涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 : Suzumiya Haruhi no yuutsu | Permalink

I am so sorry for not blogging! The partial exams are upon us, and I am a little nervous, maybe too nervous if I drink any friggin' coffee. I really like coffee, but once I drink it I become more nervous and sensitive and I loose control of my hands, which start shaking like a person with the Parkinson's desease. O_o

Any way, I just would like to make a review of a new anime series: 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 , Suzumiya Haruhi no yuutsu, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

This series was firstly aired in Japan in April 2006, another possible "masterpiece" from Kyoto Animation. The series is based on a series of light novels for young gentlemen with the same title.

The plot evolves around a small group of high-school students, a club to be exact. The series begins with an amateur video, but its just like a small brefing for what might happen in the series (although I (and probably other fans) am not sure about it). The following episodes focus on the real life, starting with Suzumiya Haruhi's introduction to a new school year:

"I’m not interested in ordinary people. If you came from outer space, or from the future, or you have a supernatural power, come to my place"(AnimeInfo)

Although she is a pretty girl (girl sitting down on the mid lower left hand corner, holding a red bandana-like fiber with some kanji written on it), she might get you down with her arrogant and powerful character. Most classmates are bewildered by Haruhi's extreme decisions and tough attitude. You could say she's a creep.

But, once you manage to talk to her, hell is set loose. Once Kyon (one of the main characters, above Haruhi in picture) started talking to her, she decided to create her own club: the SOS Brigade [S.O.S. Dan!!] (the real meaning is quite wierd, I'll have to check the series again to verify it). Its raizon d'entre is basically look for aliens, espers and time travelers and have fun with them, as Haruhi stated. Once you watch the series you will understand why the club's "inmates" are so wierd.

Because the series, in its written, manga and anime form, became so famous, in and out of Japan, the series' opening theme has an H with the words HARUHI ISM aside it (similar to the picture), and all those fans of the series become followers of Haruhiism, the haruhiists. I am a haruhiist too.

The animation is wonderful, with multiple fluid and slow motion scenes, as the characters move around curve-looking square rooms (camera effects) in quick response to their environments. You don't see that type of animation very often, but it is a great reward for our visual entertainment desires. The type of eyes portrayed in the characters' faces, especially the ladies', is quite odd, but it seems to give them a feeling of depth and cuteness.

The soundtrack is OK. It is not the best music ever but it is enjoyable, not to tough on your senses. The ending theme is quite charming, as the characters dance together along with the rythm and lyrics, but that's all I can say about it.

You can download the episodes (if you are not in Japan) translated to English, or watch them at YouTube.com. New episodes come once a week, distributed by somebody called A.F.K., translated to English. There are also non-translated episodes in YouTube, only if you know japanese quite well.

The anime is quite interesting and fun, but I must say that some violence, harsh language and nudity may appear at least once every episode. So, kiddies, get those cursors away from those links until you grow up, eh!