these days.

Too close! Don’t think I’ve seen such high yaoi bait content in a Haruhi episode before. Beefcake Kyon, multiple instances of flamboyancy and fabulousness from Itsuki, and then this scene…it was pretty steamy. Maybe they felt a need to balance out the service a bit?

Crusader’s Observations

The man of the hour, and perhaps at this point the only man…

So it was pretty much the same as last time sans the Itano Circus, but what new stuff there was I did enjoy. Mikuru laid on the helpless moe girl on a bit thick, but by now I suppose that is about as much as can be expected of her at this stage. I confess I could have gazed into Yuki’s eyes 15,498 times, but I suppose that the only good thing repetition is for is developing muscle memory. I live in freaking San Francisco so the flamboyancy is hardly an issue though I do like how Itsuki is at least acting boldly and decisively, in contrast Kyon is turning out to a bit of a pussy in not confronting issue and trying to weasel his way out of having to do anything, failing to realize Yuki’s plight was simply the most egregious of his crimes. Even when the moment of truth came he hesitated, just goes to show that just because you are a heterosexual doesn’t disallow cowardice. My respect for Itsuki actually grew for once as he seemed to piece everything together and did request Kyon act as he was the only one who could. I fail to recall his eyes being fully open on this many occasions. While Kyon mired himself in his own ignorance Itsuki was the first to realize that poor Yuki had been aware of the temporal loop, Mikuru calling him first indicates that even Mikuru realizes just how reliable Itsuki is. In my line of work that is something highly valued and certainly it seems that if given half the chance that Itsuki could easily gain a reputation for getting the job done.

Then you sir would be incredibly brave.

Suzumiya Haruhi, Episode 11- LF Plot, PST

Calawain — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:04:59 +0000

May I try some of your tasty beverage? After a couple of weeks of repeats we finally get a new episode of Haruhi V2.0, although it had little to do with plot advancement in a significant way. In the most widely circulated guess as to the order of airing of new episodes, it looks like the next couple of weeks should be new as well, but nothing has been made official.

Whenever I see pools like that I always think “how many little kids are peeing in that?” Needless to say I don’t go to public pools, I am strictly a private pool guy.

This is pretty much exactly what I look like when people wake me up in the morning with a phone call.

The alien mask, how appropriate. And I think this was unfortunately Yuki’s only spoken line the entire episode. I was quite disappointed at the lack of any major Yuki content this episode. However, as someone who has read the novels, I can say that the future bodes well for those of us who enjoy Yuki.

He should have asked for a reroll.

Bug catching? Seriously, that’s disgusting.

Wow, that’s pretty fucked up. Making them work in those retarded outfits all day in the summer just so she can nab a frog outfit. All while she hung out eating popsicles.

What I did find interesting about this episode is that the raw amount of “fun” activities they shoved into one episode gave me some perspective on what anime portrays as activities young Japanese people enjoy. I have know way of knowing how much of this is true in real life as entertainment mediums often do not reflect reality. But when I was in high school I would have found most of what they did incredibly boring and/or a stupid waste of my time. But then again I was a nerd, and I’d have rather gone to a LAN party or stayed home and played CS…

The episode was alright, but I’ve seen random slice of life stuff in tens of other shows although it was actually one of the top generic slice of life episodes I’ve seen. However, the reason I watch this show is for the other, stranger aspects of it all. I know most of this stuff was in the books, but that doesn’t necessarily make it amazingly interesting. Although it sure did look really nice, KyoAni definitely knows how to make quality animation.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, Episode 8?- How to Fail at Marketing (And How Yuki Partially Saves It)

Calawain — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:36:52 +0000

So I know I’m supposed to be orgasming here about the new Haruhi season, considering the title of this blog. Well unfortunately, the unbridled enthusiasm I had for this show has significantly waned in the 3 years since it last aired. Much of that has to do with the dipshit way in which Kadokawa has done the marketing for this show (remember kids, KyoAni is just the animation studio, they don’t do marketing), so I’m going to rant a bit before I get to the actual episode (which I nonetheless enjoyed), you have been warned.

Now I really loved the first season of the show, I even own all of the DVDs (buying anime? shocking I know!). That being said, the show aired from April to July of 2006. Now three years isn’t that long between seasons, but it’s more than ideal. The real problem has been the atrocious way in which Kadokawa has handled the show in the interim.

It’s important first to note that that the second season was announced right after the first season finished airing. Several months later they announced that the show was “canceled” and that there was a new show that was exactly the same as the old one or something! We heard that they were completely doing away with the idea of a sequel and starting a new series since a sequel would be too hard. And a few months ago, they put a tantalizing and purposefully ambiguous piece in a magazine that hinted of a new Haruhi season, only to later deny that fact and claim it was all a rerun.

I only hit the highlights, but I hope you get the general picture of douchebaggery that has been put upon us in regards to the show. Also throw in that a lot of us have already read all of the translated novels, only to find out that the author has stopped at volume 9 (published in April of 2007), right in the middle of a storyline, and rumors have surfaced indicating that he has lost interest. So, you’ll forgive me if I am a bit soured on the whole experienced and do not blow a load all over my keyboard while watching the episode.

The first thing I noticed was that the art was not the same quality as the first season (and it’s not just the lackluster raw), as the colors were noticeably duller and not as crisp. This is pretty surprising for KyoAni, considering the prominence of the show and the fact that they even made fightan animu colorful (see Munto TV version). The art style seems to have changed a bit as well, Kyon looks…different.

For future reference in case I actually blog pieces of this show, be aware that I love Nagato, a lot. Nerdy girls turn me on, what can I say. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Tsuruya’s genki antics, but she’s not #1. No matter how much I get miffed at bad marketing, I can never hate one of my top waifus. It’s those eyes too, those eyes…

Uh, I guess it’s good to see that he’s as…flamboyant as ever

The massively dramatic violin playing (I’m clueless as to proper musical terminology for the beginning of a piece of music) from this scene made me laugh ridiculously hard, it sounded more like part of a Shakespeare adaptation than anime. I couldn’t completely decide whether they meant to give the scene some drama or it was a bit of tongue-in-cheek, but I’ll lean towards the latter.

On the other hand, the music here was more like some slow, lovemaking music. Ohhhhhh yeah.

Warning, tsundere loli spotted. Bring proper protective equipment.

Much better without glasses, mmmmm Yuki.

Yes, I had dirty thoughts right there.

Well, despite my rant up front, I did enjoy the experience of watching the episode. However, it will not be viewed as the Second Coming or anything of the sort. I fully expect the show will deserve a pretty good rating when it’s all over, but it could have been much more~ Anyways, it’s rather impossible to predict when the next episode is going to be, as it appears that they are going to weave it back in to the original series to keep it chronological. That also makes it kind of hard to regularly blog, which is hard enough when you already know what is going to happen. However, I may drop in and fawn over Yuki on occasion, we’ll see.

Why You Are A Haruhiist?

Extrange — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:08:40 +0000

Yet another petition to nominate Haruhi Suyumiya as Anime Goddess.

I like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. You guys like Haruhi. All around the world there are shrines made to Haruhi-God, usually involving the sacrifices of Lulu plushies and other bishies. But why there his such a fascination for the anime? (I’m focusing on the anime since it’s the media more spread in fame.) As some of you know, I had my own blog (still have but it’s technicaly on hibernation…), and one of my posts was exactly a view on the key factors of the anime. Since the announcement of the 2nd season of Haruhi that I was eager to review and adapt my old post and expose my view on THAT. This need was strenghtened recently because I’ve started rereading the novels in my Psp, which refreshed my Haruhihism. You may check the old version of the post here. (One thing that scares me is the amount of typos the old post had ……)

1. The Novels

One main factor for success was the origins of TMHS (short for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) A good amount of anime series start as a manga and depending on the success, it’s decided if it will be converted for Anime. instead , TMHS has started as series of light novels novels published in Japan. Those novels (who are still being released up to date) form the bulk for the story of TMHS. Not every material present in the novels is being used but the adaptation has an impressive direct adaptation to the Anime. This origin as a novel means the plot is more well defined and developed from the root than your typical Anime.

2. Moé Factor

As Haruhi said in TMHS, “Moé is an essential factor”. And we sure haven’t got lack of it in the series. Spanning from the energetical Haruhi to the shy girl Miruku, our meganekko Nagato and even pretty boys as Itsuki to please the ladies (or Yaoi lovers; yeah I know you ladies want to see some Kyon x Itsuki action!!!). Even the side characters are eye candy (Impzie worships Tsuruya and a offering of Tsuruya pics makes his day). We can’t also forget Haruhi’s collection of cosplay suits, ranging from maid, bunny girl, frog (?) and other nosebleeding goodies. Just for this factor, TMHS can create a good share of Haruhiists.

I wonder where are Kyon and Itsuki….

3. Genre Mixing

Another strong point in TMSH: this Anime is invokes so many genres you can’t even name them all from memory. We have Slice of Life, Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Romance, Seinen, Philosophical, Postmodern, Psychological, School, etc. The anime envolves so many areas that there is always something for the individual tastes of the viewers. Also, this range allows less stress and monothony of having to focus on the same themes.

4. Personalities

The characters, like any story, are a major part of the success or failure of an Anime, and TMSH has all the right elements in this aspect. But the most funny part is each main character seems to be connected to a particular psychological aspect and the group acts as a brain trying to process each situation they encounter:
Kyon – The Realist
Haruhi – The Dreamer
Nagato – The Intellectualist
Mikuru – The Innocent
Itsuki – The Philosopher

…Or it’s just me over analyzing this .

Mental note: don’t let Haruhi fool around with the Evokers….again.

5. Wierdness Factor

We have already seen before animes who were wierd due to several reasons: from oldie Excel Saga, to FLCL ( and the infamous 1st scene who almost costed the whole budget normally planned to a whole season.) and Bobobo. But TMSH really hits a 10.0 on a scale of wierdness. The 1st episode made the viewers go “WTF?” and grabbed them from that point. The airing order ( who showed episodes randon
mdly instead of a chronological order, also known as Kyon and Haruhi order) made the viewers wonder even more about the story and re-track several times on what they have seen. The plot premisse is wierd too: a bored girl who wants to find aliens, time travelers or espers; and gets secretly watched by the same kind of beings who she’s after because she has the uncounscious power to create and manipulate reality; and there is also the poor guy who gets stuck in the middle off all and see all happening around him.

6. Kyon’s Point of View.

Talking about Kyon, the unlucky bastard who gets involved with the Sos Brigade. this guy is a major reason why TMSH is great: every action we see in the anime is seen and commented by him. He has the role of an active narrator, giving his opinion about the incidents that he and the SoS Brigade go through. If we didn’t have the access to his point of view, our perception of the whole plot would be different.

After checking all these factors, we wonder if the producers will keep them as good as they are or change anything when they start doing the 2nd season, mainly the whole Kyon/Haruri episode view. But unless something goes horribly wrong, the 2nd season will originate an even bigger fandom around Haruhi.

“… I don’t want to make the second season! I’m tired enough of having my life endangered and I still didn’t get any girl after 12 episodes!.”

It’s here! It’s here! My green haired goddess figurine is here!

Impz — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:33:41 +0000

Most people who come to this blog knows that there is no single post that has ever talked about figurines. In the whole history of T.H.A.T Anime Blog (we are exactly 10 months old today by the way), no figurine post has ever been done. However, today is a different day. As you can see, the goddess Tsuruya, the lol-tan, the green haired nyoro~ meido, the yellow bunny suit cutie is finally making her appearance in a figurine!

Yes, look at that wonderful figurine. According to the site that was directed to me in the irc channel, it will be released in August 2007. The figurine is just a good mix of beauty, cuteness and sexiness that I think I will worship and grovel to anyone who would buy this for me (just joking, I don’t really like figurines).

Nevertheless, please do not mind me as I now worship this goddess’s figurine. To wifey, sorry, you have to take second place for Tsuruya just for today.

Interpreting Yuki Nagato’s “Untitled”

Lupus — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:56:43 +0000

In The Indignation of Haruhi Suzumiya, the 8th volume of the Haruhi novels, is a story called ‘Editor in Chief★Straight Ahead!’. The story revolves around the SOS-dan publishing a magazine for the literature club, for a reason that I won’t disclose here, and Yuki was given the task of writing some ‘fantasy horror’. What she produced were a number of cryptic short stories that stumped not only Haruhi, but even Kyon. For once Kyon’s insight isn’t as clear as a trap’s true gender, so the task of interpreting them and coming up with crackpot theories has been left to yours truly.

This post could be quite spoilerific, read at your own risk. If you haven’t read the novels, I really don’t advice you read this post.

With that out of the way, let’s get the show on the road.

『Untitled 1

Are you a Haruhi Suzumiya fanatic? Here’s your chance to win a prize!

Impz — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:16:48 +0000

Moyism, the blogger we all know for his great thoughts and amusing rants, is having a contest right in his blog!

So what do you have to do to win?

Step 1

Step 2

website

Step 3

Step 4

It’s that simple! Go on now and call 1900-HARUHIISM to have the chance to win! If you call just for the sake of hearing Haruhi’s sexy voice, you are a bloody addict.

On site news, I apologize to all but I have decided to drop Deltora Quest from my list of blogging. It’s now a clear fight between Red Garden and Saint October. It’s slightly twitching toward Red Garden for now…But considering that Red Garden isn’t too loved by most. Well, I will have to consult my advisors.

The decision will come soon.

Signed, Impz

The Merry Christmas of Suzumiya Haruhi

alkanphel — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 07:00:16 +0000

Haruhi says: Merry Christmas to all readers!!!

We have more presents for you after the jump!

Click an image for a full-sized version!

Special Message from Lupus: Let me be perfectly serious now and say: please remember what Christmas is REALLY about. No, not buying gifts or spending time with your family. And it’s not about Santa Claus either, even Kyon knows that he’s not real. If anyone makes a Haruhi is god comment here, I’ll delete it. I can tolerate it during the rest of the year but I’m not taking that kind of stuff on Christmas.

Comparison of Haruhi characters across various media

alkanphel — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:20:04 +0000

Let us compare the way the characters from Haruhi look across the various different medias that have appeared so far.

From the left to right:

Cancelled manga, current manga, novel illustrations, anime, cosplay porn movie

For once I think the anime has the best art of them all. The original cancelled manga has horrible art that looks nothing similar to the rest of the images. The current manga art is fairly similar to the novel illustration art. The haruhi and Yuki in the cosplay porn looks passable if not somewhat old but the other characters are a horrific travesty.

p/s Sorry, Alkan, but this is an hijacking from Impz because he found such a uber cute website….The tsuruya is way too cute T_T

Keroro Hare Hare Yukai

alkanphel — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:14:33 +0000

Kerorooooooooooooooo~!

Pre-order Kyon’s Sister’s Character Album Now!

Lupus — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:04:28 +0000

Now all you siscons/lolicons can sleep to the sweet lullabies (or whatever) sung by Kyon’s sweet little sister.

The release date is the 24th of January 2007, the price is ￥1000, and you can pre-order the CD now at the above link. Yours truly, however, will continue to remain faithful to the internet communities which he is a part of, and will not be contributing a single cent to the Japanese economy. Don’t let that stop you though! Remember, people breaking international copyright laws makes Ayu sad. Don’t make Ayu sad, or she’ll say ‘Uguu~’!