A new Haruhi-chan and Churuya-san sneakily appears, and they were actually pretty enjoyable.

Haruhi-chan was about half of what the premiere’s length was, but what lacked in more time made up for in quality. The beginning was really cute and funny when Haruhi was going nuts over having no one come to the clubroom for advice and such. Someone actually did come by, but after opening the door and seeing Haruhi use a desk for physical endurance of some sort, the SOS-dan just lost a potential client. The second half got more interesting as we find Yuki playing an eroge of some sort, alarming Kyon. I don’t judge Yuki’s interests, but that was was unexpected, yet humorous at the same time. Those bunny headphones are quite adorable, though. What’s more, they’re wireless USB headphones! Ryoko’s sudden appearance was random, but for the time she had, I enjoyed it.

On Churuya-san’s side, Ryoko (or more appropriately, Ashakura) makes an appearance here, as well, in the form of Yuki’s back-up, a puppet with exactly the same build as Churuya-san. Ashakura seems to have an affection for Kyon and reacts when she sees Churuya-san with him. I was expecting her to do something out of line, but I guess her “sore muri” phrase was enough. There were a lot of good short segments in this episode. From playing Janken, to the firefighting, to getting blocked searching for smoked cheese on Google… hopefully these two get better and better!

As before, you can always check the episodes out at Kadokawa’s YouTube channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/KADOKAWAanime

46 seconds of nice boats, or 5 minutes with random WTFage?

After Kadokawa’s showboating, they finally put out the first episodes for Haruhi-chan and Churuya-san, much to everyone’s dismay.

So I sit back and watch and, well, it was just really random. Even in his dreams, Kyon can’t seem to get away from the SOS-dan. He meets Itsuki dressed up as Mt. Fuji, Tsuruya-san dressed as a crane (with the soul of a hawk), and a tiny eggplant that is Yuki. I did find the part with Haruhi abusing Mikuru funny for a bit, but it somehow felt stale the second time around. There’s really nothing to say about this short, other than that that’s what it really is: a short, and not on the level of TV anime episodes. For something that’s about five minutes long, though, I do think there should be some hilarious stuff in here. Maybe next time. Despite what was lacking, I did enjoy hearing the familiar seiyuu once again. Speaking of which, the Haruhi-chan OP is really awesome and is probably the best thing about this YouTube series.

Churuya-san now in ONA form, but how is it? Well if you’ve read the 4koma (yonkoma), you’d know what to expect? Apparently, the 2 minute short really is just taking bits from the original source and putting it in animated form. Though nice to see and cute to hear Matsuoka Yuki’s adorable voice, I think just reading it panel to panel panel to panel makes it more funny than with animated visuals and sound, but that’s just me. I did enjoy it, but it’s not something uber great.

If you’d like to check both series out, you can watch them at Kadokawa’s YouTube channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/KADOKAWAanime

A commercial for the next Monthly Newtype has been floating around the intertubes today, and with that brings us delightful, new Haruhi anime! Apparently, we’ll be awaiting April for more than just FMA now. The March issue goes on sale February 10.

The following day, June 30, is going to be one explosive day, for the official guests of honor at AX07 will be none other than the SOS-Dan. More specifically, the Japanese voice actresses from the series! That’s right, Hirano Aya (Haruhi), Chihara Minori (Yuki) and Gotou Yuuko (Mikuru). They will be appearing for a live performance at the Long Beach Arena at 4:30 PM! Also, whoever wins the dance contest will be able to join in with the three for the live concert event.

I think this year’s Expo has outdone itself. The SOS Brigade Invasion Tour has certainly given AX more fame than ever. Not only that, but even the popular j-rockers in Japan like Yoshiki, Gackt, Miyavi, and Sugizo will be at AX as well. Safe to say that this is one time I really want to go to a convention more than ever.

Regular Edition:
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/hBLjHXlO9jnDSm1r4T/browse/item/73757/4/1769/24

Special Edition:
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/hBLjHXlO9jnDSm1r4T/browse/item/73758/4/1769/24

Needless to say, you will have to wait 3 months for these babies to be delivered to your door, but the earlier, the better I say. :X

The Adventures of the ASOS Brigade: Episode 005 was the best episode for a number of reasons. Well, besides the fact that it was out of order, parodied the Star Wars intros, a whopping 12 minutes, 23 seconds long, Bunny Girl Mikuru and Witch Yuki using Mikuru Beam and magic and firearms (with music from Asahina Mikuru no Bouken Episode 00), we now know 3 months in advance all the goodies included with the Limited Edition DVDs. Now, on with the extras inside…

Firstly, I gotta say, that is some box. A lot of greatly drawn images by KyoAni (personally always loved the ROCK in THE LIFE one), and it holds all the extras along with Volume 1.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Special Edition Volume 1
-Limited Edition Collector’s Box (holds entire DVD series and up to six CDs)
-Variant DVD cover
-Hare Hare Yukai CD
-Double-sided Haruhi pencil board
-Haruhi-ism iron-on
-Haruhi cosplay hair ribbon
-Limited edition retail price: $64.98

Special Edition Volumes 2-4
-Special editions retail for $59.98 each
-Bonus DVD with Japanese audio/English-subtitled episodes in originally broadcast order
-Variant covers
-Double-sided pencil boards
-Iron-ons, plus these extras:

Volume 2
-Bouken Desho Desho CD
-Haruhi’s Brigade Leader Armband

Volume 3
Character Song 1 CD + pillow case

Volume 4
Haruhi no Tsumeawase CD + pillow case

It is just me, or are they spoiling the fudge out of these special editions? Well, not that I certainly don’t mind at all. In fact, I don’t care if I do need to pay that much since it’s totally worth it. I mean, pillow cases? Dakimakura, you serious? Well besides those, I’ve always wanted the LE Japanese DVDs. Those beautiful art from Noizi Ito herself, and the bonus BGM discs included. Now, the most interesting extras from the specials are the bonus DVDs with the episodes in Kyon order. I guess for people that want to see anachronic turn of events will be reduced (by which I mean to say, upgraded) to getting the SE anyways. Strange move, but eh, I don’t mind, but I’m sure glad the DVDs are in chronological order in the first place, similar to the Japanese ones.

I can say for sure that this is probably the hugest special edition set I’ve ever seen.