Suzumiya Haruhi Part I
Well, I got my hands on the complete collection for the first series of Haruhi Suzumiya (about damn time it made it to the UK at long last!), so I’ve gotten the chance to watch it again (though, this is actually my 3rd run). You notice many things when you re-watch things. I’ve spotted a few new instances I either wasn’t aware of during earlier runs or wasn’t attentive enough before. A little extra examining leads to nice little discoveries, dontcha think?
I’m going by DVD order for this (so episode 11 is episode 00, but otherwise it’s chronological order), so there won’t be any needless confusions… Well, that doesn’t mean it still isn’t a bit jumbled…
So then, episode 00, The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina . Mi-mi-miracle Miku-run-run!
How cute
This episode is infamous. Not only does the questionable quality make it stand out, but the completely incoherent mess of a plot line gives it the “sore thumb” sticking out effect. It’s brilliantly done though, it must’ve taken MORE effort to make it look bad than it does to make it look good, something to be praised for I think.
There is one final thing that makes this episode iconic. I think you know what I mean.
Mikuru Beam!!
Egads has that become memetic, almost as much as some angry short bloke shouting out some power level, I can’t quite recall how high it was… Over some number… Eh, mustn’t be too important.
The acting in this episode is fab too. By fab I mean fabulously bad. Nobody is acting properly, sometimes botching their lines or doing something unintended. Granted, it’s all on purpose, to enforce the worse-than-B-movie feel. At the same time, we also have overacting, in the form of Itsuki Koizumi.
It’s a nose
Everything about this episode is sheer brilliance. I am very much satisfied with the way it turned out, more-so than a certain endless collection of episodes in series 2… Nonetheless, that is behind us now (and inevitably ahead as well, once the DVD gets licensed in the west… Dear lord, 2 entire discs of the same thing…).
Sorry, couldn’t resist
As with all good things, this comes to a close. My thoughts of the episode are this: -
Win.
It’s by far the tackiest thing I’ve ever seen from an anime that was intentionally done, nothing beats that I’m afraid. I’d easily place this in my “top 10 anime episodes I’d re-watch over again” just for the novelty of it. Some may hate it because of that, but I freaking love it.
Between the legs of a maniac Kyon’s fate lies
Now, onto episode 01, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya I, the first chronological episode in the series. As per the original broadcast, this is shown second on the DVD. In this episode, we get properly introduced to several of the main characters. First up is Kyon (not Kyown, stupid English dub…), our deadpan snarker. The cynic. In many ways, he’s kinda like me, except a bit less eccentric than I am, as those who know me well understand how high I can be at times.
Shortly in, we get introduced the Haruhi Suzumiya, who is well off her top. However, for the first half of the episode she’s the sanest she’ll ever be throughout the series, as she’s truly bonkers from here on. Now, as I was watching this, I noticed something new. Something familiar, something the fans came up with…
So THAT’S where Kyonko’s design came from!
Seriously, it’s tooooo similar. Take note of the girls that show in that snapshot, the animators had the consistency to actually create the entire class and use them in suitable moments. I never really noticed the background characters, but they really do reappear quite a lot during classroom sequences. Anyway, Kyon eventually makes it past Haruhi’s AT field and manages to make small conversation. Everyone else is astonished, including a certain blue haired female.
I DON’T TRUST YOU!
Before long, Haruhi snatches Kyon to make him help make a club of her own, as every other one is boring to her.
RAPE FACE!
It isn’t long before she usurps the old literature club’s room, currently in the hands of Yuki Nagato.
The bespectacled beauty
Then pinches the second year Mikuru Asahina and proceeds to fondle her.
Grope
And then come up with a wacky name for the club.
SOS Brigade for us normal folks
All in quick-fire procession. Lovely. It’s quite a packed first (cough) episode, with a good deal going on. It’s an entire chapter of the novel in one episode (I wish the same could be said for certain endless collection of episodes in series 2…). In fact, most of the series follow this pattern (unlike a certain endless collection of episodes in series 2…) and they’re all well put together (unlike a certain endless… you get the idea…).
Next up, episodes 02 and 03!
