The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Blu-Ray & DVD

Kyon is a cynical first-year high school student who has long since abandoned any belief in aliens, time travelers, or espers. On his first day, he sits behind Haruhi Suzumiya — who introduces herself by announcing she has no interest in ordinary humans and is only looking for supernatural beings. Kyon, talking to her mostly because nobody else will, inadvertently suggests she start her own club. The result is the SOS Brigade, which Haruhi assembles by conscripting: Yuki Nagato from the literature club, the shy and perpetually anxious Mikuru Asahina, and the effortlessly pleasant Itsuki Koizumi. What Kyon slowly comes to understand is that each of these people was drawn to Haruhi for a reason — and that reason has everything to do with the fact that Haruhi Suzumiya, without knowing it, has the power to reshape reality according to her unconscious desires. The universe is being held together by the need to keep her from finding out.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a landmark of 2000s anime — a 14-episode first season airing in broadcast order in 2006, followed by a 28-episode second season in 2009 that included the infamous Endless Eight arc (eight consecutive episodes covering the same two weeks of summer vacation with minor variations, running approximately three hours of near-identical content) and the acclaimed Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya arc. Produced by Kyoto Animation — the studio behind Clannad, K-On!, Nichijou, and A Silent Voice — directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, and based on Nagaru Tanigawa's light novel series illustrated by Noizi Ito, published under Kadokawa's Sneaker Bunko label. The Ultimate Collector's Edition released September 13, 2016 (FN-01775, UPC: 704400017759) is the definitive North American release — a premium red chipboard box with artwork by original character designer Noizi Ito, containing the complete franchise across 7 discs: both TV seasons, the Haruhi-chan Suzumiya and Nyoron! Churuya-san spinoff ONA series, The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan TV series, a set of exclusive art cards, and 1,229 minutes of total content. Season 1 is presented in 1080i upscale; Season 2 and The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan in 1080p HD native.

Notable Staff & Voice Talent

Director: Tatsuya Ishihara (Clannad, Kanon, Nichijou) / Yutaka Yamamoto (season 1 co-direction)
Series Composition: Touko Machida & Fumihiko Shimo
Original Light Novel: Nagaru Tanigawa, illustrated by Noizi Ito (Sneaker Bunko label, Kadokawa; English license: Yen Press)
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Music: Satoru Kosaki
Opening Theme: "Boken desho desho?" by Aya Hirano as Haruhi Suzumiya
Ending Theme: "Hare Hare Yukai" by SOS Brigade cast

Japanese Cast:
• Aya Hirano as Haruhi Suzumiya
• Tomokazu Sugita as Kyon
• Minori Chihara as Yuki Nagato
• Yuko Goto as Mikuru Asahina
• Daisuke Ono as Itsuki Koizumi
• Natsuko Kuwatani as Ryoko Asakura
• Yuki Matsuoka as Tsuruya

English Dub Cast (Bandai Entertainment / FUNimation):
• Wendee Lee as Haruhi Suzumiya (original Bandai dub)
• Cristina Vee as Haruhi Suzumiya (FUNimation re-dub, Season 2 / Ultimate Edition)
• Crispin Freeman as Kyon
• Michelle Ruff as Yuki Nagato
• Stephanie Sheh as Mikuru Asahina
• Johnny Yong Bosch as Itsuki Koizumi
• Bridget Hoffman as Ryoko Asakura
• Kari Wahlgren as Tsuruya

Blu-ray Contents (FUNimation Ultimate Collector's Edition, September 13, 2016)

• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Seasons 1 & 2: 28 Episodes + Extras on 4 BD + 1 DVD (700 min, Season 1 in 1080i upscale / Season 2 in 1080p HD native)
• The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya + Nyoron! Churuya-san: 38 Episodes on 1 BD (129 min, 1080p HD native)
• The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan: 16 Episodes + OVA on 2 BD (425 min, 1080p HD native)
• Exclusive Art Cards in removable filler box
• Collector's specialty print finish chipboard box with Noizi Ito artwork
• Extras: Behind the Scenes of Aya Hirano Music Video, Anime Expo 2007 Guest of Honor Intro, Uncut Launch Event Video, Nekoman Galleries, Broadcast Previews, Endless Eight Prologue Audio Slideshow, Textless Opening Songs, Trailers
• Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1 / Japanese 2.0 (main series)

Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles

Edition Details

Japanese Title: 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu)
Original Japanese Broadcast: 2006 (Season 1: April 2 - July 2) / 2009 (Season 2: April 3 - September 25, TV Tokyo / Chiba TV)
Total Runtime: 1,229 Minutes (Complete Franchise — Seasons 1 & 2 + Haruhi-chan + Nyoron + Nagato Yuki-chan)
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Blu-ray Release Year: 2016 (U.S. Ultimate Collector's Edition, September 13 — FUNimation Entertainment, FN-01775, UPC: 704400017759)
Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment (re-license from Bandai Entertainment)
Rating: 14+
Region: Region A (North America)
Note: Season 1 presented in 1080i upscale; Season 2 and Nagato Yuki-chan in 1080p HD native.
Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction, Slice of Life, Supernatural
Themes:  School, Reality Warping, Endless Eight, Kyoto Animation

Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.

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