Episodic Haruhi

It has been almost a year (would you believe) since I recommended the wonderful Hauhi Suzumiya series to visitors here, since when quite a few new regulars have added to the mix of readers/viewers here.

The following video is the first episode, with automatic feed-through to each episode in turn, making it more controllable (despite Haruhi's wild nature!) for the viewer, rather than the all-in-one versions of each series I posted last January. Those have since disappeared anyway.

As then, this is dubbed into English, and features a top-notch narration by the excellent Crispin Freeman – probably the best of its kind ever done anywhere in the world. He gets the mood and manner of Kyon just right, introducing us to 'Mr Happy (not)' in a way that is brilliant and perfectly contoured to the character.

As far as my inexpertise can determine, there are occasional very mild adult references scattered throughout the series, and the language is just one level off fully family-friendly, so it's probably not advisable for the under-12s (again using the official film classification bands as a guide) – but the underlying nature of what turns out to be quite a complex storyline probably wouldn't appeal to those below that kind of age anyway.

Now, although there will always be a few 'Kyon's in the real world, perhaps the odd one or two reading these words right now, I suspect that most viewers of this landmark series will be at least smiling most of the way through, and probably laughing a lot too: it's quite infectious...

Haruhi Review

Specifically, a review of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. I don't post others' reviews here ordinarily, but this one is very accurate and I think has considerable value.

If you can cope with the sometimes rather obvious editing, and the presenter's manner (no problem to me, but I can see he might not be to everyone's taste) this is worth ten minutes or so of anybody's time who likes a really good story well produced and presented.

I have checked a few of this guy's reviews, and he is genuinely good at this and has an obviously broad knowledge along with considerable personal experience. He looks at story, characters, production, sound, whether subtitling or English voice-dubs are better, personal enjoyment and other factors.

Interestingly, he has rated this movie one of the highest of any he has ever reviewed. Although the opening page of the video warns that it is intended for 'mature audiences', and some of his other reviews are definitely of that type, this one is suitable for those aged (based on film certificates) twelve years or over.

Amazingly, although this review has been on YouTube for just three days, it has received well over a thousand comments there (it's worth skimming through at least a batch of 'em, too) and more than 32,000 viewings...

Orchestral Haruhi

Now this is what can safely be termed 'epic'! An orchestral concert of music from the Haruhi Suzumiya stories, complete with vocal solo performances by the original voice actresses and some in-character funny moments. Any fans of the series will recognise and understand those straight away!

It's in eleven ten-minute parts, so the easiest way is to go through one at a time, leaving it in your browser for a single-click continuation to the next part when you're ready. There's some tango and bossa nova in here, which you might not have expected, and some memorable and perhaps not so familiar themes in the mix

A tip: the solo violinist in Part 3 is superb, so that part well worth getting to before too long. Trust me on this...

It's a pity they didn't do God Knows or Super Driver, though, not even in the encore.

Anyway, we start with the 'Mikuru Beam' song, so come on: let's dance, baby!

Hare Hare Yukai – Live!

It has been almost five months since I last posted this lovely song and dance here, so why not push the boat out and have it performed live by the original Haruhi Suzumiya voice atresses live on stage? Even better, there are English subtitles!

So, we have Aya Hirano (Haruhi Suzumiya), Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato) and Yuuko Gotou (Mikuru Asahina) effectively in character. As they say, it doesn't get much better than this...

One Direction, Miku and Haruhi

There's no need to go through the whole movie trailer if you're not a fan of One Direction (and I'm not, but put myself through it to find the spot).

It's at two minutes and 28–31 seconds into this, that five Japanese cosplayers present themselves to the boys, including a Miku and a Haruhi. That, for me at least, is the only interesting part of the video – but your mileage may vary, as the saying goes. It just goes to show that they're getting in everywhere these days, even when and where you least expect...

Sonority

This is the unaccompanied song from the closing credits of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (which I have just watched again in its entirety, and it's just as great the second time) , performed by Yuki Nagato's voice actress Minori Chihara. The song's Japanese name is romanised as Yasashii Boukyaku. I know that Yasashii means 'gentle', but that's as far as I get.

I am not sure of the correct English name for it, as there seem to be several attached to different videos, so just for the sake of having something in this post's title I have taken the one from this video.

It is a haunting theme, and stands as it is, even without English words and with just a still image of Miss Nagato throughout..

I Was The Snow

I just realised it has been almost six months since I posted the powerful and beautiful song Yuki, Muon, Madobe Nite from the Haruhi Suzumiya anime, so here it is with English subtitles, and just a simple, high quality image of Yuki ('snow') Nagato to accompany the song.

Without knowing the story, it is difficult to grasp the significance of the lyrics; but for those who do know the story this is indeed lump-in-throat stuff. I get that (and more) every time...

My Little Pony does Haruhi

Well, it's certainly an original version of Super Driver , which was the theme for one of the Haruhi Suzumiya anime series. It has been described as a 'ponyfication' of the original(!)

It's The Melancholy of Pinkie Pie....

Hare Hare SeeU

Hare Hare Yukai (Sunny Sunny Happiness) has always been a lovely song with a great – and very distinctive – dance routine, but put one of tourbux's excellent SeeU models in pole position and it becomes even better than usual.

Thanks to the usual top-quality motion we have come to expect with SeeU, this works really well, aided by two human dancers (no fellows this time) performing the full-length version...

Haruhi sings 'Desho'

This is the lady who voiced the original Japanese version of Haruhi Suzumiya, the very talented and amazingly cute Aya Hirano, performing the second story's theme Bouken Desho Desho ("It's an adventure! Right! Right?") on her own standing.

This is the theme that Konata parodies so well in Lucky Star (it's one of the very best things that series has ever done) and, once you've heard it a handful of times, will probably become a firm favourite. It's very hard to resist, I've found...

Fantasy Corner

With my (modest but definite) biological changes during the last year or two has come the ability to fantasize; and although my one or two – so far – fantasies will no doubt be considered by most to be inconsequential, for me they have a degree of significance.

My main one is that our annual Will Adams Festival, celebrating Gillingham's links to Japan that started with local fellow Will Adams voyaging out there centuries ago, extends beyond its somewhat repetitive format to date, and adds some modern Japanese culture while retaining all for which the festival is known.

Nothing need be sacrificed.

My specific fantasy revolves around there being a performance of the Hare Hare Yukai dance (from the Haruhi Suzumiya stories) on the stage at the event, and that before they start their leader apologises for the absence of one of the male performers from the quintet, who for some reason couldn't be there.

You can probably guess what I'd like to happen next: yes, I'd wave from the audience and approach the stage, offering to substitute. Once I knew whether I was to be Mr Happy (Koizumi) or Mr Moody (Kyon) and whether it was the short or long form of the dance they were doing, I could assure them I'd be up to it and take my place on the stage.

Wouldn't that be something a little bit special? I know the dance so well that I'd have no problem performing it, at least if my health continues to slowly improve (I haven't been able to dance safely during most of the past year and a half, but have recently started improving in that regard).

The absolute icing on the cake would be if former mayor/mayoress Cllr Ted and Sylvia Baker were in the audience and witnessed this. I'm sure they already think of me as being a little 'unhinged', and this could no doubt firm-up that impression; but I'd hope that they'd enjoy it all the same.

I know I'd enjoy doing it, and helping out the performers in the process.

Now that's my kind of fantasy!

Konata-ism

All right, I'll give the young lady this one! Although it isn't quite a hundred percent correct (but very close), Konata's version of the Hare Hare Yukai (Sunny Sunny Happiness) dance from her very favourite anime series is actually very good and suits her quite well, even solo as here – which is something I hadn't expected to find, to be completely frank, and wasn't even looking for it (I was searching under just the song title, with hundreds of results).

I have been going through a couple of dozen versions of the dance, and even a full orchestral rendition of the tune (which I might post one day, though not yet awhile), looking for something good enough to post. There were also many others I didn't need to go through, as they were obviously just a still image throughout.

There are, predictably, several Vocaloid versions (though none good enough by my standards) and a number of – very mixed – live action attempts, a few of which aren't bad; but Konata's seems to me to be the one of choice overall from the current selection...

Haruhi and Kyon

Combine a series of clips of those two 'happy souls' with one of Roxette's best songs as a backing, and it becomes a great way to start off the new year. I wish I'd thought of it myself...

Another Mikaru Song

This is rather sweet, actually, and again has English subtitles. As usual, the singer is Mikaru's original voice actress, Yuuko Gotou, so is performed in the character's voice...

Lucky Star does Haruhi Suzumiya Intro

Yup, in addition to all those other Haruhi Suzumiya references from the Lucky Star anime (about which I know very little indeed, but perhaps in the New Year...) here's Konata Izumi from that series re-creating the Bouken Desho Desho? opening sequence.

It's a brilliant tribute, and quite amusing to see how it has been slightly changed here and there to work for Izumi & Co. For example, note Konata's regular schoolday lunch (the chocolate cornet) sneaked into the background imagery...

Yuki Nagato Live!

Okay, so it's really her voice actress, Minori Chihara, singing Yuki, Muon, Madobe Ni-te in the character's voice, in front of a large and enthusiastic audience. The Haruhi Suzumiya stories and all that goes with them are very big in Japan as this event indicates, and in a number of other countries as well.

You might recall this song from one of the Wii-generated dances I posted earlier this month; but this one has English subtitles so we can now get a real feel for what Yuki was telling us, the viewers, through her song. Believe me...

Mikuru's Song

It's Mikuru's funny song from the Haruhi Suzumiya anime, with English subtitles which helps! I thought we needed something a little lighter today. Those who have watched the Sigh story, either here or elsewhere, will of course recall the 'Mikuru Beam'.

Hmm: I wonder whether the infatuated Kyon has even noticed her problem in hitting the high notes (which is actually all part of the fun of this song), but Mikuru tells me that's "classified information" so we might never find out...

Yuki Nagato – SELECT

In these – possibly – last hours of existence (UPDATE: we're still here!) let's listen to Yuki Nagato's song SELECT, and also ponder upon the possibility that Haruhi Suzumiya might well create a brand new world for us. I wonder whether we shall notice, at least straight away, if so...

This song comes with the English words as subtitles. It helps to have seen the Disappearance story for it all to gain proper context and relevance, but is anyway an insight info Miss Nagato's nature and plight. Yuki means 'snow', by the way, which explains one reference in the song.

Some of the comments at this video's YouTube page show just how moved some listeners/words-readers have been. Click the YouTube button on the video player if you wish to go there and read those comments.

Meanwhile, here's Yuki. Just click SELECT (the left mouse button in RISC OS parlance) below...

Lucky Star – or is it?

For Haruhi Suzumiya devotees: there are lots of Haruhi etc references in the Lucky Star series, and this is a compilation of all of them.

Some are obvious, others are more subtle, but it really is quite fun to spot 'em as they unfold. It's the Japanese language original, so you'll need to keep an eye on the sub-titles and also watch for the occasional explanatory caption.

Do excuse the lower technical quality of this video than my usual standard, but it's worth it..

Hare Hare Yukai – Live Action

Yes, it can be done, and this is actually very good. It is a particularly pretty dance anyway, and it's great to see that one doesn't have to be a cartoon character in order to be able to accurately perform this complex and rather energetic dance, especially in costume!