017 This is THE BEST light novel based anime-movie . I read the novels and I loved them . I was actually suprised by the quality of the movie because IMO it is better than the novel ( it's usually the opposite which the novel renders supreme compared to the movie . ) The novel was very well written but it lacked two important elements which are visual and sound . The movie matched up to the novel plot wise because it closely followed the novel ( I'd say 95% ) and passed the novel by providing sound and visual . The characters ' facial expressions are the cherry on top , namely Nagato's . The movie , however , is on the slower side . It is more like a French movie in terms of rendering every finest detail than a U.S . movie in terms of fast paced with the sacrifice of details . I have watched it three times now , and it has never failed to impressed me in terms of details , both graphic and story . But in order to fully appreciate the story , you HAVE to either read the previous novels or watch at least the first season of the TV version , because much of the story plots are inter-connected since the time line is all twisted . This is one of the reasons I love this anime ( novel ) series . And it is also one of the drawback , since you cannot completely understand what the movie is about by just watching it alone .
I'd put this movie above Summer War , and Sky Crawlers but below Kara no Kyokai because it lacks the final touch of depth . But keep in mind that it was never meant to have any mind boggling ideas ( more of a school / romantic comedy ) , so it excelled in every way the author intended to .
At the end I highly recommend this anime-movie . I also recommend to watch it more than once , because like any great film production you'll see much more details .
032 Let me start this review by stating that I am a loyal fan of the Haruhi Suzumiya series . My first review on Amazon was one of the novels , and I have purchased all the episodes on DVD the day they were released ( despite the horror that was the Endless Eight ) . I say this not to start a contest of Who is the biggest fan but to let you know where I am coming from .
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya will be familiar to all fans of the original novels which the anime series is based on . For those who are wondering if it is a faithful adaptation , I would certainly give my nod of approval . I dare say it's better than the book . Now , for those who are wondering if this is a good place for a newcomer to come into the series , I would respond with Certainly not . Little to no character introduction is given , and I think people new to the series would be extremely confused . The Haruhi Suzumiya series is well known for being more than slightly confusing and the film keeps up that tradition with multiple timelines running throughout and references to individual episodes of the series . If you want to watch the film , I HIGHLY advise watching both series one and two first . Not only would you be confused plot wise , you would also be confused at the tone of the series .
This film is , frankly , rather depressing . As a movie that is based on a series called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya you would think that would be a given , only the series never came off as melancholy at all . The series was fun and funny throughout ( Endless Eight being ignored for the entirety of this review ) and while there may be an occasional moment where an episode would turn somber , it would generally not last long .
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya starts out as the series generally does , but once the plot kicks into gear about twenty minutes in , the viewer is left with a sense of loss , much like Kyon feels throughout . Unlike the series , this feeling will stay with you , because the film is LONG . At 167 minutes ( 2 hours and 47 minutes or roughly the equivalent of 7 episodes ) it provides a thoughtful narrative , and much like Kyon in the film , it wanders around trying to decide what to do next . The use of Satie's Gymnop die No . 1 gives even the music a melancholy feel . For a series which is known for it's likeable and very active and charismatic characters , there is a very somber tone to the entire film .
Now , let it be known that despite my comments , I do like this movie . No , like is not strong enough of a word . I love this movie . It takes the characters and presents an interesting what if situation , and does it in a thoughtful way . There's a certain dignity in how the characters are portrayed . The drama is not sacrificed for cheap laughs , as that would only lessen the struggle Kyon and the others go to . This is an important chapter in the series , and not only does it tell a good story , it deepens the characters and makes them more three dimensional .
Now , about the disk itself . The Blu-Ray is gorgeous . One of the best animated films I've seen on the format in terms of looks . It's just . . . pretty .
The set also contains another DVD which is the standard definition version film and a special features disk which contains the usual trailers and a few interesting Q & A sessions with the cast .
I would highly suggest any fan of the series pick up the movie , and for those of you who are interested but not fans of the original anime . . . check out the first two series and see for yourself if it's something you would be interested in .
001 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
The disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is based on the light novel by Nagaru Tanigawa . * note , I have seen it , and will try not release spoilers on this post * This is a continuation of the Haruhi series . Clocking in at almost 3 hours long , it is one of the longest anime movies Ive seen . This takes place around the middle of December where Haruhi is planning a Christmas party for the SOS Brigade .
About a day later ( end of the prologue ) Kyon wakes up and finds out that everyone except him , has forgotten Haruhi even existed . It is a world where Haruhi never existed . He has no idea what caused it , or what he's suppose to do to fix everything . Yuki , who in this is a scared timid girl , who smiles when happy , and even cries . A certain character makes a return appearance . A person other than Haruhi also goes missing . And everyone thinks Kyon is crazy when he lashes out about Haruhi .
It is truly an excellent film , and was HIGHLY rated among anime communities . Note that to understand alot of this movie you have to have seen seasons one and two , lest you be lost in the multiple references to earlier episodes . Personally I bought the movie with English subs , and watch it multiple times . I cant wait for this release ( disregard this statement after its release ) .
This movie keeps your attention throughout the whole thing , and when you think its over , your only half-way through , with a very satisfying end . This movie delivers exactly what Haruhiists have been hoping for since its announcement .
002 The disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is based on the light novel by Nagaru Tanigawa . * note , I have seen it , and will try not release spoilers on this post * This is a continuation of the Haruhi series . Clocking in at almost 3 hours long , it is one of the longest anime movies Ive seen . This takes place around the middle of December where Haruhi is planning a Christmas party for the SOS Brigade .
About a day later ( end of the prologue ) Kyon wakes up and finds out that everyone except him , has forgotten Haruhi even existed . It is a world where Haruhi never existed . He has no idea what caused it , or what he's suppose to do to fix everything . Yuki , who in this is a scared timid girl , who smiles when happy , and even cries . A certain character makes a return appearance . A person other than Haruhi also goes missing . And everyone thinks Kyon is crazy when he lashes out about Haruhi .
It is truly an excellent film , and was HIGHLY rated among anime communities . Note that to understand alot of this movie you have to have seen seasons one and two , lest you be lost in the multiple references to earlier episodes . Personally I bought the movie with English subs , and watch it multiple times . I cant wait for this release ( disregard this statement after its release ) .
This movie keeps your attention throughout the whole thing , and when you think its over , your only half-way through , with a very satisfying end . This movie delivers exactly what Haruhiists have been hoping for since its announcement .
021 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
For those of you who loved the first season , but were disappointed with the second & are asking yourself is it worth it to buy this movie ? The answer is a definate YES . When I was looking for new anime a couple of years ago , The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya was one the a lot of people really seemed to like . After checking out a few episodes on-line ( Okay maybe 3 / 4 of the series ) I decided to buy the first season from Amazon & it turned out to be one of my favourites . Then came season 2 , which got so repetitive that after awhile it got REALLY boring . It actually turned a lot of people off & I even read in some of these reviews that people have skipped the second season altogether . One question that I read on a lot of messageboards is whether or not you need to watch season 2 before watching this movie , I would say for the most part , No . The only episode you probably should watch is the first episode of the second season Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody . Something that happens in the first episode is quite a major plot point in the movie so without seeing that episode I think most people would be kind of lost . Also something from one of the later episodes in season 2 ( concerning Kyon's cat ) creeps into the movie , but I really don't think if you miss the episode it will really make a difference . The whole look of the movie & the animation is A-One . The movie is over 2 hrs & 40 minutes long so you are definately getting your money's worth . So if you are a fan of Haruhi Suzumiya & you have't bought this DVD or Blu-Ray already , for Heaven's Sake , Please Do . You won't be disappointed .
022 For those of you who loved the first season , but were disappointed with the second & are asking yourself is it worth it to buy this movie ? The answer is a definate YES . When I was looking for new anime a couple of years ago , The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya was one the a lot of people really seemed to like . After checking out a few episodes on-line ( Okay maybe 3 / 4 of the series ) I decided to buy the first season from Amazon & it turned out to be one of my favourites . Then came season 2 , which got so repetitive that after awhile it got REALLY boring . It actually turned a lot of people off & I even read in some of these reviews that people have skipped the second season altogether . One question that I read on a lot of messageboards is whether or not you need to watch season 2 before watching this movie , I would say for the most part , No . The only episode you probably should watch is the first episode of the second season Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody . Something that happens in the first episode is quite a major plot point in the movie so without seeing that episode I think most people would be kind of lost . Also something from one of the later episodes in season 2 ( concerning Kyon's cat ) creeps into the movie , but I really don't think if you miss the episode it will really make a difference . The whole look of the movie & the animation is A-One . The movie is over 2 hrs & 40 minutes long so you are definately getting your money's worth . So if you are a fan of Haruhi Suzumiya & you have't bought this DVD or Blu-Ray already , for Heaven's Sake , Please Do . You won't be disappointed .
051 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Let me start off by saying I absolutely love the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya series . It is up there in the list of my favorite anime . I must also say I quite enjoyed the movie the Dissapearance of Haruhi Suzumiya when I first saw it about a year ago . So why only three stars you may ask ? I'll get to that by the end of my review . Any fan of Haruhi knows that her personality is always changing and you just have to take the good , the bad , and the ugly with it and I'll break down my review in the same manner .
The good
Haruhi definitely has her good moments and so does this package . The visuals are stunning on blu ray as you can better appreciate the greater attention to detail the artists took advantage of given a bigger budget and more time to focus their drawing for a movie format versus an anime episode by episode deadline . It's sound counterpart also is no slouch as your ears are taken for a ride with a beautiful soundtrack and the great voice acting we are used to by now done by Aya Hirano and company . The story is fantastic and can probably be enjoyed by anyone even if you haven't seen the series before although I would HIGHLY reccommend that you do at some point if you haven't already .
The bad
Most people just want to have a blu ray version of the movie that they can gawk whenever they want and for them there isn't much to complain about . However if your the kind of person like me who rarely buys movies in the advent of the Netflix age and only does for must have movies or to take advantage of the extra features then you will be disappointed . There is a disc specifically for extra features but its not filled with anything you would actually care about spending time to watch . Perhaps I'm spoiled by the fact that most blu ray packages come with a digital copy to play on your iPod or iPad but for me I find it just lazy not to include it nowadays .
The ugly
The reason why I am giving three stars isn't so much because of a lack of special features or digital copy but more of a question of value . $30 is a lot of money to pay for a blu ray especially when you aren't getting a digital copy . Now as a Haruhi fan even if they put the price at $100 I still would most likely pay for it so it becomes more of a question about value . Let's compare that to an entire first season I was able to buy on DVD a year and a half ago for $50 which is probably more than you could scour the Internet for now . Is a two and a half hour movie monetarily worth more than half of an entire first season even if it is on blu ray ? The question is compounded even more when you take into account it's no secret that you can pretty much watch any anime you want for free without having to look too hard .
Conclusion
All complaints aside I have no regrets buying this movie regardless of value but I am in the camp that absolutely loves Haruhi . If your in this camp then you will probably feel the same way . If your just a passing fan then you will have to ask yourself if having just the movie for $30 is really worth it .
052 Let me start off by saying I absolutely love the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya series . It is up there in the list of my favorite anime . I must also say I quite enjoyed the movie the Dissapearance of Haruhi Suzumiya when I first saw it about a year ago . So why only three stars you may ask ? I'll get to that by the end of my review . Any fan of Haruhi knows that her personality is always changing and you just have to take the good , the bad , and the ugly with it and I'll break down my review in the same manner .
The good
Haruhi definitely has her good moments and so does this package . The visuals are stunning on blu ray as you can better appreciate the greater attention to detail the artists took advantage of given a bigger budget and more time to focus their drawing for a movie format versus an anime episode by episode deadline . It's sound counterpart also is no slouch as your ears are taken for a ride with a beautiful soundtrack and the great voice acting we are used to by now done by Aya Hirano and company . The story is fantastic and can probably be enjoyed by anyone even if you haven't seen the series before although I would HIGHLY reccommend that you do at some point if you haven't already .
The bad
Most people just want to have a blu ray version of the movie that they can gawk whenever they want and for them there isn't much to complain about . However if your the kind of person like me who rarely buys movies in the advent of the Netflix age and only does for must have movies or to take advantage of the extra features then you will be disappointed . There is a disc specifically for extra features but its not filled with anything you would actually care about spending time to watch . Perhaps I'm spoiled by the fact that most blu ray packages come with a digital copy to play on your iPod or iPad but for me I find it just lazy not to include it nowadays .
The ugly
The reason why I am giving three stars isn't so much because of a lack of special features or digital copy but more of a question of value . $30 is a lot of money to pay for a blu ray especially when you aren't getting a digital copy . Now as a Haruhi fan even if they put the price at $100 I still would most likely pay for it so it becomes more of a question about value . Let's compare that to an entire first season I was able to buy on DVD a year and a half ago for $50 which is probably more than you could scour the Internet for now . Is a two and a half hour movie monetarily worth more than half of an entire first season even if it is on blu ray ? The question is compounded even more when you take into account it's no secret that you can pretty much watch any anime you want for free without having to look too hard .
Conclusion
All complaints aside I have no regrets buying this movie regardless of value but I am in the camp that absolutely loves Haruhi . If your in this camp then you will probably feel the same way . If your just a passing fan then you will have to ask yourself if having just the movie for $30 is really worth it .
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
For anyone who enjoyed the fun adventures of the SOS Brigade , mostly at the cost of Kyons well being , from a few years back let me just say that the wait was worth it . The ENTIRE original cast returns to reprise thier rolls for the 2 + hr epic tail of what would happen if the world were flipped on Kyons head as Haruhi has unexplainably gone missing and no one except Kyon remembers anything about her , or so it seems . This story revolves entirly around Kyons hardship to discover what happend to Haruhi and rather or not to return to his crazy exciting life stay in this new regular life without her . The brilliant story line and intelligent twists had my jaw dropped and had me shaking my head in embarrasment on Kyons behalf . Of course after watching this movie I cant wait for the next installment of the Haruhi Suzumiya .
In addition to english and japanese audio you get hours of location scouting , studio work , and promos . Ive got to tell you to see some scenes from the movie in real life is really cool .
025 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
For anyone who enjoyed the fun adventures of the SOS Brigade , mostly at the cost of Kyons well being , from a few years back let me just say that the wait was worth it . The ENTIRE original cast returns to reprise thier rolls for the 2 + hr epic tail of what would happen if the world were flipped on Kyons head as Haruhi has unexplainably gone missing and no one except Kyon remembers anything about her , or so it seems . This story revolves entirly around Kyons hardship to discover what happend to Haruhi and rather or not to return to his crazy exciting life stay in this new regular life without her . The brilliant story line and intelligent twists had my jaw dropped and had me shaking my head in embarrasment on Kyons behalf . Of course after watching this movie I cant wait for the next installment of the Haruhi Suzumiya .
In addition to english and japanese audio you get hours of location scouting , studio work , and promos . Ive got to tell you to see some scenes from the movie in real life is really cool .
026 For anyone who enjoyed the fun adventures of the SOS Brigade , mostly at the cost of Kyons well being , from a few years back let me just say that the wait was worth it . The ENTIRE original cast returns to reprise thier rolls for the 2 + hr epic tail of what would happen if the world were flipped on Kyons head as Haruhi has unexplainably gone missing and no one except Kyon remembers anything about her , or so it seems . This story revolves entirly around Kyons hardship to discover what happend to Haruhi and rather or not to return to his crazy exciting life stay in this new regular life without her . The brilliant story line and intelligent twists had my jaw dropped and had me shaking my head in embarrasment on Kyons behalf . Of course after watching this movie I cant wait for the next installment of the Haruhi Suzumiya .
In addition to english and japanese audio you get hours of location scouting , studio work , and promos . Ive got to tell you to see some scenes from the movie in real life is really cool .
041 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
well , i prorder this anime but it took a while to get it soo i was really mad at amazon , so i learn my lesson to not preorder anything from amazon ! ! ! , but on top of all that this movie is MAGNIFICENT ! ! ! , HEARTWARMING ! ! ! , AND FOR EVERY brigade member should get this on blu-ray !
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I realize that there are many other Amazon reviews for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya , so I'll be brief :
THE FILM :
I enjoyed watching this high-end production of one of the most interesting story arcs in the Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series . The movie is slow-moving at first , but it really picks up half-way through . The animation , story adaptation , music , and character development are top-notch , and Kyoto Animation obviously put a lot of effort into the making of this film . It seems that this was their love letter to the fans of the Haruhi Suzumiya series ( and , perhaps it can be seen as an apology note for making many people frustrated over the infamous Endless Eight episodes ) . However , if you're a newcomer to the series , it would be best to watch the TV series beforehand ( or read the manga or light novels , if you prefer ) . Unfortunately , this film isn't very accessible to newcomers , and it's almost required that you recall and understand certain events from the series in order to fully enjoy the story . If you're new to the series or if you're a fan who needs a little refresher on the plot , the most important episodes to look over are The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ( Parts 1 through 6 ) and Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody . Although a bit slow paced and lacking accessibility to new fans , I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film . { Film Rating : 4.5 out of 5 }
Bandai's DVD / Blu-Ray Combo Pack Release :
As for Bandai's release , the voice-acting for the English dub is excellent , and once again , Crispin Freeman's performance as the brooding protagonist , Kyon , steals the spotlight . The picture quality of the Blu-Ray looks great on a big High-Definition Television . There's a fair amount of extras included on an extra DVD disc , although I wish they also included the extras together on the Blu-Ray disc . The packaging feels a bit bare-boned - - - for one of Bandai's most highly anticipated releases of the year , I wish they put a bit more effort into making the packaging feel a bit more special and attractive . Overall , this is another high-quality release by Bandai , but I wish they put more effort into the packaging to showcase this special movie . { Bandai's Release Rating : 4 out of 5 }
BOTTOM LINE :
If you're a fan of the series , save up your pennies and buy this . If you're a newcomer who's interested in getting into the series , go and watch the TV series first . You'll certainly not be disappointed about this purchase .
003 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I realize that there are many other Amazon reviews for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya , so I'll be brief :
THE FILM :
I enjoyed watching this high-end production of one of the most interesting story arcs in the Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series . The movie is slow-moving at first , but it really picks up half-way through . The animation , story adaptation , music , and character development are top-notch , and Kyoto Animation obviously put a lot of effort into the making of this film . It seems that this was their love letter to the fans of the Haruhi Suzumiya series ( and , perhaps it can be seen as an apology note for making many people frustrated over the infamous Endless Eight episodes ) . However , if you're a newcomer to the series , it would be best to watch the TV series beforehand ( or read the manga or light novels , if you prefer ) . Unfortunately , this film isn't very accessible to newcomers , and it's almost required that you recall and understand certain events from the series in order to fully enjoy the story . If you're new to the series or if you're a fan who needs a little refresher on the plot , the most important episodes to look over are The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ( Parts 1 through 6 ) and Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody . Although a bit slow paced and lacking accessibility to new fans , I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film . { Film Rating : 4.5 out of 5 }
Bandai's DVD / Blu-Ray Combo Pack Release :
As for Bandai's release , the voice-acting for the English dub is excellent , and once again , Crispin Freeman's performance as the brooding protagonist , Kyon , steals the spotlight . The picture quality of the Blu-Ray looks great on a big High-Definition Television . There's a fair amount of extras included on an extra DVD disc , although I wish they also included the extras together on the Blu-Ray disc . The packaging feels a bit bare-boned - - - for one of Bandai's most highly anticipated releases of the year , I wish they put a bit more effort into making the packaging feel a bit more special and attractive . Overall , this is another high-quality release by Bandai , but I wish they put more effort into the packaging to showcase this special movie . { Bandai's Release Rating : 4 out of 5 }
BOTTOM LINE :
If you're a fan of the series , save up your pennies and buy this . If you're a newcomer who's interested in getting into the series , go and watch the TV series first . You'll certainly not be disappointed about this purchase .
004 I realize that there are many other Amazon reviews for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya , so I'll be brief :
THE FILM :
I enjoyed watching this high-end production of one of the most interesting story arcs in the Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series . The movie is slow-moving at first , but it really picks up half-way through . The animation , story adaptation , music , and character development are top-notch , and Kyoto Animation obviously put a lot of effort into the making of this film . It seems that this was their love letter to the fans of the Haruhi Suzumiya series ( and , perhaps it can be seen as an apology note for making many people frustrated over the infamous Endless Eight episodes ) . However , if you're a newcomer to the series , it would be best to watch the TV series beforehand ( or read the manga or light novels , if you prefer ) . Unfortunately , this film isn't very accessible to newcomers , and it's almost required that you recall and understand certain events from the series in order to fully enjoy the story . If you're new to the series or if you're a fan who needs a little refresher on the plot , the most important episodes to look over are The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ( Parts 1 through 6 ) and Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody . Although a bit slow paced and lacking accessibility to new fans , I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film . { Film Rating : 4.5 out of 5 }
Bandai's DVD / Blu-Ray Combo Pack Release :
As for Bandai's release , the voice-acting for the English dub is excellent , and once again , Crispin Freeman's performance as the brooding protagonist , Kyon , steals the spotlight . The picture quality of the Blu-Ray looks great on a big High-Definition Television . There's a fair amount of extras included on an extra DVD disc , although I wish they also included the extras together on the Blu-Ray disc . The packaging feels a bit bare-boned - - - for one of Bandai's most highly anticipated releases of the year , I wish they put a bit more effort into making the packaging feel a bit more special and attractive . Overall , this is another high-quality release by Bandai , but I wish they put more effort into the packaging to showcase this special movie . { Bandai's Release Rating : 4 out of 5 }
BOTTOM LINE :
If you're a fan of the series , save up your pennies and buy this . If you're a newcomer who's interested in getting into the series , go and watch the TV series first . You'll certainly not be disappointed about this purchase .
005 Kyon wakes up one day to find his whole world has changed . None of his friends recognize him , not even the unflappable NAGATO Yuki . What's more , Haruhi is no where to be found . So starts a clever twisting , turning story in the Haruhi Suzumiya universe . And it is one of the best . If you are a fan of the original television series , this show is an absolute must . But even if you aren't , or have never seen anything Haruhi related , this film can stand alone and is a joy to watch . The art is crisp , the story-telling is compelling , the drama - with all the twists and loopholes - is engrossing , and you get the chance to see Yuki with a more rounded personality ! Sadly , to say much more about the story would give too much away . Suffice to say , Nagaru Tanigawa somehow keeps his overlapping stories straight , no matter how many times Kyon time travels .
Among the stories that Nagaru Tanigawa has penned in the Haruhi series , this is among the very best . On top of that , the production quality of the film is top-shelf . If you own a Haruhi anime , this should be it . If you are an anime collector , this should be in your collection . I would say more , but I am usually critical and this time have nothing to be critical about .
006 Other reviewers can tell you the plot summary , I'm just going to be straight forward in my review . No fanboy bias . No trolling . Just a straight up buy it or not .
For fans of the series , this is a no-brainer : Buy this movie !
If you thought Season 2 and the Endless Eight were a mess , and you're wondering if this is redemption for that , let me tell you . . . IT IS ! ! This film is leagues above and beyond both the first and second season . This movie was not made to profit from a cheap buck , not fluffy or superficial in any way . One can tell the animators and writers put their all into it . All you get here is a meaty story .
For newcomers looking to see what the hype is about , you may certainly want to invest in season 1 and 2 of the series since the movie has references to past events . It might be stretching it to say that it can be seen as a stand alone film . So I recommend getting up to speed to take in the full effect of this marvelous film .
The art and animation are both gorgeous on bluray 1080p , and the audio is high quality whether you watch it in Japanese or English . The story and plot both run deep and keep you thinking straight through the night ! ( I couldn't sleep for a while ) .
All in all , fan of anime or not , this movie really does break ground and surpasses Japanese animation theatrical releases .
BUY IT .
007 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
So , i must say for being an anime movie , not only is it long , but its amazing ! ! ! Your typical anime movie barely breaks being an hour and a half long , this pushes almost three hours ! ! ! Also most anime movies are either meh , ok , or pretty good , this one however was simply fantastic ! ! ! They did so well on it and the plot was amazing , i do however reccomend watching the series before watching this movie though , so you can understand why having all of what goes on in the movie is so big and important . This is probably the best animated movie i have ever seen , and easily one of the best movies ive seen of all time . Highly reccommend to anyone looking for a high quality movie to watch ! ! ! !
009 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This is a wonderful movie . The artwork and graphics are top-notch , the voice acting is extremely well done , and the plot and characters are compelling . While it is somewhat long and slow-paced , I can't complain , when this might very well be the last time we see these characters for a long time . ( In film , not in print , of course . )
Many others have discussed the plot in detail , so I'll just briefly say that it forces Kyon to finally act rather than allow events to occur around him . ( And , consequently , hopefully you enjoy either hearing Sugita or Crispin Freeman's voice a lot . I know I do . )
The only hitch , is that while this is one of the best , family-friendly anime movies that I have seen , it is nearly inaccessible to new viewers . Watching this , I considered the reaction if presenting this to a new viewer to the series , and while there is a very basic introduction to the characters , it is unfortunately insufficient to provide maximum entertainment . But the counter to this is that because of the lack of introductions , that makes it equally preferable to existing viewers . ( As there definitely would be more of in Japan ! )
010 This is a wonderful movie . The artwork and graphics are top-notch , the voice acting is extremely well done , and the plot and characters are compelling . While it is somewhat long and slow-paced , I can't complain , when this might very well be the last time we see these characters for a long time . ( In film , not in print , of course . )
Many others have discussed the plot in detail , so I'll just briefly say that it forces Kyon to finally act rather than allow events to occur around him . ( And , consequently , hopefully you enjoy either hearing Sugita or Crispin Freeman's voice a lot . I know I do . )
The only hitch , is that while this is one of the best , family-friendly anime movies that I have seen , it is nearly inaccessible to new viewers . Watching this , I considered the reaction if presenting this to a new viewer to the series , and while there is a very basic introduction to the characters , it is unfortunately insufficient to provide maximum entertainment . But the counter to this is that because of the lack of introductions , that makes it equally preferable to existing viewers . ( As there definitely would be more of in Japan ! )
011 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
I was really blown away by the animators ' work on this one . I can see some definite influences from KyoAn's work with Clannad : a lot more realism and subtleties than the original series used ; they really worked their you-know-what's off on the details , so three cheers and a big Haruhi-style yahoo ! . Probably the weirdest thing was that some of the characters , Kyon and Koizumi in particular , looked like they'd put on some weight ( could have been the baggy winter clothes ) , while Shamisen looked like he'd lost a few pounds ( Little Sister needs to stock up on more kitty treats ) .
Since I'm a big fan of Nagato , I had to rate this one five stars . Her performance in the alternate dimension just made me want to reach out and give her a big hug . The feature is a little over 2 1 / 2 hours long , so it makes for a full evening . So get your favorite snack and drink handy and plan to stay glued to the couch for this one .
BTW , there's a pleasant little extra after the closing credits , so wait for it .
012 I was really blown away by the animators ' work on this one . I can see some definite influences from KyoAn's work with Clannad : a lot more realism and subtleties than the original series used ; they really worked their you-know-what's off on the details , so three cheers and a big Haruhi-style yahoo ! . Probably the weirdest thing was that some of the characters , Kyon and Koizumi in particular , looked like they'd put on some weight ( could have been the baggy winter clothes ) , while Shamisen looked like he'd lost a few pounds ( Little Sister needs to stock up on more kitty treats ) .
Since I'm a big fan of Nagato , I had to rate this one five stars . Her performance in the alternate dimension just made me want to reach out and give her a big hug . The feature is a little over 2 1 / 2 hours long , so it makes for a full evening . So get your favorite snack and drink handy and plan to stay glued to the couch for this one .
BTW , there's a pleasant little extra after the closing credits , so wait for it .
013 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is an integral part of the Haruhi-engine . If you've read the light novels , fear not , Disappearance lives up to its source material . If you've watched the anime , then Disappearance is required material . If there's anything Disappearance does in regards to the anime however , it redeems the idea of watching the anime in chronological order . To give a little background , season one of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was intentionally broadcasted out of order , presumably because the the Melancholy story arc really represents why people enjoy Haruhi so much . The rest of the episodes lack the same punch of Melancholy and if you were to watch seasons one and two , not in broadcast order , but in an order relative to the timeline of the show , then the anime ends on a pretty lackluster note . Disappearance however takes place after seasons one and two of the anime and it packs a punch that rivals the Melancholy arc . Do you need to watch the anime to understand the movie ? It would certainly help as the movie itself is one big reference to what happens in the anime .
The BD / DVD combo pack delivers though I was expecting some more out of the extras ( for example , the behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disappearance's soundtrack wasn't as long or as in-depth as one would like it to be ) . The Japanese cast is phenomenal and if you're a fan of English cast like I am , then you will not be disappointed at all . Crispin Freeman in particular , returns once again as Kyon and delivers a satisfying performance . This movie is one that must not be missed by Haruhi fans .
014 The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is an integral part of the Haruhi-engine . If you've read the light novels , fear not , Disappearance lives up to its source material . If you've watched the anime , then Disappearance is required material . If there's anything Disappearance does in regards to the anime however , it redeems the idea of watching the anime in chronological order . To give a little background , season one of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was intentionally broadcasted out of order , presumably because the the Melancholy story arc really represents why people enjoy Haruhi so much . The rest of the episodes lack the same punch of Melancholy and if you were to watch seasons one and two , not in broadcast order , but in an order relative to the timeline of the show , then the anime ends on a pretty lackluster note . Disappearance however takes place after seasons one and two of the anime and it packs a punch that rivals the Melancholy arc . Do you need to watch the anime to understand the movie ? It would certainly help as the movie itself is one big reference to what happens in the anime .
The BD / DVD combo pack delivers though I was expecting some more out of the extras ( for example , the behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disappearance's soundtrack wasn't as long or as in-depth as one would like it to be ) . The Japanese cast is phenomenal and if you're a fan of English cast like I am , then you will not be disappointed at all . Crispin Freeman in particular , returns once again as Kyon and delivers a satisfying performance . This movie is one that must not be missed by Haruhi fans .
015 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This movie was 100% worth the price . I have the two previous series , and while not needed , they do help in understanding the background of the characters and some of their motivations . Helpfully , there is a lot of expository dialog woven into the the narrative . Kyon , the main character , switches between internal narration and external talking with other characters . Taking the viewer along in both action , and motivation .
This movie flows ! Throughout the entire 164 mins ( yes it is that long , get comfy ) , I was engaged and focused , either on the characters , the beautiful backgrounds or the plot potentials . The scenery and animation are fantastic . It is gorgeous in 1080p for the blueray version . The plot moves along nicely and ties the characters thoughts and actions together and nothing seems out of place or forced .
The only thing that I thought was out of place in the movie , I didn't like the english speaking voice actress for Haruhi's character . It didn't seem to match the older sounding voice of the two previous series ' . It is a minor point though and certainly nothing that takes away from the movie as a whole .
If you are a fan of the series buy it . It is worth it . If you are not already familiar with the series it may be a little hard to get into , but it is easy to pick up and the plot is one that keeps you guessing . . .
016 This movie was 100% worth the price . I have the two previous series , and while not needed , they do help in understanding the background of the characters and some of their motivations . Helpfully , there is a lot of expository dialog woven into the the narrative . Kyon , the main character , switches between internal narration and external talking with other characters . Taking the viewer along in both action , and motivation .
This movie flows ! Throughout the entire 164 mins ( yes it is that long , get comfy ) , I was engaged and focused , either on the characters , the beautiful backgrounds or the plot potentials . The scenery and animation are fantastic . It is gorgeous in 1080p for the blueray version . The plot moves along nicely and ties the characters thoughts and actions together and nothing seems out of place or forced .
The only thing that I thought was out of place in the movie , I didn't like the english speaking voice actress for Haruhi's character . It didn't seem to match the older sounding voice of the two previous series ' . It is a minor point though and certainly nothing that takes away from the movie as a whole .
If you are a fan of the series buy it . It is worth it . If you are not already familiar with the series it may be a little hard to get into , but it is easy to pick up and the plot is one that keeps you guessing . . .
018 And it was very much worth it . Pure bliss !
Highest Possible recommendation , and a must-havefor any Haruhi fan !
Buy this now !
019 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
Am a fan of the series ( except for the endless 8 ) and this movie was great . If you like the series , you will love this moviel .
020 Am a fan of the series ( except for the endless 8 ) and this movie was great . If you like the series , you will love this moviel .
023 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
Works on some DVD players but not all . Make sure you have a computer that plays DVD's at least . Otherwise it's anime gold .
027 Kyoto Animation is one of my favorites . They are a quality company . I loved Haruhi Season One , but I passed on Season Two - not at the current price .
This movie is long , but if you are a fan of Kyon , you will love it !
I also recommend the ' light ' novel Haruhi series available at Amazon . Easy reads that will get you up to speed on everything that happens in the movie .
Highly recommended .
028 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
If you enjoyed the show , even if you thought season 2 was a load , you should watch this movie . Especially if you feel that season 2 made the show unredeemable . The movie is pretty fantastic .
030 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya : Complete Collection
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Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
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I have watched the entire season of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya , and loved it , loved every minute of it , and now for the second season , after watching this anime i could truly say . that above this anime i haven't seen any . i have over 300 discs of pure anime and only a couple get close to it ; ) that's right only a couple . so if you haven't seen the Melancholy i recommend that you buy it along with this show . ; )
031 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya : Complete Collection
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Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
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I have watched the entire season of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya , and loved it , loved every minute of it , and now for the second season , after watching this anime i could truly say . that above this anime i haven't seen any . i have over 300 discs of pure anime and only a couple get close to it ; ) that's right only a couple . so if you haven't seen the Melancholy i recommend that you buy it along with this show . ; )
033 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I know there's a reviewer who said that the disc ( s ) do not work on some media players , and I guess my blu-ray / dvd player is one of them . ( BTW , it's a Magnavox blu-ray / dvd player , NB500MG1F )
The main menu options does not show up on the television screen . The text words ( such as Play , Chapters , Set-Up , Subtitle , and Trailers ) does not shop up on the bottom-right of the tv screen , and the disc only shows the background containing scenes and music from the movie . I tried to play the movie on the blu-ray disc by just pressing the Enter button or the fast-forward button on the remote control , but it would not start . I actually bought the movie TWICE just to see if the first one was defected , but the second one was having the same problem too . I tried updating my blu-ray / dvd player with the latest software updates , and the disc is still not playing .
I emailed Bandai Entertainment and asked them if anyone was having the same problem , but it's highly unlikely that they will respond back . I was hoping they would replace the blu-ray disc , just like they did with the Haruhi-chan DVDs .
- - - - - - -
Now for the movie . . . it's basically a 2.5 - hour episode that covers the Disappearance light novel . I would call this movie as my It's a Wonderful Life Christmas movie ( if the novel was based off of that ) . It's a great movie to watch if you're a fan of the Haruhi series .
034 I know there's a reviewer who said that the disc ( s ) do not work on some media players , and I guess my blu-ray / dvd player is one of them . ( BTW , it's a Magnavox blu-ray / dvd player , NB500MG1F )
The main menu options does not show up on the television screen . The text words ( such as Play , Chapters , Set-Up , Subtitle , and Trailers ) does not shop up on the bottom-right of the tv screen , and the disc only shows the background containing scenes and music from the movie . I tried to play the movie on the blu-ray disc by just pressing the Enter button or the fast-forward button on the remote control , but it would not start . I actually bought the movie TWICE just to see if the first one was defected , but the second one was having the same problem too . I tried updating my blu-ray / dvd player with the latest software updates , and the disc is still not playing .
I emailed Bandai Entertainment and asked them if anyone was having the same problem , but it's highly unlikely that they will respond back . I was hoping they would replace the blu-ray disc , just like they did with the Haruhi-chan DVDs .
- - - - - - -
Now for the movie . . . it's basically a 2.5 - hour episode that covers the Disappearance light novel . I would call this movie as my It's a Wonderful Life Christmas movie ( if the novel was based off of that ) . It's a great movie to watch if you're a fan of the Haruhi series .
035 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
If you liked the Haruhi Suzumiya series , you'll love this . If you like anime in general , you'll enjoy this . If you're completely new to the series and the genre , you'll probably at least appreciate this .
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya works best as a supplement to early parts of the series . While it can probably be understood and appreciated as a standalone movie , its true strength is in its continuation of the plots and character development set up by the earlier works . This movie builds on its predecessors both as a supplement to them and as a spiritual retelling of the first novel ( though I can't go into the details without entering spoiler territory ) .
Other people and other websites can give you a plot summary , so I won't bother with that . I will tell you that it has stunning visuals , a beautiful soundtrack , and a pretty decent plot with several twists and turns . The animation is good for anime but nowhere near , say , Disney quality . Still , it's not BAD . I've only see the Japanese version , so I can't speak to the dubbing quality ; however , I will say that the Japanese voice actors do an excellent job .
In summary , this is an excellent movie for anyone who has more than a passing interest in anime , and a must-have for anyone who enjoyed The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya .
036 If you liked the Haruhi Suzumiya series , you'll love this . If you like anime in general , you'll enjoy this . If you're completely new to the series and the genre , you'll probably at least appreciate this .
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya works best as a supplement to early parts of the series . While it can probably be understood and appreciated as a standalone movie , its true strength is in its continuation of the plots and character development set up by the earlier works . This movie builds on its predecessors both as a supplement to them and as a spiritual retelling of the first novel ( though I can't go into the details without entering spoiler territory ) .
Other people and other websites can give you a plot summary , so I won't bother with that . I will tell you that it has stunning visuals , a beautiful soundtrack , and a pretty decent plot with several twists and turns . The animation is good for anime but nowhere near , say , Disney quality . Still , it's not BAD . I've only see the Japanese version , so I can't speak to the dubbing quality ; however , I will say that the Japanese voice actors do an excellent job .
In summary , this is an excellent movie for anyone who has more than a passing interest in anime , and a must-have for anyone who enjoyed The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya .
037 The forth book in the Haruhi series is by no means a slacker . It is one of the best literature pieces ever written and although it is one of the shortest novels , it still holds within the top 3 of the saga .
Then there's the movie . Clockin in a about 3 hours and in Full 1080p HD , the movie is one of the best things ever made . The message that the book tried to convey is better explained and , ultimately , the movie turns out much more personal than the book . It is no longer just about Kyon , the main character , wanting to go back to his own world . In the movie he finally realizes , in a much more extense way than in the book , that he is happy . Hell , the epilogue that was so short in the book lasts about 30 minutes , while the prologue lasts 18 . The movie is very well voiced ( In Japanese , haven't heard the translation although I hate Haruhi's new voice actor ) , and very well animated . If you wanted to see what all the craze about Disappearance is , the movie is the way to go .
Don't get me wrong , the book is good . The movie is one of those FEW occasions in which it surpasses the source .
038 The film is at the top most of Kyoto Animation production as other reviews say . The animation along with music and other audio effects are just too perfect .
However , the film is of such a slow tempo represented by the background music that uses Eric Satie a lot .
Moreover , it is one of the long pieces in Haruhi series . I personally did not enjoy the novel like aspect of this long story .
I enjoyed the TV series almost every bit ( of course I understand there is a lot of controversy about Endless Eight ) , but I believe that is mainly due to the pop like atmosphere in the series . You can relax and have fun with the series .
When you encounter a slow tempo beautiful film like the Disappearance on the other hand , you expect something serious out of a story . I could not see anything to learn out of the story however . In the TV series , there sometimes appeared philosophical comments told by Nagato like the incompleteness theorem of Goedel or incommensurability of different theories . I could not find such gimmicks in the Disappearance .
Worse is the time leap that relates the story with the Sasa-no-ha Rhapsody episode .
The episode played a beautiful role in the TV series .
I feel the Disappearance made the unnecessary use of the episode with exaggeration .
Hence , I do not feel the film is high quality sci-fi either .
Then how is the film so excellent ?
Watch it as though you are enjoying French classical music .
Do not seek for life lesson or story with content .
Enjoy the atmosphere , and you will have an excellent piece of experience !
039 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
I ordered this item as a Christmas gift on December 12 , and it hasn't even been shipped yet ! It says its not due to arrive until after Dec 30th and Jan 7th !
040 I ordered this item as a Christmas gift on December 12 , and it hasn't even been shipped yet ! It says its not due to arrive until after Dec 30th and Jan 7th !
043 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
I already read Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi ( Suzumiya Haruhi no shoshitsu ) several times and knew the whole story but it is much better to watch Haruhi , Kyon , Mikuru-chan , Yuki talking , running . As everybody knows there is follow-on of this story in which Kyon and Yuki and Mikuru-chan goes to the morning of December 18th again from the next year to help injured Kyon . I want to watch it ASAP .
044 I already read Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi ( Suzumiya Haruhi no shoshitsu ) several times and knew the whole story but it is much better to watch Haruhi , Kyon , Mikuru-chan , Yuki talking , running . As everybody knows there is follow-on of this story in which Kyon and Yuki and Mikuru-chan goes to the morning of December 18th again from the next year to help injured Kyon . I want to watch it ASAP .
045 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
One of the best movies I have seen in a long time . I had heard good things about the movie , and I enjoyed the TV series , so I had high expectations coming in . The movie exceeded all those expectations . A must see .
Try to watch TV series first , as they are referenced throughout .
047 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I am a fan of the Haruhi Suzumiya anime and absolutely loved this movie . As you may already know this is actually a continuation onto the original story ending after Season 2 . This movie was put together very well and has a very good ending .
049 This review is from :
Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya ( DVD )
The graphics is wonderful . All anime should have great graphics like this DVD . However , I personally find the plot too slow and boring . I don't find time travel too interesting . Kyon is also an annoying character to watch .
050 The graphics is wonderful . All anime should have great graphics like this DVD . However , I personally find the plot too slow and boring . I don't find time travel too interesting . Kyon is also an annoying character to watch .
