CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

So I was in Spokane at the Northtowne Mall and got to Sun Coast.Looking around I found vol.#1 of Haruhi.Anyone else got their's yet?

me! Me! ME!! i got volume 1 of TMoHS two days ago.

Never have, never will.

Mr. SmartyPants wrote:Never have, never will.

;1

Haruhi can be seen as the poster child of Fansubbing as it probably wouldn't have picked up by Bandai,at least not as soon as it was,if it weren't for the grassroots
word of mouth success it enjoyed as a fansub on Youtube.

Got mine from Amazon last week, just watched two episodes this weekend. I'd already seen Ep 00 on the 'net, but it was licensed before I saw any further eps.

Not bad so far, pretty standard teen stuff, but the title character keeps things moving. Will reserve further judgment until I get past a half dozen episodes or so. Ep 00 was funny, though, with the droll running commentary.

Even though I've used some of the most incredible GIF's because of her, I don't like the series. It isn't the surrealism, it isn't the fact that Haruhi is one of the most original characters I've seen since last week, it's that episode two put me into a situation I'm very uncomfortable with.

So, I've decided to pass on this series.

Alexander wrote:Even though I've used some of the most incredible GIF's because of her, I don't like the series. It isn't the surrealism, it isn't the fact that Haruhi is one of the most original characters I've seen since last week, it's that episode two put me into a situation I'm very uncomfortable with.

So, I've decided to pass on this series.

what happened in episode 2 that made you so uncomfortable? (if you reply to my question, put it in spoilers if necessary...)

jon_jinn wrote:what happened in episode 2 that made you so uncomfortable? (if you reply to my question, put it in spoilers if necessary...)

I wouldn't consider them spoilers, but more of a...content concern.

When Haruhi is talking to Kyon (or should I say, ordering. XD) about various ideas for to attract people to her club. She then brings in Mikuru and talks about the best way to attract boys would be...loli...appeal...

She then goes off to do some inappropriate touching to her and...

As you would have guessed, I already stopped after that.

Not one that is uber awesome but an alright series.

Alexander wrote:I wouldn't consider them spoilers, but more of a...content concern.

When Haruhi is talking to Kyon (or should I say, ordering. XD) about various ideas for to attract people to her club. She then brings in Mikuru and talks about the best way to attract boys would be...loli...appeal...

She then goes off to do some inappropriate touching to her and...

As you would have guessed, I already stopped after that.

yes. that would probably turn down a number a viewers, however, i suggest that you still continue with the anime. if you haven't already read the review, there are several other scenes that are similar to that one. however, i'm only warning you that you will miss out on a nice anime series...

Yeah, I bought it. Its a good anime. But weird too. Huruhi is crazy and excentric!

jon_jinn wrote:yes. that would probably turn down a number a viewers, however, i suggest that you still continue with the anime. if you haven't already read the review, there are several other scenes that are similar to that one. however, i'm only warning you that you will miss out on a nice anime series...

That I'm fully aware of too. And well, I can't go into it for certain reasons but, I REALLY can't handle that sort of content due to the effects it has on my mind. As for whether or not it's great well, that depends on a person's opinion. Mine being that of curiosity still for the series even though I don't plan to continue with it.

Not to mention there's like... an extreme amount of Haruhi hentai out there, more than a lot of other titles.

Mr. SmartyPants wrote:Not to mention there's like... an extreme amount of Haruhi hentai out there, more than a lot of other titles.

If you find yourself judging a series by the amount of garbage it's fandom routinely generates, you'll find you have quite the tidey, select collection indeed.

Does this anime live up to all the hype? Is it really worth getting?

shojoiscool2 wrote:Does this anime live up to all the hype? Is it really worth getting?

I enjoyed it, but is in no way all that and a bag of chips like its cult fandom expressed. If you're walking in on it, definitely see it first.

Bandai wouldn't have gambled on it if they didn't think that it was all that and more.
As far as it goes,I am sure that Bandai discussed any questionable aspects of it before they went out and licensed it for the NA market with the creators.
Vol.#1 has a 13+ rating.

Fish and Chips wrote:If you find yourself judging a series by the amount of garbage it's fandom routinely generates, you'll find you have quite the tidey, select collection indeed.

I only mention that because an insanely popular show = insanely popular hentai fan-base.

I'm wanting to check it out, but the sheer level of build up is the sort that usually results in be being severely disappointed with the finished product, so I'm a little wary (to say nothing about the already discussed content issues)

mitsuki lover wrote:Bandai wouldn't have gambled on it if they didn't think that it was all that and more.

Right now, Bandai has to gamble a bit. They need another Cowboy Bebop to bring them in some money. They have dug themself a hole that only a big fanbase can help them.


Col. Roy Mustang

Popped in to edit this to say, a few of my comments below are mild spoilers of a sort. I kept it vague, but you've been warned.

I'm a big Haruhi fan thanks to having read a translation (fan translated, so can't post a link on CAA) of the first Rainobe (this series was originally serial prose rather than Manga or Anime. Full Metal Panic is another series that started this way.) I can tell you that the portion of the first disk which is derived from the first book follows it to a T. It is well done, hilarious, and the Japanese seiyuu for all major characters are just like I imagined them while reading. I don't think the English seiyuu for Mikuru really understood her character, but Kyon and Haruhi are well done.

When people read comments about this series, they need to keep something very important in mind. Haruhi is not precisely the protagonist. Like Haruko in FLCL, the story most certainly revolves around her, but the protagonist is the character Kyon. Haruhi is a larger-than-life figure that fans love, but the series should be judged not on her actions, but on the actions of Kyon and his companions as they deal with her.

Content wise... the groping of Mikuru by Haruhi is improper, as well understood by the main character Kyon (the teller of the story), and her all-around use of Mikuru as basically a life-size Barbie doll (he said it exactly this way in the Rainobe) is very much abhorred by Kyon. He is, however, a teenage boy, and disgusted with himself that he finds all the cute outfits she is dressed up in very appealing.

And a very heartbreaking moment occurs shortly after the groping incident, when Mikuru asks Kyon, "If I become ruined, will you take me?" (I think they clarified that as 'ruined for marriage' in the Anime, but it is clearly what she meant even in the Rainobe.) I think the author probably inserted this moment to make it clear he felt bad for Mikuru, and didn't approve of Haruhi's actions either.

Nonetheless, Mikuru is putting up with all this for a noble reason, and is quite an admirable character.

Another 'problem' I've seen discussed is (being vague here to avoid spoiling much) one character's opinion that Haruhi may in fact be a deity. The theory is not accepted by our main character, of course. Once again, always judge your Anime with the understanding that a non-Christian culture is behind it, and filter your understanding of it accordingly.

It is, after all, fiction.