Personnally I found myself very dissapointed. I started watching the series back mabey a year or so ago and at first, I thought is was good. So I bought the dvds and watch it again. Wow, I was wrong.
Story: Ok, what? Call me stupid but I really did not get the gist of it all until the second time around. I got the aliens, and the espers and all that, but on that sixth episode, they sorta lost me. I would have to say, too much talking. They talked so much and all told Kyon the same thing pretty much, blah blah blah. And even after all that talking, there really was no point! They were there to observe her, yes I get it, just say it once.
Haruhi is hardly even part of anything. If anything, she just starts some plot every episode, yuki explains it and everything gets fixed. The filler episodes are more interesting than the first six!!
And people told me that this anime wasn't like all the rest.
I will agree that The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is different from al the rest, and better than your average anime however, it's no big deal.
Characters:
Can you say Mary-sue?!I can.
Haruhi: the only worth while character to pay attention, and she hardly does anything except yell and kick kyon around.
Kyon: the only character that devolops at all. I'm serious.
Yuki: Mary-sue no.1. Can do anything, again, I'm serious. She's the cute megane character, who is an alien.Nothing phases her, and she can use 'alien magic' to change the weather, create planes, get home runs, ect.
Mikuru: Mary-sue no.2. large-breasted, maid-uniformed, squealing time traveler with pony tails and a happy-to-oblige attatuide. Jeez, these guys used all their imagination on this one. Did I meantion her bust?!
Itsuki: This guy is actually slightly original! Thumbs up! Itsuki is more of a catalyst character than anything (I think they're all supposed to be catalyst characters) but what he says, actually seems to matter. His personality seems quite passive, so he can fall into the background, espcially since he's a guy (and this anime is full with wide-eyed girls in short skirts) which is reather dissapointing.
Sound:
Good lord do I hate the voice actors for this anime. Haruhi borke my ears drums while Yuki was just TOO flat. Mikurus voice actor suited her perfectly,unfortunatly enough. I have to say, it leaves alot to be desired.
The opening song is ok, but nothing amazing, while the ending will almost only be famous for it's dnace. Did you know there are version of ALL THE GIRLS from the anime singing this? Even the ones you hardly know are there? Even kyons litter sister?! My my, isn't someone squeezing the franchiese for all it's worth?
The only good song you hear is God Knows. That's all I have to say about that.
Art:
I'm not sure if everyone knows this or not but the art (for the manga) was done by a hentai artist, and carried over into the anime in his style. This explains why they're all large eyed with tiny waists and hands in short skirts and maid uniforms. He also did the art for Shakugan no Shana but atleast in Shana, there are MALES.
Animation, is ok. Not bad I suppose.
Enjoyment:
Well, I will put this simply. I liked it now and then, and sometimes I would doze off. Monologs every episode are not ok.
Overall:
I can imagine that the original novels are much better but the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya leaves me in melancholy myself. I wouldn't heavily recomend this series, but it's good for perhapes, one watch. I personnally do not find it very amazingly interesting, and there are alot of people who agree, and plenty who dissagree. Either way, Haruhi dosn't quite get my vote.
