The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a terrific Christmas movie, despite the fact that it isn’t advertised as such.
What makes a movie a Christmas film? There are a number of holiday-themed films, as well as others that are simply set at this time of year. Because this film is constructed around a number of conventional Christmas movie clichés, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is an excellent Christmas movie.
2010 saw the release of Haruhi Suzumiya’s Disappearance. A sequel to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the film picks up where the previous film left off with Haruhi and the SOS Brigade attempting to maintain a normal existence while dealing with the difficulties that come with being near her. Kyon wakes up to find that reality has completely shifted while the group is preparing for their hotpot Christmas dinner. Mikuru Asahina doesn’t remember him, Yuki Nagato is no longer a robot, and Haruhi and Itsuki are absent in this new reality. Kyon, on the other hand, stumbles across some clues that would aid him in solving the mystery.
In the film, Christmas plays a major role. The film begins with a scene describing the preparations for the hotpot party, and it builds tension as the date approaches. In addition, the film’s visual style is based on traditional winter and festive motifs. To reflect the group’s pleasure and delight at the beginning of the film, Christmas party items and decorations are used. Kyon’s disconnection from the new world is symbolised by the austere winter landscapes he encounters later. Despite the familiarity of the new world in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the wintery filter makes the entire world feel strange and helps us understand Kyon’s alienation. This tone impacts the viewers.
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya uses a variety of holiday narrative elements to express its plot, not only aesthetically. A recurring theme in many Christmas films, from It’s A Wonderful Life to The Grinch, is the importance of embracing one’s family and friends and appreciating what you have. Indeed, there are several plot beats in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya that echo those in Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. Kyon journeys through time in his quest to unravel the mystery of the new world, experiencing an alternate present, an alternate history, and even a peek of the future.
They allow Kyon to reflect on his life and how it affects those around him, which is vital to his actions in the film’s last half. Even while Kyon isn’t haunted by ghosts, he does meet alternate or time-displaced versions of his pals, who each reveal something that helps him make decisions. Meeting with a previous version of Yuki, for example, helps him recognise how emotionally disconnected he has been from his pals. It also makes him aware of how little attention he has paid to their problems and how little help he has provided when he should have. Like Scrooge, Kyon’s troubles stem from his inability to feel compassion for the plight of others because of his own emotional exhaustion.
The last scene of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is reminiscent of the Ghost of Christmas Future scenes from A Christmas Carol in many ways. They appear to be moments from the life of Kyon, who is confronted by an imagined version of himself. The Ghost of Christmas Future, like this new companion, is more hostile to Kyon than the others. In spite of the fact that this vision doesn’t reveal Kyon’s own demise, it uses a combination of history, probable future, and insults to compel Kyon to make a new decision, one in which he would help his companions.
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is the perfect Christmas movie. Because of its depiction of both festive celebrations and icy winter vistas, it both visually and conceptually fits for the holiday season. Consider having a chat with Kyon and Haruhi during your Christmas movie marathons if you want something new to watch.
