HaruSuzu Episode 1: Mikuru Asahina's Adventure Episode 00

Episodes

Characters

• More...

Resources

• Official Site
• YouTube Videos
• More...

Other Stuff

For feedback, please contact me on Wordpress.

News Feed

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (HaruSuzu) starts out with the worst opening imaginable. It tries to be so bad it's good, and mostly succeeds. Turns out, this is not the opening to the series, but rather the opening to an anime made by the main actors of HaruSuzu; the whole first episode of HaruSuzu is an anime within an anime. It also introduces several of the actors of the series who happen to be playing in this anime, with the sole exception of the series' namesake herself, Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi is the director and does not appear in her anime. I'm saying this upfront because I almost dismissed this series because of a wrong first impression.

The anime's anime storyline is as simple and predictable as it is silly and enjoyable. Mikuru is a "combat waitress" who descended to earth to protect Itsuki, a random person with yet-to-be-determined superpowers. The villain is Yuki, also of unknown origin, who tries to dominate Itsuki to utilize his powers. But that's about as much as one needs to know.

What's more interesting, well, amusing, is how the invisible director, Haruhi, puts her actors into the picture. Most of the action focusses on Mikuru, who Haruhi chose for her cuteness. Consequently, we see a lot of shots with her. At one time, Haruhi has Mikuru run four times through the picture, with the camera zooming on on her swinging boobs. Looks like Haruhi is angling for some fans... No panty shots though, fortunately. Another series this season is fully covering for that.

Please support this fansite by clicking on ads that interest you.

At various times, Yuki and Mikuru face off, usually in the most silly way possible. Mikuru makes funny moves as known from old and mostly bad anime, while Yuki shows no visible signs of emotions at all. Yuki generally just uses her wand to fire some energy bolts. At one one time, a cat on her shoulder starts talking, suggesting that there is more mystery to this series than it just being a fun anime.

And another fight...

And yet another fight. Here, some classmates help out with the acting, barely being able to control their laughter. They are zombies and throw Mikuru into the water. (I think this was not intended by the script but probably in the back of the mind of its director.)

Somehow Itsuki saves Mikuru and takes her home, and a love relationship develops. Yuki doesn't like what she sees, and tries to convince Itsuki to let go of Mikuru, to no avail.

In a visually rather comedic performance, Itsuki explains something to Yuki, and Yuki explains something to Itsuki in return. What that something is, I leave up to you to decide. It really doesn't matter, because it is incomprehensible, like much of the ending you find in anime movies or final episodes. I've always found that rather hilarious. When the background music gets softer, the heroes' and heroine's fights are getting more desparate, and air time is running out, you know the voice from the off is about to take you on a ride of random philosophy babble.

In a final battle Yuki and Mikuru meet once more, until the school director stops them from disturbing peace at the shooting location at the school, and ushers them back to class.

Of course all's well that ends well and Mikuru gets Itsuki to protect his still unknown superpowers. It all ends with a shot panning up to the sky, what else.

Uah... back to toplevel reality in this anime. We are at a Japanese school, and the anime we just saw is the production of the SOS Brigade, a club at the school. In fact, we just witnessed the anime's first screening after production finished.

Kyon, who provided the voice from the off in the anime, is embarassed about the anime and outspoken about it, Yuki as usual is showing no reaction whatsoever, and Mikuru is just looking down. Haruhi, however, is happy, and feels their work will give their club a big boost and win them a prize at an upcoming festival.

Hooray for Haruhi!

Comment on wordpress or proceed to the next episode.