Will There Be More Anime Nagato Or Haruhi?

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan

Fifty-fifty the nearly casual fans are probably familiar with the name Haruhi Suzumiya. Back in 2006 the then-still-relatively-new studioKyoto Blitheness made their mark with The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and after 2 seasons and a film the prove (based on a series of light novels by Noizi Ito) went on to become something of a miracle in both Nippon and in the West. Figure collectors will as well probably know that the Haruhi bandage were a key part of the early on Figma line upward. Now after v years since the release of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya the franchise has returned to the anime world once once again, but this time in a slightly different form. Formerly a stoic humanoid interface for the Information Integration Thought Entity, Yuki Nagato takes centre stage in The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, an alternate universe tale which reimagines the cast in a more than "normal" setting. The series saw the main voice cast all return to their corresponding roles, however this time blitheness duties were handed over to Satelight.

Unbearable romantic tension

In world fans previously saw a glimpse of in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yuki Nagato is a shy high schooler who loves to spend her time playing video games. Her best friends are Ryoko Asakura and Kyon, the latter of whom she has a rather large beat out on. The serial follows Yuki every bit her feelings for Kyon develop and experiences high school life with her friends (who also include Mikuru Asahina and Tsuruya). Withal despite Haruhi not attending North Loftier School in this universe, it isn't long before she and Itsuki Koizumi become tangled in their lives anyhow - leading them to go on all sorts of adventures even without her reality warping powers!

The thought that The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan takes abroad all the supernatural mystique of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya might audio like sacrilege to some, particularly since information technology'southward a key cistron that originally gave it the border over other piece of life anime shows. However as The Disapperance of Haruhi Suzimiya film proved at that place is adept reason for its existence, and the perfect reason to get more out of these memorable characters. With Yuki taking eye phase in this product she's had to become through a pretty huge overhaul, transforming from the tranquillity, monotone alien she was into a loveable, klutzy goofball. Meanwhile the residue of the cast accept perhaps received some small tinkering here and there, but are all still clearly the characters we known them as. Kyon still has his sarcastic wit, Mikuru is still timid and hands embarrassed etc. The newest chemical element to the dynamic is of course Ryoko Asakura, who's no longer the (reasonably important) chip part she was in the original series, acting here equally the mother figure of the group. Despite beingness a rather cliche grapheme, Ryoko fits really comfortably into this much bigger core cast (as Tsuruya's role has been considerably upped every bit well, even if her actual contributions to the plot are by and large superficial), providing a tempered balance that the group needed. Of class that isn't to say that darker side of her original personality has gone completely, but here it'south purely used for comical upshot.

The missing ingredient

Of course this Haruhi-less world wasn't going to concluding forever, and the girl herself somewhen shows upwards with Itsuki in tow a few episodes in. However there'southward something a little different about the Haruhi of this universe, most probable due to the fact that she isn't talking middle phase in this story. Her no-nonsense, take-charge personality from the original serial is very much intact - only now it'southward been reigned in to amend accommodate the position of a supporting grapheme. Haruhi is still very much the catalyst that creates many of the show'due south events, just information technology's far less nearly her in those situations. To someone (similar me) who constitute Haruhi far too much to handle in the original series, this comes as extremely refreshing and makes her into a genuinely likeable character with a skilful dash of emotion behind her. Unfortunately the same level of positive character alter can't be said for Itsuki, who's arguably suffered the most in the dynamic shuffling of Yuki-chan. Exterior of a few comedic moments with Kyon, Itsuki is largely relegated to Haruhi's yes human - willing to anything she wants and painfully in love with her, yet knows full well nothing will ever come of information technology.

Didn't think she'd exist gone long did you?

Eventually the happy-go-lucky slice of life element of Yuki-chan all comes to a crashing halt at episode ten, for a four-episode arc in which three of the episodes take the title from the series itself. Without giving likewise much away, these episodes begin exhibiting a very different Yuki Nagato - one that volition be all besides familiar with those that watched the original series. How this new (or old, depending on how you want to look at it) Yuki reacts with the characters around her and vice versa creates undoubtedly the strongest ready of episodes in the entire series, playing the modify in a way that suits both the grounded setting of Yuki-chan and the more fantastical elements of the original series. While the few episodes that follow return to the before standard rom-com setting (albeit with the previous events firmly still in mind) and manage to provide a somewhat satisfying conclusion, they never quite accomplish the drama and emotional heights of this "Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan" arc.

Things start getting a chip existentialist in here

Newcomers to the franchise volition be pleased to know that should they so wish Yuki-chan is a perfectly acceptable place to start their Haruhi journeying, with the show not at all relying on knowledge of the previous prove to exist properly understood. Of form that isn't to say it is completely detached from its predecessor, featuring all kinda of nods and references to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya for eagle-eyed fans to option up on. These range from really blatant references to comedy issue to more than subtle touches that could quite easily be missed. It adds an extra layer to the prove that entices yous to give it multiple watches, especially if you lot have called this as your starting point for the franchise. And while many fans will debate that Satelight tin can't quite live upward to the blitheness quality previously provided past Kyoto, that isn't to say their efforts should go completely unnoticed. Despite sporting a slightly different style this is still visibly the Haruhi bandage, and trivial touches like Mikuru's darker red hairtips are squeamish splash of originality. The show doesn't endure from whatever obvious blitheness flaws, and once you've comfortably sunk into its style you'll find yourself pleasantly rewarded.

Mikuru encounters Haruhi for the first time

The more than things change, the more they stay the same

While The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan may not exist equally groundbreaking as its predecessor, information technology is nonetheless a very worthy spin-off tale that provides plenty of laughs and emotion. This whole new setting causes a shift in the balance of power, creating a new dynamic between the characters that may appeal to those who found some of the original interpretations a bit overbearing at times. Careful references at cardinal times brand this a prove that tin entreatment just as much to newcomers and it does existing Haruhi fans, and just those with the stoniest of hearts will be able to resist the clumsy charm of this world's Yuki.