* ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' is the best anime and manga this troper has ever seen/read. It has unique and well-made characters, a ''superb'' plot, great CharacterDevelopment... It can be serious, [[ViewersAreGeniuses intellectual]], philosophical, psychological, CrazyIsCool, romantic and hilarious. Need more? The anime convinces with SceneryPorn, brilliant if a little sadistic comedy and a bitchin' ''rock-song'' in the 12th episode. The novels convince with the '''best narration''' I have ever read and don't forget those unique and likeable characters. The way it uses every genre in the most mundane setting, without coming off idiotic (though certainly weird when you ''start'' with it) surely is a bonus. For me, it's not like watching a show, it's like immersing in a whole new world. I neither read much nor am I obsessed with anime, but this is a ''piece of gold''. -- @/{{Smokie}}
** Yes, so very yes. I can watch the series over and over again and never get tired of it.
*** [[@/AndThenIWasAZombie This Troper]] ''has'' watched the series over and over again. The more you watch it, the more little details you notice, and how the AnachronicOrder creates interesting situations as characters say things that are quite humorous later on. It starts with a [[StylisticSuck hilariously bad]] student film and goes from there. You ''will'' come to care for these characters, as each and every one of them is so real and complex. The finales (either based on chronology or date aired) are easily incredibly strong [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Crowning Moments of Heartwarming.]] This series also has the proud distinction of being the only media to ever [[TearJerker make This Troper cry.]] Oh, and did I mention that it ''only has fourteen episodes?!?'' Easily my favorite show ever.
*** This series, while not the first anime This Troper watched pre-licensing with fansubs, was definitely his gateway series to weeaboodom. That was over 3 years ago, and unlike some other series I watched around that time, this one still holds up extremely well.
*** Of course, it gets horribly depressing and nihilistic if you think about it too much; everyone in the universe is a CosmicPlaything. That said, someone that can create this terrifying thought experiment and still have it considered comedy is a genius.
** This anime is by far the best. It helped/helps me get through bad times and periods of depression, and I always feel lighthearted and on top of the world when I've watched a few episodes. Everything about it, from the characters to the plot to the music, makes me cry with happiness because ''it's just so beautiful.'' And fear not, guys - It doesn't look like it'll be ending anytime soon. I can't top what the other posters said, but I can say that I agree wholeheartedly. Long live Haruhi!
** [[@/SnakeByte117 This Troper]] loved the first season, after she found a website that showed the order of the episodes and figured out what episode goes where in the timeline. However, the second season really disappointed me, because of ENDLESS EIGHT. I hated that, and thought that that show was ruined forever. And then she watched the disappearance movie. That movie was by far the best movie this troper has ever seen, with a great analysis of the characters of Kyon and Yuki, a great plot, great music... And don't even get me started on the [[spoiler: stab scene.]] This Troper doesn't get ever get scared by anime, but the music and the amazingly creepyness that is [[spoiler: Asakura Ryouko]] had me literally shaking by the end of it the first time I watched it. After watching it, the awfulness that was Endless Eight was completely forgiven in This Troper's mind.
** I'm going to make myself very unpopular by saying this, but I actually liked Endless Eight. There's very little plot and no character development; the focus is entirely on the construction of the scenes, the way in which subtle choices of what to show and how to show it, details of camera angle, colour, music etc. add up to create the atmosphere. (For those who don't know, this is done by showing eight episodes that are nearly identical in terms of sequence of events.) In most shows, these details just wouldn't be interesting enough to sustain the viewer through four hours, but for me, ''Suzumiya Haruhi'' is well-made enough to pull it off. And the finale to Endless Eight was epic.
*** Oh my god I thought I was the only one!
*** This troper always felt the Endless Eight was a bizarrely key element to the series. The exhausting, never-ending, boredom of the arc not only help the viewers relate to Yuki's plight. It also creates that sense of epic awesomeness that is caused by the finale.
** The anime? please! The light novels are the original source material and they have the best look at Haruhi Suzumiya than the anime or manga ever could. Yes it doesn't have the admittedly awesome vissuals and music, but for subtle and complex character development, insight into the plot, and humour the anime only tries to recreate while sacrificing half the plot, there's nothing better. We're a rare breed, but the novels have been translated and we're here to support them.
*** Absolutely. The series was my introduction to Haruhi. The film pretty much sealed the deal (and set a standard that I don't think will be matched for a while, it out-epiced ''Anime/GhostInTheShell'' and ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' for me). I had a brief flirtation with the manga before I discovered the light novels. There's just so much richness of detail and backstory, Creator/KyoAni's work is sublime but there's always more to be found in the books. Please, hurry up and translate the remaining ones!!!
*** It says a lot about how good the light novels are that an adaptation that takes out so many key elements is still really ''really'' good.