Kyou, Nagato Yuki, Asahina Mikuru, Koizumi Itsuki

First Impressions / Suzumiya Haruhi

Suzumiya Haruhi 2009 – 15 (Endless Eight)

I’m going to forgo a summary again since it’s pretty much the same set of events, though this episode is probably a bit closer to episode 13 than last week’s episode. I do want point out a couple of the differences though because they might be important. First, they seemed to focus on the clouds and the airplane symbol a lot, and it even appeared on the back of Mikuru’s t-shirt. Knowing how this arc is supposed to end, I suspect this is a red herring, but since this anime adaptation has already broken from the original novels, they could be doing something different. The other thing was that there seemed to be a larger amount of focus on Yuki than previously, which I’ve been told is important for later past this arc.

None of this changes the fact that they could be making much better use of this time if they had ended this arc two episodes ago and moved on to the next one. But they didn’t, so Endless Eight again next week, and I’m once again expecting it not to conclude.

First Impressions / Suzumiya Haruhi

And Then We’ll Do It Again…

Surprise surprise, another repeat. This week’s episode of Haruhi ended just like the past weeks did, with Kyon unable to do anything. According to Yuki, this was iteration #15513. Pretty much everything I said last week still applies, and the possibility that this goes eight times total or all the way till the end of real-world August is getting bigger. Regardless, Endless Eight again next week.

First Impressions / Suzumiya Haruhi

Suzumiya Haruhi 2009 – 14 (Endless Eight)

Since this episode was basically the exact same as last episode, I’m not even going to bother with a summary this week. All of the changes were relatively minor (their clothes, Yuki wearing the mask this time, Haruhi not needing to be prompted about cicadas, and so on), though Kyon was slightly more suspicious this time around. Like last week, Kyoto Animation reanimated everything from different angles and with different shots, and it sounded like all the lines were re-recorded too. I’m sure by the end of all this, if not already, the voice actors will be able to recite those lines by heart.

I can’t decide if Kyoto Animation is doing this to troll us, or if they’re buying time so that they don’t have to actually cover all that much new material, or if this is stunt for the sake of pulling a stunt, or what. Whatever the reason, as I said earlier, I’m really hoping that they don’t do this for eight straight episodes or for the rest of the season. I wouldn’t put it past them though, and I’ll probably go into next weeks episode expecting it not to conclude again.

First Impressions / Suzumiya Haruhi

When Will Endless Eight End?

Well, the Endless Eight arc didn’t finish again. In fact, it ended pretty much exactly like the last episode did, with Kyon putting things off, which means we’re in for the same stuff again next week. And who knows, maybe they really will keep it going for the rest of the series – the thought of it makes me shudder. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Kyoto Animation would try a stunt like this, however it’s very discouraging for someone like me who wants to see more new stuff. It certainly doesn’t give me any extra motivation to blog this episode or watch next week’s, but of course I still will (though it’ll be after I write up Umineko). Ugh…

Miscellaneous / Suzumiya Haruhi

Suzumiya Haruhi no Gensou Actually Not Bad

     

In my dark and depressing pre-20 anime per week days, I would usually scoff at those who listened to anime and game OSTs – why listen to some pew pew soundtrack when you could be listening to… oh, Puff Daddy or DMX or uhh Ayumi Hamasaki. Y’know – cool people music.

Ah, those were the days. Since then my music collection has slowly been overtaken by an abundance of [nipponsei], and I’ve even uploaded some Youtube videos of me playing those same songs I used to scoff at.

Times have changed, and I’ve really started to appreciate the amount of talent that goes into this kind of composing. Still, I believe there’s a difference between the music that goes into the likes of K-ON and that of Gundam, specifically it how well it translates to classical orchestra music.

Which is why I was thoroughly surprised with Suzumiya Haruhi no Gensou, the concert by the Tokyo Philharmonic on April 29 that was just released on CD. The music from Haruhi was largely… teenybopper and/or rock, both of which I wouldn’t imagine translating well into classical.

Surprisingly enough, the adaptation is quite good! Some tracks remind me of Hisaishi’s work in Totoro, others sound like it could’ve come out of some classic Disney movie. Well, the instrumental tracks, at least. Several tracks have Hirano Aya and Chihara Minori blaring away, and while some of you will probably love these alternate versions, their inability to hit or hold the right notes is a bit hard on my ears.

Check out orchestral Mikurun-run and a Hiranofied God Knows!
First Impressions / Suzumiya Haruhi

Suzumiya Haruhi 2009 – Super Driver (New OP)

As expected, there was a new episode of Haruhi today, Endless Eight, and with it came a new OP: Super Driver by Hirano Aya. As you might know, I’m not a very big fan of hers when it comes to singing (bad memories of LOVE GUN still linger), and this didn’t really change my opinion any, but regardless of whether or not you like her music, the animation that goes with it still a fun watch.