The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya

Review Date: 2011 December 01 15:21

Reviewed by: Azure

Released by: Manga Entertainment UK

Age Rating: 15

Region: 2 - UK

Volume 2 of 2

Length: 69 minutes

Subtitles: English

Audio: English 2.0 Stereo
Japanese 2.0 Stereo

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Summary

The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya collection features two sets of comedy shorts featuring characters from the Haruhi series. The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya follows the further super deformed adventures of the SOS Dan, as well as Nyoron! Churuya-san which follows sub character Churuya and her quest for smoked cheese.

Review

The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya collection features two sets of comedy shorts featuring characters from the Haruhi series. The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya follows the further super deformed adventures of the SOS Dan, as well as  Nyoron! Churuya-san which follows sub character Tsuruya and her quest for smoked cheese.

First off it's important to stress both of these series are spin-off shorts that don't relate to the main Haruhi plot at all ( rather like Oh! My Goddess spin off adventures of the Mini Goddesses) , basic knowledge of the series is needed to get all the jokes but non fans will probably be able to watch without too much of a disadvantage. Haruhi-chan largely features a super deformed style, each of the characters are exaggerated versions of themselves. The episodes are really just extended skits built around simple concepts for example Haruhi designing a new outfit for Mikuru, or organising a Christmas party. There are some funny gags in there such as Haruhi using her powers to stop other people drawing better than her, or an analysis of Haruhi's train of thought, but I couldn't imagine watching this more than once and despite coming as a collection the episodes are probably better viewed one or two at a time.

Nyoron! Churuya-san is even weirder based on a four panel fan comic, it uses a doodle like art style and focuses on surreal bland of humor; there are some good sight gags but mostly it doesn't feel like it translates all that well. I flipped a few times between dub and dub, and while it sounds like the voice cast is having a good time it did start to drag before the end.

Overall this collection is pretty underwhelming, there's the odd funny gag but overall both series favor surrealism over any concrete humor or characterization. . The first part of both series was included with Season 2 of Haruhi ( possibly to try to take some of the sting out of the endless 8) and makes a nice extra, as a stand alone it doesn't really add anything, a stocking filler but not a main gift.

Rating: 6/10

Links

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