However, Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu really stood out in the high school/slice of anime genre. This stand-alone franchise proved successful in its every aspects.
Art/Animation: 9
Everything was pleasing to the eye, ranging from the flawless character designs to the gorgeous background scenery. Animations looked natural. Choreography was expected from an animated movie. Overall, top-notch art/animation but nothing about it impressed me enough to give it a 10.
Story: 9
The story starts off with a slow-pace, recapping about events that happened from the point Kyon met Haruhi to his current day. Then the story runs off with a wide variety of events and complexities that happen to the main character, Kyon. Kyon’s thoughts serve as the narrative, for the most part, which gives even new viewers an easy time watching the movie. Though some parts of the story may be confusing to new viewers of the franchise, the viewer can catch on. The concept of Suzumiya Haruhi’s inception was astounding and quite thought provoking, along with the time space continuum, etc. All in all, Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu pulled off an outstanding story.
Character: 9
Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu had one of the most magnificent character development an anime series could ever pull off. The viewer gets to see a complex digging into the character of Kyon. The viewer gets to see his nature, his thoughts, and his emotions. It was like reading a book. Kyon undergoes a significant change in the movie, learning about the importance of appreciation. Yuki also gets a lot of screen time, letting viewers see more of her personality (apparently she was a static supporting character in the anime series... Along with all the other characters). Supporting cast did a good job on their part, never stealing the scene from Kyon. Characters were all natural, not succumbing to the typical, cliché personalities. Unfortunately, due to my lack of familiarity with the characters (since I never saw the anime franchise), I couldn’t fully feel the emotional attachment of the characters, which is why I didn’t give it a 10.
Sound: 10
Best soundtrack from anime. This is not an overstatement, it really left me speechless. To be honest, the soundtrack was probably the star of the movie (even though the character development was superb). It simply stood out. I could not get enough of it. The orchestration of the scores was breathtakingly beautiful, blending into the background and setting the mood of scenes. Erik Satie’s notable piano composition, Gymnopédies, was also added to the soundtrack – a really good bonus. In case you're not familiar was Satie, he was a French composer during the 20th century eminent for his ambient music. Voice acting in the sub was exceptional and convincing.
Enjoyment: 9
It could have been a 10, but I did not have enough emotional connection to the characters, so I did not have the full impact. Otherwise, everything else in the movie was enjoyable.
Final Thoughts:
I have never watched the anime series – the movie was the first from the Suzumiya Haruhi franchise that I have seen, but I have to say, this is a top-tier anime. It's a must watch!
Even those uninterested in the slice of life genre, Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu proved that not all anime shows need action scenes or fan service to be considered a “good” anime. It had plot. It had one of the best character developments I’ve seen. The soundtrack was stunningly sublime. There were many 5 star scenes that left me shock. Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu is one of the best in the high school/slice of life genre. Check it out!
