The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

[XanBcoo]

The poll for HARUHI is up

Voice number 1 is Kari Wahlgren. I think I'm gonna vote for her. I know her best as Haruko from FLCL, and I can totally see her voice coming out of Haruhi. This reading was also pretty good, but she kinda makes Haruhi sound a bit too cutesy. She does sound energetic and cocky though, and I love that. She also kinda sounds like Aya Hirano in my opinion.

Number 2 is Kate Higgens, who's playing Sakura in Naruto. I don't care for her voice too much.

Number 3 is Michelle Ruff again. Hers is the deepest voice, and probably would be my 2nd or 3rd choice if I didn't like Kari Wahlgren so much. I say that because anime girls never sound their age at all, and I think Ruff has the most "high school" sounding voice. This was the reason I didn't like any of the Mikuru voices as well. Ruff also sounds pretty energetic.

Number 4 I can't place. But I like her for the same reason I liked Ruff's performance. I didn't pick her though because she sounds kinda bored in this reading.

Number 5 made me laugh because I didn't see it coming at all. Wendee Lee is a really good actress, but I think she needs to stick to playing adult women instead of little boys and teenage girls. Her Haruhi is energetic, but she's got that "helium voice" that really bugs me.

So...yeah. Number 1 it is.

Edit: and it looks like everyone else picked number 1 as well.

[saman]

mmm, i picked number 1 too. the other ones i thought were decent, but #1 i could actually see as haruhi. the tone of mischieviousness in there fits haruhi perfectly.

[ChaosK]

Hey I just started watching this series (went through episodes 1-4 airing order...).

I was completely confused in episode 1, 2-3 made sense, then 4 was random again, I found the "real" order (as in chronologically for the story) and was wondering whether it'd be best to view it that order, or the airing order.

[Kraco]

Airing order. It could be confusing, sure, but you have to remember that's the order the makers intended it to be watched, at least for the first time. I haven't watched it second time through yet, although I might some day soon, and then I'd face that problem. But my opinion is that for the first time it should be watched in the airing order. It's a part of the Haruhi magic.

[ChaosK]

Yes however the airing order also creates breaks between connected plots. (example would be the mansion one where they did the phoenix wright parody i just had to watch )

[kooshi]

I just loved this series to death, regardless of it being out of order. I found that the randomness made it more fun, which is what the SOS Brigade is all about, lol. Somebody should probably get one of their friends to actually watch the series in actual order to see how much they enjoy it.

[kAi]

I just watched this in airing order, I didn't think that it was too confusing watching it this way, it made it interesting going back and forth through different parts. Although, it would've made it easier for me as I watched it in one sitting.

This was a well done series, very good.

[XanBcoo]

Airing order is definitely more interesting.

Think about it. If you were to watch it in chronological order, you'd get up to episode 7 or so, and then basically only be left with fillers to watch.

I read the first novel in chronological order (which culminates in the animes "final" airing episode), and loved it. However, I'm sure I would have lost interest if I would have kept reading, and nothing happened.

Well, nothing "eventful". I'm sure random episodes about videogames and baseball are entertaining to some, I'd just rather have something solid to look forward to.

[RyougaZell]

Well, the novels aren't in order either. For example, without spoiling, Novel 2 can take place before Novel 3 and before novel 5. (PS: Its an example, its not that way, but im lazy to go check the 'correct' order)

[Ryllharu]

The novels don't go in order like RyougaZell said, and the content in each of them goes out of order, so the airing order of the series was in the spirit of the novels. There's some fluff in between a couple of them, but I really loved Disappearance. Great character development on a lot of the characters in that one.

[RyougaZell]

I've readed the first four and Im currently halfway through the 5th. Haven't had time to read lately though. I'll catch up soon. Especially since the translators are already half through the 7th.

Any news about when the first DVD of Haruhi gets released? They should release them only subbed... not going to watch the dub anyways.

[Board of Command]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV4zDMOO7qg

Everyone watch this music video I made.

[XanBcoo]

The novels don't go in order like RyougaZell said, and the content in each of them goes out of order, so the airing order of the series was in the spirit of the novels. There's some fluff in between a couple of them, but I really loved Disappearance. Great character development on a lot of the characters in that one.

In that case, I might have to finish reading them. I lost interest once the anime finished and the translators for the novels were only on Volume 2.

Any news about when the first DVD of Haruhi gets released? They should release them only subbed... not going to watch the dub anyways.

First DVD hits the USA in May. I can't wait. And a sub-only release would be pretty shitty imo. I already have the episodes in Japanese, and as someone who enjoys watching and gaging anime dubs, there'd be no incentive for me to buy it if I couldn't listen to it in my own language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV4zDMOO7qg

Everyone watch this music video I made.

Not bad.

[Shuurai]

It seems I came along too late and the series has been licensed, making the torrents hard to find. After some searching however I found the 1 - 14 episode batch for anyone else having a hard time finding this series.

http://www.boxtorrents.com/details.php?id=129315

[XanBcoo]

I come once again bearing Haruhi gifts!

First of all, the dub cast was announced a while ago. I'm really surprised to see Wendee Lee as Haruhi, especially after the landslide win Wahlgren had in the poll. All of the other voices are good choices, however. Personally I'd switch Freeman and Bosch's roles, but that's just me. Anyway, here's the main cast:

Haruhi: Wendee Lee
Mikuru: Stephanie Sheh
Yuki: Michelle Ruff
Kyon: Crispin Freeman
Itsuki: Johnny Bosch
Ryouko: Bridget Hoffman
Tsuruya: Kari Wahlgren (yay!)

There was also a review of the dub on something called AnimeTV, which I've never heard of. Apparently they showed clips from the dub, and someone slapped 'em all together. So for what it's worth, here is a sample of how the characters will sound in English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxfnvd12mjw

There seems to be a "full" version of the Hare Hare Yukai dance on the Japanese DVD as well. Pretty great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6JkTfZQk_E


And then finally, I found this abomination: OH GOD, IT HURTS!

Enjoy~

[Ryllharu]

Wendee Lee as Haruhi pretty much ensures I will never touch the dub of this and cringe whenever I'm near it. She's already overcast in main roles as it is, and she really doesn't have the range to play all the characters she's cast as. I loved her work as Faye Valentine, but Wendee Lee needs to stop being cast in so many main roles. She always sounds too old or too young for any of the parts she plays.

Kari Wahlgren would have been much better as Haruhi. They should have the two of them switch roles.

As for Crispin Freeman, I think he'll do fine as Kyon though.

[Board of Command]

And then finally, I found this abomination: OH GOD, IT HURTS!

Enjoy~

It's not that bad if you ignore their faces.

[saman]

michelle ruff as yuki? ...awkward is the word that comes to mind. i like the choice of crispin freeman (<_<) for kyon, though.

[Yukimura]

Kyon, Mikuru, and Koizumi sounded believable, but Haruhi...just about the worst thing I've ever heard. Yuki was half and half, I don't really like it but, I also don't know anyone who can pull off this kind of character anyway. I tend to get DVD's of series this awesome, but that Haruhi just doesn't have the constant excited force behind her voice that Aya Hirano had. Additionally, she sounds EXACTLY like her Rushuna Tendo and young Maya Natsume voices, and dangerously close to her Ciel. None of whom should sound like a crazy high school girl with omnipotent power over time and space.

[XanBcoo]

Kari Wahlgren would have been much better as Haruhi. They should have the two of them switch roles.

Totally agree. This could have been a defining role for Kari Wahlgren, who actually sounds less similar to Aya Hirano than Wendee Lee, but still would have been able to pull off the role better.

Crispin Freeman...sounds too old as Kyon. He sounds like he's basically just reading the lines in his natural voice. I like him though, so I guess I can deal with it...

I didn't actually vote for Stephanie Sheh in the poll, but damn she sounds good as Mikuru. She seems to have the character down perfectly, just from those few clips. <3