The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

[Joshua Christopher]

So, five episodes in to the best new anime all year and no thread yet? Come on, people!

This is one of the weirdest, smartest, and funniest shows I've ever seen. It's all just so unique, not to mention sporting some fantastic production values (thanks to the animation crew behind AIR).

So who else is watching this?

[Esoteric]

N'er heard of it... What's it about?

[Linksquest]

So who else is watching this?

I watched the first 3 eps. but the fanservice got me bothered enough that I stopped watching. I'm asking around to see if they later episodes get less fanservicey... but from what I'm hearing... they aren't...

[Joshua Christopher]

I watched the first 3 eps. but the fanservice got me bothered enough that I stopped watching. I'm asking around to see if they later episodes get less fanservicey... but from what I'm hearing... they aren't...

...

The show is hardly fanservicey at all. There's a bit, but dang man, what are you talking about?

[Linksquest]

...

The show is hardly fanservicey at all. There's a bit, but dang man, what are you talking about?

... it's in the opener... eps 00 (or 1) had quite a few instances of it... others are there too... it's not an Amazing amount, but still enough to get me annoyed. If the instances of fanservice "for the sake of parody" decrease, let me know and I would be more than happy to watch more of it. It does have some interesting things developing in the plot, but for me, the fanservice "for the sake of parody" was just getting to me.

[Ashley]

What's it about?

[Joshua Christopher]

What's it about?

It's very hard to explain that. I mean, you could read the plot summary over at ANN, but it really wouldn't give anyone a good understanding of the world of Haruhi Suzumiya,

On the first day of high school a beautiful girl named Haruhi Suzumiya introduces herself as having "no interest in ordinary humans". She asks for any aliens, time travelers, sliders or espers to join her. Watching her weird behaviour is Kyon a boy who sits in front of Haruhi and is the only person who talks to her. Commenting on Haruhi's joining every club in school and then quitting Kyon unwittingly gives Haruhi an idea to start her own after school club. Thereafter Kyon and several others find themselves literally dragged into the Save our world by Overloading it with fun Suzumiya Haruhi's Brigade (the S.O.S. Brigade for short).

While the premise sounds just odd, what the show has going for it is a lot of things, mainly the uncharacteristically brilliant writing and dialogue (how many "comedy" anime can you name that have that?). Kyon narrates a lot, and provides lots of great commentary along with the already witty banter going on between the cast.

Some take issues with the "fanservice", but I didn't see it as overwhelming at all. Though, the show can get a bit dark at times. I highly recommend it.

[Tancos]

The series is based on a series of young adult novels. They are being translated here.

It's certainly one of the most interesting current series, but I can't quite recommend it. The problem isn't fanservice in the usual sense, but rather the way Haruhi (ab)uses Mikuru. You can see an example <mod snip> (Scroll down to the set of screen captures at the end.)

Mod note: I know you were just trying to give an example, but, even for this reason, we don't permit images like that to be posted. CAA is G rated. The image that was snipped shows Haruhi taking advantage of Mikuru's cuteness and *ehem* "endowments."

[Radical Dreamer]

I've watched part of the first episode (01, not 00), and it looks pretty cute. I can definitely tell it was done by Air's animators, because the animation is very well done. I may or may not continue with it, though, as I just have a ton of other anime I'm trying to watch right now. XD; Haruhi does look like quite an interesting character, though! XD

[Mangafanatic]

...

The show is hardly fanservicey at all. There's a bit, but dang man, what are you talking about?

You got to admit, the opening episode (00) was pretty fan servicey. Then, there is Haruhi's constant changing of Michiru's wardrobe, even in the presence of males. Yeah, it's not obscenely fanservicey (IMHO), but it definitely has some fan service.

What's it about?

It's hard to explain, actually. I'll do it this way:

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya begins following a young high school student [nick]named Kyon. Kyon is the kind of person who always knew in kindergarten that the jolly man in the red suit at Christmas parties was just a fake. In essence, he doesn't believe in anything supernatural-- be it aliens or simply unexplained phenomenon. Much to Kyon's chargin, in his class he is seated infront of the mysterious and very odd Haruhi who, upon introducing herself to the class, announces that she has no interest in normal humans. She informs the whole class that she would like to meet aliens, and, if there should be any aliens in the class, she would like them to contact her. Through a string of events, Kyon is coerced into joining club of the eccentric Haruhi's create-- The SOS bridage! The purpose of this club is to research of seek out supernatural phenomena, but it seems that even as the club searches outside its walls for the unexplained-- the most shocking surprises are actually lurking among them.

Basically, this show is about the Zaniness which is Haruhi. If you are okay with the level of fanservice in the show, it's very funny, witty, and unique.

Just for the heck of it-- I'll post a Gif I made for the show the other day. I'm, actually, kind of happy with how it turned out:

[Tancos]

Mod note: I know you were just trying to give an example, but, even for this reason, we don't permit images like that to be posted. CAA is G rated. The image that was snipped shows Haruhi taking advantage of Mikuru's cuteness and *ehem* "endowments."

Sorry about that. It was not the worst example I could have chosen, and this does indicate why, despite its originality, I hesitate to recommend this series.

[Mangafanatic]

Sorry about that. It was not the worst example I could have chosen, and this does indicate why, despite its originality, I hesitate to recommend this series.

It's okay. I understand your intentions. If I thought you had done it for any reason less than this, I would probably have wanted to deal out punishment. So, um, anyways, that all goes to say-- I know you meant well.

[Joshua Christopher]

You got to admit, the opening episode (00) was pretty fan servicey. Then, there is Haruhi's constant changing of Michiru's wardrobe, even in the presence of males. Yeah, it's not obscenely fanservicey (IMHO), but it definitely has some fan service.

To be honest, I didn't think it was that bad. A bit of cleavage and bunny suits is nuthin' if you've ever watched Go Nagai. I suppose I more think of fanservice as lots of bath scenes and upskirts. And clothing made of paper.

As far as Haruhi's abuse, well, that was pretty creepy.

And with the first episode (00), it has a lot more meaning than some of ya'll may realize right now.

[mitsuki lover]

As I have been lurking at the AU board trying to see when it was coming back I have noticed that one of the posters there has an siggie from the show.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Ahh, quite a good show. I only saw the first 3 episodes. Gotta watch more

[RedMage]

It must be the best new series of the year, since people have been talking about it nonstop on every forum I go to for the past two weeks or so.

Doesn't sound like my cup of tea, though.

[Joshua Christopher]

It must be the best new series of the year, since people have been talking about it nonstop on every forum I go to for the past two weeks or so.

Doesn't sound like my cup of tea, though.

What's your cup of tea, then?

[Linksquest]

I think I will attempt watching more of this... but if it gets too fanservicy I will have to really quite it. I'm hoping the fanservice decreases in frequency! *crosses fingers*

[Splitter 2.0]

I think I will attempt watching more of this... but if it gets too fanservicy I will have to really quite it. I'm hoping the fanservice decreases in frequency! *crosses fingers*

Oh, it's not decreasing. Mikuru is still being forced to act as a mascot, playing off of every otaku fetish out there. The reason I don't see this as a problem though is that they are using fanservice to make fun of fanservice.

[Linksquest]

Oh, it's not decreasing. Mikuru is still being forced to act as a mascot, playing off of every otaku fetish out there. The reason I don't see this as a problem though is that they are using fanservice to make fun of fanservice.

But... no matter what the reason... it's still fanservice... That's like saying "Oh, they have porn to make fun of porn." <_<;;;

[Mangafanatic]

Ultimately, the question is does it cause you to stumble/lust. If it does, then you shouldn't watch it, regardless of intentions.

[Splitter 2.0]

[quote="Linksquest"]But... no matter what the reason... it's still fanservice... That's like saying "Oh, they have porn to make fun of porn." <_<]

It's not very severe fanservice. There's usually only one blatant instance of it per episode, and it always involves the latest cosplay Haruhi got for Mikuru. Fanservice does not make the show, I guarantee you that.

[Joshua Christopher]

The reason it doesn't bug me, the fanservice, is because I've seen worse. A little jiggle & undergarments ain't very bad at all. Be glad there haven't been any bath scenes or extended sequences of overt-the-top fanservice. If the stuff in here bugs you, don't watch it. The stuff in here didn't bug me at all simply because it's just really pretty tame.

I honestly wasn't sure what to make of it at first, before watching it. What makes Haruhi good is not the genre, but the very sharp writing, atypical humour style, and characters.

[Linksquest]

The reason it doesn't bug me, the fanservice, is because I've seen worse.

That is what many people say. They compare it to something worse. Of course there are worse instances of fanservice than are present in " The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," but that doesn't make the instances any better. I admit that they aren't hardcore instances of fanservice... but they are still instances of fanservice.

Like I said, I'll try to watch this... but if the instances increase and worsen in severity I'll have to stop watching it.

[RedMage]

What's your cup of tea, then?

An interesting question.

After considering some of my favorite anime, I would say my tastes lean strongly towards action/adventure/drama, but I appreciate comedy as well. I have no problem with and actually quite enjoy well-done romantic plotlines, but I'd be unlikely to seek out a series which relies on romance or comedy or even a combination of the two for its main storyline. My genre/setting preferences, if any, run towards sci-fi and away from "historical" offerings, but I'm open to most anything in that regard.

I appreciate a strong degree of originality, but I'm fine with tried and true elements so long as they're well executed and something sets the series apart. Parody is fine, more than fine in fact, but (and this is, of course, subjective) must be true parody and not just an attempt to deflect criticism of unoriginality. There is nothing new under the sun, but realizing what you're doing has been done before and making smirking references to it does not excuse being trite and derivative. I can't abide manufactured "edginess," obnoxious or plain offensive elements inserted for the sole purpose of attracting attention and "buzz," but at the same time I have little respect for a series which plays it safe and follows a beaten path]Comic Party[/i]) and an anime I thouroughly enjoyed (Full Metal Panic? Fumofuu) could both be classified as romantic comedies. However, in the former case I would say my primary enjoyment derives from my interest in the "otaku scene" genre (pioneered by Otaku No Video and more recently exemplified by Comic Party, DramaCon and Genshiken); and I would never have watched Fumofuu if I hadn't liked the original sci-fi action/adventure comedy Full Metal Panic! so much.

In short, I am incapable of liking series outside my normal horizons, it's that me liking them is a rare enough thing that I do not seek out and sample a high number of such works. Some may accuse me of not being open-minded enough, but I maintain that there's nothing wrong with recognizing and being confident in my own tastes and saving time, money and effort by discriminating accordingly.

OK, I've rambled on long enough. That enough information for you?

[Joshua Christopher]

That is what many people say. They compare it to something worse. Of course there are worse instances of fanservice than are present in " The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," but that doesn't make the instances any better. I admit that they aren't hardcore instances of fanservice... but they are still instances of fanservice.

Like I said, I'll try to watch this... but if the instances increase and worsen in severity I'll have to stop watching it.

If you say that, you can technically argue that if one character throws a punch at another, it's still just as bad as gallons of blood.

[RedMage]

Some would argue that while violence is sometimes neccessary to advance a plot, fanservice in the classic bra-and-panty shots sense never is. I don't neccessarily agree, but that argument could be made.

[Joshua Christopher]

Some would argue that while violence is sometimes neccessary to advance a plot, fanservice in the classic bra-and-panty shots sense never is. I don't neccessarily agree, but that argument could be made.

Within the context of TMoHS, I think it is necessary to advance at least the characters, to be honest.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I think I will attempt watching more of this... but if it gets too fanservicy I will have to really quite it. I'm hoping the fanservice decreases in frequency! *crosses fingers*

Nevertheless. you make it sound worse than it really is.

[mitsuki lover]

I like to make up my mind about series by watching them myself.If TMoHS is within my budget and I find it on Animenation or at Borders or Barnes & Nobles
I might buy it just to check it out.It does sound pretty hilarious from the description of some of those who have seen it.The fanservice wouldn't bother me as I have seen Colorful and there is plenty of fanservice in some eps. of Evangelion.What would bother me would be if there was a lot of sex going on.