The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Season 2

Announcement pending July 7th!

I can't wait for this, if only to see how they can possibly top the infectious first season. I'm not waiting for a batch torrent for this, I'll be drooling for more week after week as it gets subbed.

I'm hoping for an adaptation of the Disappearance story arc, it makes the most sense considering it's the longest story arc after the Melancholy. Of course there should be a few short stories interspersed in between as well like the first season.

Optimus Prime. Transcending the generations and still a one man army.

There's how many novels for them to adapt? 7 or so? I think they've only gone through 1 of them with a bit from the others. I cant wait for more Haruhi and, of course, Mikuru molesting.

Time to bring out the Haruhi-ism .sig soon

w00000000000000t!

It's July 7th, any news?

While we're on the subject, would someone care to break it down to me on why The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi is such a huge phenomenon?

I've watched the first season (well half of it), and I could not tolerate Haruhi as character, so I kinda dropped it.

So I'd like to hear from a fan, what is it that you see in the characters and/or show that is so appealing?

And just in case my post comes off as a bit condescending, that is not my intent, I'm really just curious.

^On a stick!^
(Updated 5th Nov 2009: Awkward Encounter)

It's very much a love it or hate it series, and really does depend on whether you like Haruhi as a character or not (although give her a chance, as you've missed most of her character development). It's also pretty reliant on whether you find Kyon's particular brand of dry wit funny or not.

Really, though, at the halfway point, you haven't seen any of the show-stopping episodes. There's some flat-out amazing sequences in the last half.

I think there's lots of reasons why its become a phenomenon in and of itself. First off, it's fresh. There hadn't been a series before that's done things quite like Haruhi. Sure, there've been parody animes before. And there's been plenty of slice-of-life school comedies as well. But there hadn't been any blending the two genres in such a seemless way, and one as able to reach in so many different directions as Haruhi. This is topped by production values not commonly seen in anime like this. The animation is at all times fluid and lively, and with an unmatched attention to detail. Then there's the way the pacing likes to keep you on your toes, suddenly bowling you over with crazy action sequences or other similarly amazing events which by all rights, shouldn't normally even be there. And then there's also the oddball pacing, what with the show being broadcast "out of order", which plays to the audience's intelligence, rather than letting the show become slapsticky and just plain silly like most parody shows.

And of course, you can't forget the end credits, which are just so goddamned addicting to watch.

Thanks for the well thought out explanation, archon.

Yeah, I really can't stand Haruhi as a character (no offense to anyone else), but my first impressions of her from earlier episodes are still deeply cemented in my cranium. So much so that there's not much motivation for me to keep watching. The rest of the characters I don't mind (Kyon I quite like for that matter), but not enough to really get me back to watching it.

And yeah, dance openings and credits have become a trademark for KyoAni studio. As far as Haruhi's art and animation goes, I cannot think of much others that can top or match it. (Well besides other KyoAni anime titles )

^On a stick!^
(Updated 5th Nov 2009: Awkward Encounter)

I've never heard of this before. It sounds like it may be good - also sounds like something I might hate.

Give it a shot at least. It's a very intelligent comedy series, and either you'll laugh 'till your sides hurt, or it won't speak to you, in which case you can move on with your life like nothing happened *shrug*. At only 14 episodes, it's not a major time sink.

And it's a very re-watchable show. There's something about its writing style that instantly makes scenes hilarious, and yet somehow not entirely "memorable". So you'll finish watching the series, and leave it alone for awhile, and then rewatch an episode or two, and it'll still feel somewhat fresh to you. At least, that's how I feel. I've watched some episode 3, 4, maybe 5 times over, with significant cooldown time inbetween, and I'm amazed at how many of the jokes or scenes I'd forgotten, and they make me laugh just as hard as before.

But really, you've got to see episode 12 to really appreciate Haruhi's character growth. It's a really cute episode, and really gives you a sense that there is in fact hope for this bossy, selfish, and totally insane girl. Not to mention that it revolves around a major scene that kicks serious ass, one that you'll want to watch over and over and over again.