jack_ryder (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jack_ryder) wrote2007-05-14 08:49 am
jack_ryder) wrote2007-05-14 08:49 am
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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
This is a popular Anime series from last year, that I wanted to check out because of the wikipedia entry (which I'm not linking to as it contains massive spoilers.)
I'd heard of flash mobs doing the dance in the end credits so I was curious as to how an anime I'd never heard of could have such an impact on popular culture so quickly.
Now I know.
I finally watched three episodes yesterday with Gerard (one of the most jaded animation fans I know) and - ohmigod - this was something that actually made us laugh. Out loud. A lot.
The basic set up is a high school comedy. The narrator, Kyon, is a cynical motiveless student who gets caught up in the plans of the eponymous Haruhi Suzumiya - a new (female) student who has declared no interest in humans but appears to be actively looking for aliens, time travellers and espers.
Which she doesn't find (not in the episodes so far). What she does do is set up her own club to investigate mysteries (which don't show up, not so far.)
So what we have is what seems to be a set up for a bizarre fantasy/science fiction show with lots of fanservice (Haruhi recruits a club member specifically for this purpose) but is more a commentary on such shows. Instead of being straight out bizarre, it's incredibly realistic with fairly natural dialogue and situations, except for Haruhi who is completely shameless.
It reminded me so much of a relationship I once had.
The first episode we saw (episode zero) is nothing like the other episodes we've seen so far - it's almost like a fan film of the show with a completely jaded and cynical narration that comes (we find) from Kyon. It was hysterical, and is worth seeing for anyone who has spent time in a convention video room.
It reminded me strongly of "Hot Fuzz" - parodying a genre whilst retaining a strong internal reality and consistancy rather than breaking it purely for gags (though that's what Episode zero would have you believe, even though it's revealed to something quite different at the end.)
On the surface, it's a kid's anime, but there's a maturity to the writing (which is extremely witty and ironic) which was refreshing. It's no surprise to find out it's actually an adaptation of a popular series of novels in Japan. The best analogy I can think of is it's like a high school anime written by Kurt Vonnegut Jnr (rest his soul).
I can't wait to see the rest of it. If you get the chance to see it (even if it's just episode zero) take it, and hopefully you'll have the same kind of pleasant surprise I did.
kalentureand iwoolf- you definitely need to see this. I will make suitable arrangements.
I'd heard of flash mobs doing the dance in the end credits so I was curious as to how an anime I'd never heard of could have such an impact on popular culture so quickly.
Now I know.
I finally watched three episodes yesterday with Gerard (one of the most jaded animation fans I know) and - ohmigod - this was something that actually made us laugh. Out loud. A lot.
The basic set up is a high school comedy. The narrator, Kyon, is a cynical motiveless student who gets caught up in the plans of the eponymous Haruhi Suzumiya - a new (female) student who has declared no interest in humans but appears to be actively looking for aliens, time travellers and espers.
Which she doesn't find (not in the episodes so far). What she does do is set up her own club to investigate mysteries (which don't show up, not so far.)
So what we have is what seems to be a set up for a bizarre fantasy/science fiction show with lots of fanservice (Haruhi recruits a club member specifically for this purpose) but is more a commentary on such shows. Instead of being straight out bizarre, it's incredibly realistic with fairly natural dialogue and situations, except for Haruhi who is completely shameless.
It reminded me so much of a relationship I once had.
The first episode we saw (episode zero) is nothing like the other episodes we've seen so far - it's almost like a fan film of the show with a completely jaded and cynical narration that comes (we find) from Kyon. It was hysterical, and is worth seeing for anyone who has spent time in a convention video room.
It reminded me strongly of "Hot Fuzz" - parodying a genre whilst retaining a strong internal reality and consistancy rather than breaking it purely for gags (though that's what Episode zero would have you believe, even though it's revealed to something quite different at the end.)
On the surface, it's a kid's anime, but there's a maturity to the writing (which is extremely witty and ironic) which was refreshing. It's no surprise to find out it's actually an adaptation of a popular series of novels in Japan. The best analogy I can think of is it's like a high school anime written by Kurt Vonnegut Jnr (rest his soul).
I can't wait to see the rest of it. If you get the chance to see it (even if it's just episode zero) take it, and hopefully you'll have the same kind of pleasant surprise I did.
kalentureand iwoolf- you definitely need to see this. I will make suitable arrangements.
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Also the frocks.
(ahhhh... nevermind.)
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Life on Mars starts on Sunday. Yay!
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