Finally cleared this series after a while of hearing about it. The name Haruhi Suzumiya is the name of the series in general, containing 2 TV anime, net animations, manga, novels, games and an animated film.
The titular character is indeed Haruhi, though narration, as well as the other major character focused on, goes by the name Kyon (keep in mind that this is only a nickname heard throughout the anime, his real name is never truly revealed.) He lived a normal life, who isn't a believer in things nonexistent (such as Santa Claus.) In a sense, his normal life guadually turned into that of the strange upon meeting Haruhi Suzumiya, who seemed at the time quite eccentric. Loathful towards normal people, she calls out for aliens, time travelers and espers, making a rather awkward introduction. Fed up with the people she deals with, as well as the clubs she joins (and abruptly leaves), she forms her own club after conversatinjg with Kyon (who's forced to help.) After finding members Yuki Nagato, Mikuru Asahina, and later Itsuki Koizumi, her new club is formed: the SOS Brigade.
However, there's more to Haruhi's nature, as well as the identities of Yuki, Mikuru, and Koizumi, than Kyon realizes. Conversating with them in that order, he learns of the existence of aliens, time travelers and espers (respectively), as well as the power Haruhi unknowingly possesses, and ultimately how he is linked to her, despite being an ordinary human. Through may bizarre, and sometimes life-threatening situations, Kyon reluctantly accepts that Haruhi holds the worlds fate in her hands, and Kyon is the only one preventing the worst-possible outcome.
Originally, the anime ran for 14 episodes released in 2006, licensed by Bandai Entertainment for the US, under the name The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The episode order was set chronologically, or known as the Haruhi Order, but there were 2 different orders as well, called the Kyon Order (or nonlinear), and the DVD Order (the way the episodes were packaged in the DVD.) After finding this out, I called it an anime that couldn't make up its mind. However, 14 more episodes were made, called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya S2, or Season 2, came out 3 years later and licensed by Bandai again. With 14 more added, the anime was 28 episodes long, and the true chronological order was finally set. Coincidentally, all 28 episodes were re-aired in 2009, and since S2 episodes had no previews, at the end, all the re-aired episodes were of DVD quality, which contained extra footage unseen in the original broadcast. The S2 episodes were mixed in with the original, or Season 1 (S1) episodes.
A few of the episodes referenced other media, one such instance taking after the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney game series. Aya Hirano is the singer behind the anime's 1st and 2nd opening, and Hirano, along with co-stars Minori Chihara and Yuko Goto sung both ending themes, with Goto singing The Mikuru Lengend of Love as the opening to "Episode 00" (the 25th episode in the 2009 re-airing. Hirano voices Haruhi, as well as Konata Izumi of Lucky☆Star. English wise, the roles are the same in the case of Wendee Lee for both anime. Crispin Freeman voices Kyon (who does others like Zero of Cosmic Warrior Zero), Michelle Ruff voices Yuki (known as Bleach's Rukia Kuchiki), Stephanie Sheh voices Mikuru (Akira Kogami of Lucky☆Star), and Koizumi is voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch, another known name who voiced Ichigo Kurosaki (also from Bleach.) The anime in general was extremely popular. To help promote the English Dubbed S2 episodes in 2010, a new set of videos were made, with Cristnia Velenzuela (or Cristina Vee, who will voice Alisa Bosconovitch in the film Tekken: Blood Vengeance) to fill the role of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Season 2 wasn't as well received as Season 1, but the anime in its entirety was successful. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya gains an 8.9 of 10. I didn't think it would do so well, but I see now why the series is as popular as it is.
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