The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

This is a series that should be required viewing for any fan of anime. Its gorgeous animation mixed with surprisingly inventive and up-beat characters make it a delight from the moment it pops on the screen.

The basic premise is that unsuspecting high school student, Kyon accidentally forms a relationship with the eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya and soon strange off the wall characters begin entering his life forever changing the way he viewed the world.

What makes this show tick is its characters and none is more central than Haruhi. Despite the fact that the series takes place from Kyon’s perspective, Haruhi is indeed the cause for everything that takes place. This can be attributed to the fact that according a few members of the main cast, Haruhi is a God living out a life she created for herself without even knowing what she is or what she is truly capable of. To Kyon and everyone around her, Haruhi appears to be just an ordinary (albeit a bit nutty)girl who is uninterested in the real world and continuously searches for strange, other worldly, paranormal activity.

Kyon plays the straight man to Haruhi’s insane antics, often questioning the meaning of their activities and reprimanding her when he feels she is out of line. Despite the fact that he is constantly told of her Godlike status and the repercussions that can come from making her unhappy, Kyon never shies away from sharing his true opinions on her ridiculous plans. In fact, Kyon most of the time shares his feeling of annoyance at her demands through inner monologue that is often times laugh inducing. One can argue that it is because of Kyon’s attitude toward her that makes Haruhi so fascinated with him. Slowly the two form a close relationship that never feels forced, but rather a natural progression of where their friendship was destined to lead.

Three other peculiar characters are introduced, each one gravitating toward Haruhi so as to study her and determine what exactly she means to the universe. The first is Yuki Nagato, a “human interface” created and sent by aliens to monitor Haruhi. She is a quiet girl with an infatuation with books and computer games and is quit adept at everything she does. This includes playing the guitar when it comes time for a concert or hitting several home runs when Haruhi challenges a rival baseball team.

Next is Mikuru Asahina, a time travel who is the subject of Kyon’s affection. She often bumbles her way through the day, whining with a childish high pitched voice whenever Haruhi sets her focus on her. Haruhi often forces Mikuru into dressing in revealing outfits in attempts to gain the attention of fellow students.

Last and certainly not least is Itsuki Koizumi, an esper with supernatural abilities that only manifest when certain conditions are met. Itsuki is often the one informing Kyon of the side effects that could happen should Haruhi become depressed or self aware. There is a sly almost sinister quality to him as he always appears with a smile and appears to know more than he lets on. Needless to say, Kyon trusts him the least.

These five characters make up the SOS brigade, a club Haruhi invented to appease her colossal imagination, never once realizing the true identities of the bizarre characters around her. Most of the time, the show doesn’t even focus on the character’s true abilities only showing brief hints to the audience. The characters personalities and their reactions toward the world around them is the true central theme of the series. In fact, after watching this show, one would be hard pressed to find a group of more likable characters.

As I stated before, the animation is top notch, almost movie quality, with each character given a unique look to distinguish them. Each one moves in a lively manner that is unfamiliar to today’s cartoons. The opening and ending themes are catchy and especially memorable in their depictions of the SOS brigade dancing enthusiastically to the song.

This is a series that mixes enjoyable characters with a unique plot to create a something that is new, fresh, and interesting. Wholly original and immensely entertaining, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is sure to please any fan of the genre.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – A+