Fangirl February: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Review

Video Version: 

Every anime fan that has watched at least a couple shows has heard the name Haurhi Suzumiya. The show has set a standard in the community that shows just what anime can do with its weird situations and characters, sort of the “stereotypical anime” if you will. However, for all its strange stories and creative ideas, my main problem with the show was that it didn’t take itself incredibly seriously and really utilize these ideas to their fullest potential. This didn’t make the show bad by any means, though. Heck, ever since I decided to watch it again it’s been on my favorites list, and this problem is most likely due to my personal tastes. I’m normally not the biggest fan of episodic shows because the formula almost always remains the same, and this repetition makes the show predictable and boring after a couple episodes. The Melancholy of Haurhi Suzumiya follows this structure, but it worked somehow, since it managed to spice up the mysteries and situations the characters were thrown into each episode or two. The movie, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter, and it has changed my opinion of the franchise entirely. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is currently my favorite anime movie of all time, but why is that? How did the movie rise above and beyond my expectations to accomplish this? Sit back, relax, and read on as I review the first topic of Fangirl February: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Be warned that some plot points from the original show will be spoiled, but nothing too major in the movie will be given away. With that out of the way, let’s get started.

Story:

Something that made the original series entertaining was the show’s ability to make ordinary activities feel large and heavy, using the plot device known as Haurhi Suzumiya. You see, Haruhi is somewhat of a god, at least according to Koizumi, and is able to control time and space. Don’t question it, you’ll just confuse yourself. Because of this, if Haruhi becomes bored, then the world ends, and the show utilizes this to make its events all the more exciting, but at the same time doesn’t overplay it. Now, imagine if the show removed that plot device, but still managed to keep its large scale without feeling forced. That is this movie in a nutshell. As the title suggests, Haruhi has disappeared, and on top of that, the world around our normally satirical main character Kyon is completely altered. His classmates are sick, Class 9 doesn’t exist anymore, all of his supernatural friends are now normal human beings, and Ryoko Asukura is sitting behind him when she should’ve been erased from existence. A bewildered and terrified Kyon basically spends the entire movie trying to discover who changed the world, and somehow change everything back to the way it was. While this plot does sound rather simple, the movie throws enough twists and turns into its story to keep you guessing and remain invested, and focuses more on the “how” and “why” rather than just trying to get Haruhi back. And, in my opinion, this relatively unassuming plot is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Every plot twist makes sense, every direction the show takes feels natural and fits into the story, and the pacing is near flawless. While some may think the pacing of the first half is too slow, I was never bothered by it, as it built atmosphere and showed how Kyon reacted to this new world, which is vital to understanding his motivation. Not to mention just how perfectly past events in the story tie into this movie. The movie explains to the audience what important events happened previously, and gives enough details so even people who haven’t seen the show can understand what’s happening. The reason all these events tie in together into this singular movie is to draw emphasis to the main conflict of the movie: whether Kyon wants to live a normal life in this new world or not, making this movie the perfect conclusion to the franchise. Now, I would discuss Kyon’s choice at the end, but that would take up too much time and would basically spoil the entire movie. My recommendation is, watch the movie, and come up with your own interpretations as to why Kyon made his decision, and what messages the author tried to convey through this choice. For me, I thought the author was trying to show how the world can’t be altered just to fit the needs of a singular person, because then you’d have to change the lives of everyone around you. To quote the Light Novel, “We all find ourselves wishing for a complete redo at some point in our lives, and all of us have dreamed about changing reality to suit our individual means. However, that would normally be impossible. And probably not a good idea.” (Tanigawa 154). In other words, life isn’t really fair, and no matter how much you want to change it, that’s how it is, and you have to learn to deal with it and move on. Not everything will go your way, but you should also find ways to enjoy what it is that you’re given, and know that people will be there to help as long as you say something. And, considering how crazy and strange the situations were in the TV series, you could say that this was the perfect message to end this franchise with. Oh, at least until The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan comes out, but that’s a spin-off, so I’ll let it go. Is anyone else excited for it besides me? Because I sure am!

The story follows Kyon as he tries to figure out what happened to his old world

Characters:

Something that took me by surprise in this movie was how…different these characters felt from the original. Sure, their general personalities remained intact, but they felt a lot more human than the original series. Oh, in the TV show, they were fun to watch, but it wasn’t until I watched the movie that I managed to emotionally connect with any of them. Let’s start off with Kyon, the main character of the movie. Up until this point, he was mainly an observer of the crazy happenings going on around him and complained about not having a normal life. But now that he’s been thrown into an unknown situation where he’s the only person who can fix the world, and his supernatural friends are completely unaware of what’s happening, well…he panics. The first half of the movie shows how Kyon breaks down in desperation and fear, abandoning his sarcastic persona entirely. Then, as he solves the mystery, he begins to question whether he even wants to go back to his old reality, where all he did was complain and be thrown into chaos every day. This movie details his development from a spectator to someone who learns that he has to actively take part in these occurrences if he wants to remain safe and comfortable. He learns to take the initiative, and appreciate all the fun he’s secretly been having behind his complaints, which makes him a relatable character. You understand why he breaks down because he doesn’t know what to do, and as he scrambles for answers to his perplexing problems, you see that he’s not just some character who takes everything in strides, but a human who has no idea what to do in a time of crisis because he relied too much on his friends. This reliance also comes into play with the character of Yuki Nagato. In the show, Yuki was an expressionless alien who basically solved most of the SOS Brigade’s problems with her outstanding abilities, and while I don’t want to spoil the twist in the movie, well…let’s just say that can get tiring. However, I do want to clarify a misconception about her character. There’s a difference between character development and characterization. Character development is the author’s way of showing how a character changes, while characterization is the author’s way of displaying who a character is. Most people say that Yuki’s development in this movie was fantastic, and I don’t agree because she doesn’t really change over the course of this movie. Yes, she does subtly change in the series, but what this movie did was expand upon her character, using characterization to allow the audience to learn more about her and her problems. And, in that regard, the movie does a great job. The other SOS Brigade members don’t really get enough screen time to be considered part of the main cast, but I did like some of the ways these characters tied into their real-world counterparts. For example, in Endless Eight, Koizumi states that Kyon should whisper into Haruhi’s ear that he loves her, and while Kyon objects, Koizumi suggests that he himself do it. This seems insignificant, but then when you watch the movie, Koizumi in the new world is in love with the Haruhi of the new world. And, in the beginning of the TV series, Asahina states that she’s part of the calligraphy club, and that’s where she’s found later in the movie. It’s little touches like these that makes these character’s appearances worthwhile, and adds some more to their overall characters.

Yuki Nagato and Kyon

Presentation:

Kyoto Animation has made a name for itself by producing high quality shows in terms of aesthetics, so believe me when I say that this movie is probably the best in their entire lineup when it comes to animation. The lighting in this movie is breathtaking, creating a realistic atmosphere that focuses on the bleakness of winter with greys, tinted blues, and browns. This acts as a contrast to the original show, which was mainly bright and colorful. The backgrounds look gorgeous, with immense detail put into each frame. The movements are fluid for the most part, and the character designs are really good. I’d also like to mention the cinematography, as it really made some scenes stand out above the rest. As for music, I love this soundtrack. The songs are mainly renditions of classical music, with a few original songs thrown in. The soundtrack has a way of being relatively simple in composition, but is incredibly effective in setting the atmosphere and tone. My favorite track is Gyumnopedies Dai 1 Ban, and a link to the song will be featured in the description for you to check out. Finally, should you watch this in English or Japanese? My choice is, English, for two reasons. Firstly, there’s Crispin Freeman as Kyon. I’ve always liked his performance in the original series, but in this movie Freeman portrays Kyon perfectly in a time when his character is scared, desperate, and confused, and it’s hard for me to picture anyone else playing him. Secondly, Michelle Ruff as Yuki Nagato. Yuki’s character was very robotic and emotionless in the original, but Ruff’s ability to change her character into the shy and bashful version of Yuki was near flawless in this movie. Good job, English cast, good job.

Gyumnopedies Dai 1 Ban:

 

The presentation is plain fantastic

Why It’s Featured in Fangirl February:

So, why is The Disappearance of Haurhi Suzumiya my favorite anime movie of all time? Well, it’s a fantastic mystery, is able to be emotional, exciting, and intriguing, and finally, is human. Mystery is one of my favorite genres in all of entertainment. I’ve always enjoyed watching characters trying to solve capers, picking up clues and eventually coming to a conclusion, discovering who did what and how everything came to be. Unfortunately, finding a good mystery anime is rare. Most mystery shows aren’t about an overarching case, but more about episodic cases, like in the ever so famous Melancholy of Haurhi Suzumiya. Then, there’s the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, the movie that fulfilled my desire for a good mystery more than I ever thought this franchise could, and cemented itself as my favorite anime movie of all time. In all honesty, this relatively simple story is my favorite mystery in all of entertainment. Everything is just so beautifully executed, from the characters to the plot twists to the amazing presentation, and even some underlying themes that I didn’t pick up on during my first viewing concerning escapism and accepting reality. The characters, at least Yuki and Kyon, feel more realistic and sympathetic than they ever were before, and I can’t imagine the movie being written or presented any better. To make a long story short, this movie is what I wanted Haruhi Suzumiya to be, with a much more human touch combined with a wonderful story and a perfect presentation. There’s nothing else to it. 

Conclusion:

Overall, while the movie does have its flaws, like how the ending doesn’t really make sense when you think about it, I still love this movie unconditionally. It’s hard to find a mystery this well done, and, at least in my opinion, this is the best of the best. Now, let’s move onto the scorecard, where I will rate this movie based on its story, characters, presentation, and personal enjoyment. I give the story a 9.5 out of 10, for being slightly slow but very atmospheric with one of the best climaxes in any anime period. I give the characters a 9 out of 10. While Kyon and Yuki had significant screen time for characterization and development, and it was interesting to see the characters in this other world, it did feel like the characters except Yuki and Kyon were there for the sake of being there, as they didn’t really do anything. The presentation gets a 9.5 out of 10, because the animation is near flawless, the music is wonderful, and the English version is top notch. And, for personal enjoyment, I give this movie a straight 10 out of 10, because I can do what I want, and I love everything about this movie. As for the final score, I give The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya a 9.5 out of 10, and a recommendation to watch it when you can.

ScoreCard: 

Alternate Anime Recommendations:

Patema Inverted

Hyouka

Well, that’s all from me. I hope you enjoyed this first post in Fangirl February! Join me next time for my character review of Hachiman Hikigaya! See you then!