Official S.O.S. Dan Melancholy of Haruhi Thread!

[Ryo Jin]

Any fan of anime MUST watch this anime. If you haven't, what's stoppin' you?!

Haruhi "Season 2" Intertwined with "Season 1?"

Kadokawa has been pulling pranks on us Otaku for about 3 years now. I just hope this isn't yet another one. Being that I am in Tokyo, I'll be watching around 1am Sunday morning here, and will try to report it here as soon as I can.

 

[Milu]

It's impossible to not like this awesome series.

I think Yuki's my favorite character .

 

[Ryo Jin]

New Episode "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody" Airs!

About time! After three years and a lot of secrecy/pranks, they've finally released new episodes! Here's the new ending. Not as good as the famous Hare Hare Yukai ending of course. The new ending is called "Tomare!" which means "Stop!"

 

[oakzap425]

I'll watch it in about two more years, when the hype dies down.

And from the little I've seen of clips, plus the half of episode one, I don't even get the hype for it. It really doesn't seem all that interesting.

But, I'm sure I'm in a very small majority.

 

[Ryo Jin]

I'll watch it in about two more years, when the hype dies down.

And from the little I've seen of clips, plus the half of episode one, I don't even get the hype for it. It really doesn't seem all that interesting.

But, I'm sure I'm in a very small majority.

Well at least you can acknowledge your own ignorance. The show has elements of Comedy, Sci-Fi, Philosophy and of course character development, all of which is done quite well. It's called watching more than half of one episode, that which can be applied to everything in regards to getting into something. Speaking of which, what is your "first episode?" The independent movie they made? Or the episode where Kyon first meets Haruhi?

 

[oakzap425]

Excuse me? I wasn't acknowledging anything but the sheer fact that I don't understand the hype. That would have been more an invitation for you to give me an opinion/reason for why the show is so "great". Not to insult me and say I'm "ignorant", because I don't like what you and a vast majority of people seem to like.

 

[Ryo Jin]

ig·no·rant (ĭg'nər-ənt)

adj.

1. Lacking education or knowledge.
2. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge: an ignorant mistake.
3. Unaware or uninformed.

That's what I meant, no offense was meant.

What reason is there for not doing something because of "hype" anyway? Who cares who's into it? Good is good, entertaining is entertaining. Just watch what you want to watch when you want to watch it! Besides, it's a short 14 episodes, plus the new one that just came out. The next new episode won't be out for a few weeks due to them playing them all in chronological order. I'd suggest watching them in the TV order as they save the climax for the end, as opposed to the middle.

If you need something to let you know why it's worth watching more specifically, let me know and I'll answer you the best I can, as I don't want to spoil it. I knew nothing about this show as well, 'til one day I decided to start on my own and I was damn pleasantly surprised.

 

[Ryo Jin]

Phoney Haruhi Suzumiya On Real Russian Chocolate

How popular is anime Haruhi Suzumiya? Popular enough to get its own PSP, Nintendo DS, PS2, and two Wii games. Popular enough to be ripped off for the Bejing Olympics. And now, popular enough for Russian copyright infringement. Pictured, Haruhi appears on a tasty treat. But remember kids, in Russia, Haruhi Suzumiya infringement eats YOU! Heh.

Source: http://kotaku.com/5009640/phoney-haruhi-suzumiya-on-real-russian-chocolate

 

[Ryo Jin]

Scary. This of course is done by the same prisoners that did the infamous Thriller dance in that very same court. If you don't know what I'm talking about, what rock are you living under?!

 

[Fading]

During one of my anime dry spells last year I watched the first season. I like it. It's (IMO) not the best anime ever, but it is entertaining, and I do like the characters. I'm like oak in that I don't understand the hype, but I'm not being down on the series by saying that.

Reading this reminded me there was a second season out now. Just watched episode 1 of season 2 right before I watched the new One Piece. Season didn't pick up where I expected it to after last season, but it was a good episode. Plus I really don't expect this series to flow in any particular or coherent flow as season 1 was just jumbled up episodic wise anyway lol. (I.e. what would be episode 10 chronologically might air in place of episode 3, and episode 7 air before 5, or something to that effect)

 

[Ryo Jin]

Speaking of dryspells, I had been in one for 4 maybe 5 years until last month when I randomly decided "eh, why not? It's only 14 episodes." This is the anime that got me back into anime. I was tired of the same formulaic crap flowing into the anime market and had pretty much given up on it all.

The primary being all the "forever running" animes that to me, are annoying as they all repeat the same courses of action and hardly differ from eachother at the core. Good guy joins bad guys, bad guy joins good guys, fight lasts 20 episodes, filler lasts 20 episodes, I tell my worst enemy in the middle of a battle how I did my trump card move, et cetera et cetera. Dragon Ball Z is the only anime I can tolerate with that formula as it was the first to ever do that, and I grew up with it. Besides, Dragon Ball Kai is fixing that problem as we speak.

Haruhi was a very, very nice fresh breath for me that breathed my love for anime right back into me. It's original, to the point, well animated, funny, entertaining and just damn good anime. Period. It broke the same damn formula I see in a lot of anime. I never knew this was a "fad." Even being that I myself am living in Japan, unaware of said "fad," I could care less what's a "fad" or "hype." I'm too busy for that crap and could care less what others are into [Naruto], what's good is good and I claim this to be that damn good. I guess you got your anime fans that love that "forever running anime" formula, and those that don't. Regardless, "best anything ever" is always in the eye of the beholder, boku no tomodachi!

/endspiel

The new season by the way is intertwined with the first season and is being shown in actual chronological order this time around. Apropos, the next new episode won't be until a few weeks.

 

[Milu]

This and Lucky Star are what got me back into anime.

 

[Ryo Jin]

I didn't like Lucky Star at first, but after viewing a few more episodes I love it. I think Azumanga Daioh tainted me. As opposed to random comedy, Lucky Star was made for the Otaku with all those references!

 

[Ryo Jin]

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Quick rundown from Wiki on the plot for those who have no idea what this is all about.

The story revolves around Haruhi Suzumiya, a high school girl obsessed with finding all forms of the extraordinary and supernatural, and Kyon, a cynical classmate who proclaims his non-belief in such matters and narrates the series. After being displeased with the mundane happenings at school and the lack of interesting after-school clubs, she forms her own, the SOS Brigade, to investigate any mysterious happenings, with Kyon forcibly drafted as its second member.

As the series progress, Haruhi recruits three additional members into her club: the silent bibliophile Yuki Nagato, the shy and timid Mikuru Asahina, and the friendly "mysterious exchange student" Itsuki Koizumi. These members are, in time, revealed to be the extraordinary characters she is seeking (Yuki, an artificial human created by the extraterrestrial Integrated Data Entity; Mikuru, a time traveler; and Itsuki, an esper), sent by their various organizations to observe Haruhi. All see Haruhi as possessing a superhuman control over the universe, capable even of recreating the entire universe in a state of dissatisfaction and attempt to prevent this by keeping her entertained, holding her powers in check, and maintaining the illusion of a normal life.

 

[Ryo Jin]

True Otaku I am! Figure articulation is excellent! Not only that, but the detail, as well as accessories come loaded with each. Different faces, hairstyles, about ten different hand gestures, and other accessories seen involving each character.

 

[Milu]

http://jupeboxgal.deviantart.com/art/4-Koma-Choco-Cornet-65722840

Epic crossover is epic.

 

[Ryo Jin]

Ha! There should be more Lucky Star and Haruhi crossovers!

So, tonight a new episode debuts, "Endless Eight." Hopefully the subbers'll get on it!

 

[Milu]

Nyoro~n . . .

 

[animexcel]

I'm hoping the endless eight arc will finally end this time. -_-;;;

 

[Ryo Jin]

Agreed, what a huge disappointment. It seems most fans feel this way. Waste of an episode slot damn it KyoAni!

 

[animexcel]

Still hasn't ended yet, poor Yuki lol
I'm still gonna watch because I'm a big fan of Haruhi.
I'm gonna read the novels soon, I want to know how this ends...

 

[The Cajun]

I haven't seen the 2nd series yet but is it true that they've just repeated the same episode 4 times with new animation and re-recorded dialogue?

Is this for any other reason than to piss of fans?

 

[Ryo Jin]

I haven't seen the 2nd series yet but is it true that they've just repeated the same episode 4 times with new animation and re-recorded dialogue?

Is this for any other reason than to piss of fans?

I know this is a bit belated, but yes, it is STILL GOING. Even now as I type this, Endless Eight remains endless. I wonder if they plan to do eight episodes? I hope this ballsy move doesn't mean that these episodes are taking up slots for Season 2. I'm really hoping that each episode "repeat" is still only "one" episode. We still have The Disappearance of Haruhi arc to see, which is one of the best storylines!

Really, do fans want to buy the Season 2 DVD collection when every episode is the same damn thing only slightly different? Who knows? Perhaps it'll end after eight Endless Eight episodes? Perhaps when summer actually ends in the real world? With an anime this great, and a studio behind it that knows their own fame for such, of course they'll do something this ridiculous/notorius, even when the Endless Eight arc in the original light novel wasn't like this.

 

[animexcel]

I'm hearing this isn't really the 2nd season, just extra episodes while the 1st season airs. After E8, the real 2nd season will probably start.

 

[Ryo Jin]

Haruhi Suzumiya's Endless Eight Arc Confirmed to End
from Anime News Network

An early copy of the September issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype magazine has confirmed that the current Endless Eight arc of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya television anime series will end this week. The Newtype issue will officially ship on Monday. The Endless Eight arc recounts a short time-loop plotline from Nagaru Tanigawa and Noizi Ito's original science-fiction comedy light novels. In the anime version, the same story was used for several episodes in the row, with minor changes from week to week. The anime has been in this story arc since June 19.

Yamakan didn't like Endless Eight either, offers apology
from Japanator

Devotees to the Church of Haruhi-ism have been in for a rough ride of late. As of the latest episode The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya's current season, viewers have been forced through a virtual rerun of the "Endless Eight" story arc FIVE TIMES. For the uninitiated, "Endless Eight" involves a Groundhog Day-like time loop in which the characters experience summer vacation over and over again. So far it seems like Haruhi's current masters at Kyoto Animation and Kadokawa intend to stick all too closely to that source.

Yutaka Yamamoto a.k.a. "Yamakan," director of Haruhi's first season, offered his thoughts about the second season while attending Otakon 2009. Through his interpreter he stated that the "Endless Eight" concept came up while he was still onboard with KyoAni (he later left to direct Kannagi and form his own studio). He noted that he was against the idea, and that "two episodes was the most [they] can do." Clearly that advice did not stick, as the episode has been repeated five times to date. Yamakan admitted that while he left Kyoto Animation of his own volition, he felt "some responsibility" for the show's current state, and offered an apology "as a representative of the SOS Brigade Production Committee."

It was pretty ballsy for Yamakan to just up and state his misgivings about a show that technically isn't his anymore, but he's probably more qualified than anyone else to do that, having been a driving force behind Haruhi's original runaway success. That said, I maintain great respect for KyoAni even as its antics border on exasperation. From the original "broadcast order" fiasco to now, I have never seen a studio as willing (or able) to tool around with its productions, for good or ill. Well, maybe them and Gainax.