Product Details

• Actors: Tomokazu Sugita, Aya Hirano, Minori Chihara, Yuko Goto, Crispin Freeman
• Writers: Fumihiko Shimo, Joe Itou, Katsuhiko Muramoto, Nagaru Tanigawa, Shôji Gatô
• Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Bandai
• DVD Release Date: July 3, 2007
• Run Time: 24 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000PY310C
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,700 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 2" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Kyon, the put-upon narrator of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya asks the title character why she's obsessed with time-travelers, aliens, and espers, she replies indignantly, "What kind of fun does a normal high school student have?" Haruhi's idea of fun doesn't jibe with Kyon's, but that doesn't matter. She's not only nuttier than he imagined, she's infinitely more powerful. Itsuki, the esper, tells Kyon that the existence of the entire universe may depend on Haruhi's whims. When she gets upset, dark gaps open between dimensions, haunted by shinji (ghostly giants) whom Itsuki and other espers must destroy. As the story progresses and more evidence of Haruhi's powers accumulates, Kyon wonders if he's having nightmares or protecting the world from destruction. His uncertainty adds an unsettling note to the off-beat mixture of comedy and fantasy that have made Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya so popular. (Rated 13 and older: cartoon violence, risqué humor) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

Studio: Infinity Resources Inc Release Date: 07/03/2007

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series, but pay close attention to the packaging., August 12, 2007

By 

C. J. Mitchell "itsumademootaku" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 2 (Limited Edition) (DVD)

I saw this show when it first came out as a fansub (recorded off Japanese TV and subtitled for English-speakers). I love the show. It's funny and clever and high-quality on the animation end. It's got a lot of elements aimed at anime fans, but non-otaku will still enjoy it.

When buying this series, though, be careful, and here's why: Bandai has published two editions of the DVDS, origical broadcast order and chronological order. Only certain boxed sets (2, 3 and 4, with specific labels) contain both versions, while some contain only the chronological order ones DVDs.

Personally, I prefer broadcast order. Although watching the episodes without a sense of time line can be confusing, there IS a point to it. The last broadcast episode - chronologically episode 6 - is the climax to the series, the one that explains everything that happens before and after its place in time. What's the excitement of knowing that when you still have half a series to watch? Especially the first time you see it. Also, if you watch it chronologically, the series seems to end abruptly, whereas episode 6 provides some satisfaction as a conclusion. (e.g. "Oooh, I get it now!")

The broadcast-order DVDs are not available in the Japanese market, so in a way us US consumers should feel lucky. This is a must-have series for anime fans, even if you're typically not into the magical girl/ surrealist/ high school-based genre. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is definitely in a league of its own.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mind-boggling sci-fi series disguised as anime teen comedy, August 25, 2007

By 

Brian Camp (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 2 (DVD)

"The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" is an anime series that combines elements of several other psychological/sci-fi anime head trip series of the past decade, such as "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "Serial Experiments Lain," "Boogiepop Phantom," and "X," but couches them all in the formula of a high school romantic comedy. It looks, feels and sounds like a teen comedy (excepting the occasional dimension-warping classroom battle), but the fate of the universe is at stake in practically every scene. And it's up to poor Kyon, an ordinary high school boy, with maybe a little more cynicism than most, to keep it all together. Why him? Because he's the one that Haruhi Suzumiya, his high-achieving, headstrong, easily-bored classmate, latches onto to keep her entertained and help carry out her mad schemes, which usually involve her interest in all things extraterrestrial, supernatural and paranormal. Oh, with a little cosplay thrown in. Kyon initially dismisses her as crazy, but, one by one, the three other kids that get roped in, all with secrets of their own, reveal that there's more to Haruhi than meets the eye.

In this volume, Kyon must contend with a pretty classmate's sudden homicidal bent; a cab ride through Tokyo with Itsuki, the "esper" in the group, who explains the "human principle" to Kyon and the danger of "enclosed spaces"; a night spent in just such a space with Haruhi and the clues he's given to determine the one action that will save the universe in the nick of time; and a baseball tournament in which he must play on a motley team formed by Haruhi, with the implicit directive to win--or else!

Although the series relies on a lot of standard anime themes, it never fails to come up with one wholly original touch after another. (The high point of this volume is the confrontation in the "enclosed space" in episode 6, cited above.) The writing is especially sharp, and often quite funny, particularly in the clashes between the sardonic Kyon, who sees everything with a cold dash of reality, and fast-talking Haruhi, who shows an utter disdain for everyday reality. Japanese pop singer Aya Hirano provides the voice of Haruhi and does a great job of bringing the character to life and engaging the viewers just as wholeheartedly as Haruhi does the four members of her precious "SOS Brigade." The special features on this volume show the exceedingly cute Hirano in a "Making of" segment recording one of the songs for the soundtrack. Another "Making of" segment chronicles a photo shoot featuring her and the voice actresses who play the two other girls in Haruhi's circle, laconic bookworm Yuki Nagato and cosplaying cutie Mikuru Asahina.

I'm not sure what further unpredictable turns this series will take but I intend to be there for the whole ride.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most excellent, July 23, 2007

By 

Anthony T. Mai - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 2 (Limited Edition) (DVD)

It maybe in a smaller box, but do not let that fool you about Volume 2 over Volume 1. If there is one item that puts it over the top, it's the arm band. DVD quality is as always wonderful and packaging is well done.