THE MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA (VOLUME 2).
July 8th 2008 02:52
Category: Videos, Television
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara.
Ultra Director: Haruhi Suzumiya.
Producer: Takeshi Yasuda.
Created by: Nagaru Tanigawa (Story) & Noizi Ito (Illustration).
Produced by: SOS Brigade.
English Language Version: Kadokawa Pictures USA Inc, Bandai Entertainment Inc & Bang Zoom Entertainment.
English Voice Actors: Wendee Lee (Haruhi Suzumiya), Crispin Freeman (Kyon), Stephanie Sheh (Mikura Asahina), Michelle Ruff (Yuki Nagato), Kari Wahlgren (Tsuruya/Kyon’s little sister), Sam Reigel (Taniguchi), Brianne Siddall (Kunikida), Bridget Hoffman (Ryoko Asakura) and Johnny Yong Bosch (Itsuki Koizumi).
Released by: Madman Entertainment.
Running Time: 100 minutes. Rating: MA 15 .
When this second volume of wacky zany Japanese high school action turned up on my doorstep (figuratively speaking), and I eventually managed to get off the plastic covering in order to get at the DVD so I could peruse its contents there was something interesting inside. It was a cardboard insert that began with “Purchaser of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya! We want to welcome you to the SOS Brigade with a special DVD offer that’s only available for a limited time”. Unfortunately as I continued reading the insert the limited time had already well and truly expired, still the interesting thing was that it was all about a special edition DVD release of the “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” in original Japanese broadcast order. It seems that originally when the series was first aired on Japanese television it wasn’t broadcast in the order that the episodes are numbered on the DVD releases. Confusing, hmmm certainly, but then again it’s really nothing to worry about.
According to the pitch on the insert the broadcast version tells a slightly more subtle story which you could watch with the normal DVDs only it would mean a lot of watching one episode then changing discs to watch the next episode in this slightly out of whack sequence. It was also interesting to note that the insert also automatically assumed I was an SOS club member and thus devoted and loyal follower of Haruhi and her slightly out there ideology. No doubt this is all some strange kind of ploy, a promotion for the activities of the SOS Brigade and its Australian affiliate (yep there is one as well as an American division) which frankly I wasn’t going to really get involved with.
On to the DVD then and its episodes I hear you cry, so be it. The last time I got involved with this series things had taken a decidedly interesting turn for Kyon, hapless high school student and lackey of the hyperactive Grade A student Haruhi Suzumiya. He has found out that the old adage loose lips sinks ships has a very real bearing on life and its travails, if he hadn’t had a little conversation about inventions and way people go out and invent such things no doubt he would not have ended up getting involved with either Haruhi or her SOS Brigade, it might never have been created. Nor would he find himself in the presence of an alien manufactured biological interface, a time travelling girl or an esper. In fact as events open in this volume of zany high school antics he is still trying to come to grips with the whole concept that his three fellow club members are all something more than ordinary, he’s finding it a little hard to believe truth be told.
When you consider that a younger Kyon had once wished that he could actually meet such people before he ended up in high school his reluctance to accept these strange occurrences seems a bit unusual to say the least. But then again maybe that’s just the result of a rational mindset struggling against the sense of wonder that everyone has had at some point in their lives, and may still have regardless of their age or position in society. Events open on this volume with a rather sullen and downcast Haruhi sitting in her usual spot in the classroom behind Kyon’s seat as he walks in to commence this particular day’s schooling. Ryoko Asakura, the class hottie according to Kyon’s friend Taniguchi, is trying to console Haruhi but with little real success. And thus begins a day that for our hapless hero starts out fairly normal but ends up being literally fraught with danger…for him.
Out in the depths of space their exists the Data Integration Thought Entity (DITE for short) which has been responsible for creating Yuki Nagato and placing her within the same high school as Kyon and Haruhi Suzumiya, the rationale for this being that the DITE wants to observe Haruhi. It seems that the hyperactive chief of the SOS Brigade is literally capable of manipulating raw data to suit her own ends, effectively creating reality to suit her belief or needs at any particular time. This is an ability that the DITE and its various components are incapable of manifesting and they are very much interested in such a talent, hence their observation Haruhi. Yuki has told all of this to Kyon, but what she didn’t mention was the fact that there are others within the school that have been sent to observe Ms Suzumiya and not all of them share the patient wait and see stance that Yuki and her patron has. In fact one of them has decided to take matters into her own hands in order to see what will happen; unfortunately for Kyon this means his death.
One of the other observers infiltrated into the high school has conceived a plan that if Kyon dies Ms Suzumiya will let off a sudden burst of data manipulation the likes of which has never been seen before, it will literally be a once in a lifetime opportunity that is too good to miss. Naturally the observer is ecstatic over the prospect, it’s been boring just watching someone who for all intents in purposes is not living up to their potential, of course what the observer hasn’t taken into consideration is Kyon’s reaction to this little scheme. In fact by the time he actually works out what the heck is going on and it’s all because of his connection to Haruhi it’s almost too late, almost but not quite, as his fat is swiftly pulled out of the fire but this in turn leads to more complications.
With its wacky zany blend of science fiction, comedy, romance and mystery “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Volume 2” is an entertaining viewing experience. Volume 2 as well as having four episodes of this series like the first combines various extras including more episodes of the adventures of the ASOS Brigade and two making of featurettes that feature members of the original Japanese cast. If your looking for an anime that is not the usual kind of fare then “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Volume 2” is well worth getting your hands on and enjoying.
Ultra Director: Haruhi Suzumiya.
Producer: Takeshi Yasuda.
Created by: Nagaru Tanigawa (Story) & Noizi Ito (Illustration).
Produced by: SOS Brigade.
English Language Version: Kadokawa Pictures USA Inc, Bandai Entertainment Inc & Bang Zoom Entertainment.
English Voice Actors: Wendee Lee (Haruhi Suzumiya), Crispin Freeman (Kyon), Stephanie Sheh (Mikura Asahina), Michelle Ruff (Yuki Nagato), Kari Wahlgren (Tsuruya/Kyon’s little sister), Sam Reigel (Taniguchi), Brianne Siddall (Kunikida), Bridget Hoffman (Ryoko Asakura) and Johnny Yong Bosch (Itsuki Koizumi).
Running Time: 100 minutes. Rating: MA 15 .
When this second volume of wacky zany Japanese high school action turned up on my doorstep (figuratively speaking), and I eventually managed to get off the plastic covering in order to get at the DVD so I could peruse its contents there was something interesting inside. It was a cardboard insert that began with “Purchaser of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya! We want to welcome you to the SOS Brigade with a special DVD offer that’s only available for a limited time”. Unfortunately as I continued reading the insert the limited time had already well and truly expired, still the interesting thing was that it was all about a special edition DVD release of the “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” in original Japanese broadcast order. It seems that originally when the series was first aired on Japanese television it wasn’t broadcast in the order that the episodes are numbered on the DVD releases. Confusing, hmmm certainly, but then again it’s really nothing to worry about.
According to the pitch on the insert the broadcast version tells a slightly more subtle story which you could watch with the normal DVDs only it would mean a lot of watching one episode then changing discs to watch the next episode in this slightly out of whack sequence. It was also interesting to note that the insert also automatically assumed I was an SOS club member and thus devoted and loyal follower of Haruhi and her slightly out there ideology. No doubt this is all some strange kind of ploy, a promotion for the activities of the SOS Brigade and its Australian affiliate (yep there is one as well as an American division) which frankly I wasn’t going to really get involved with.
When you consider that a younger Kyon had once wished that he could actually meet such people before he ended up in high school his reluctance to accept these strange occurrences seems a bit unusual to say the least. But then again maybe that’s just the result of a rational mindset struggling against the sense of wonder that everyone has had at some point in their lives, and may still have regardless of their age or position in society. Events open on this volume with a rather sullen and downcast Haruhi sitting in her usual spot in the classroom behind Kyon’s seat as he walks in to commence this particular day’s schooling. Ryoko Asakura, the class hottie according to Kyon’s friend Taniguchi, is trying to console Haruhi but with little real success. And thus begins a day that for our hapless hero starts out fairly normal but ends up being literally fraught with danger…for him.
Out in the depths of space their exists the Data Integration Thought Entity (DITE for short) which has been responsible for creating Yuki Nagato and placing her within the same high school as Kyon and Haruhi Suzumiya, the rationale for this being that the DITE wants to observe Haruhi. It seems that the hyperactive chief of the SOS Brigade is literally capable of manipulating raw data to suit her own ends, effectively creating reality to suit her belief or needs at any particular time. This is an ability that the DITE and its various components are incapable of manifesting and they are very much interested in such a talent, hence their observation Haruhi. Yuki has told all of this to Kyon, but what she didn’t mention was the fact that there are others within the school that have been sent to observe Ms Suzumiya and not all of them share the patient wait and see stance that Yuki and her patron has. In fact one of them has decided to take matters into her own hands in order to see what will happen; unfortunately for Kyon this means his death.
One of the other observers infiltrated into the high school has conceived a plan that if Kyon dies Ms Suzumiya will let off a sudden burst of data manipulation the likes of which has never been seen before, it will literally be a once in a lifetime opportunity that is too good to miss. Naturally the observer is ecstatic over the prospect, it’s been boring just watching someone who for all intents in purposes is not living up to their potential, of course what the observer hasn’t taken into consideration is Kyon’s reaction to this little scheme. In fact by the time he actually works out what the heck is going on and it’s all because of his connection to Haruhi it’s almost too late, almost but not quite, as his fat is swiftly pulled out of the fire but this in turn leads to more complications.
With its wacky zany blend of science fiction, comedy, romance and mystery “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Volume 2” is an entertaining viewing experience. Volume 2 as well as having four episodes of this series like the first combines various extras including more episodes of the adventures of the ASOS Brigade and two making of featurettes that feature members of the original Japanese cast. If your looking for an anime that is not the usual kind of fare then “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Volume 2” is well worth getting your hands on and enjoying.
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