Review of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010) by Clint R — 31 Jul 2013

After the Endless Eight fiasco, does this movie have what it takes to become the redemption that Kyoto Animation needed after the disappointing S2 of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? Simply put, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is gripping, poignant, and immensely satisfying masterpiece that should be the standard of modern anime films or animated films in general. It stands out for how well executed the story flows with many twists & turns, and for its mesmerizing cast of characters specifically Kyon & Yuki Nagato who take the spotlight. One of the many lacking elements that the show lack was character development, this film acknowledge this by becoming a character study on those two characters, and this helps give them emotional depth and character development. The way how they portray these scenes are touching & epic to say the least. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous with careful attention to detail ranging from the backdrops of the city landscape to simple things like locks of hair or the swaying of scarfs. With a quiet, yet surprisingly epic scope accompanied with a fantastic classical score and great voice acting, this is top class at its finest! The only minor gripe that I have is that the first act is slow-paced so it might bore viewers, but the rest makes up for it. Both, sci-fi mystery & human drama, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a masterful installment, and Kyoto Ani should be commended!

Overall score: 10/10.

Note: You must watch the first two seasons (even the Endless Eight) beforehand in order to be fully invested with these characters and understand some key moments from the movie.