The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya-Overview

Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) is a series that is far from melancholy. Originally written by Nagura Tanigawa as a series of light novels that was first published in the summer of 2003, the twelve episode anime series aired in Japan during 2006 and became available in the US during the summer of 2007. Since then, Haruhi and crew have found themselves with a significant global fanbase of self-proclaimed "Haruhiists."

A seinen series, HSnY, is both comedic and satirical, with beautiful animation that only gets better during the sci-fi scenes. The story begins with Kyon, a normal first year high school student, who meets classmate Haruhi on the first day of school. She is known for being good at everything but she associates with nobody because, as she announces on the first day of school each year, she is only interested in meeting espers, aliens, and time travelers and has no interest in normal humans.

After Kyon advises Haruhi to ease her boredom by creating her own club she forms and force-recruits him into the S.O.S Brigade, which aims to meet and have fun with beings such as the espers, aliens, and time travelers she constantly seeks. As it turns out, the three other members who wind up in the club are Yuki--the bookworm alien android, Mikuru--the moe moe time-traveler from the future, and Koizumi--the always smiling esper. Kyon, of course, is very skeptical when each of them approaches and tells him this. Haruhi, of course, has no idea.

Yuki, Mikuru, and Koizumi each have a mission to watch Haruhi closely, as she is apparently a very powerful being with the ability to mold the entire universe to her liking, causing events such as timequakes to occur. The series follows Haruhi's antics and events revolving around her that she is oblivious to (which often land Kyon in dangerous situations). Haruhi only is exposed to her own abilities at the very end, and still doesn't realize who and what she is.

In addition to the light novels and anime series, there are drama CDs and the development of a second series has been announced. Shows such as Lucky Star, which started airing in Japan during the early months of 2007, make reference to it and its popularity, and devoted fans around the world perform the famous dance from the show's ending.