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Why Was the Haruhi Suzumiya Series a Big Deal?

Good news then with the late night TV anime money maker of physical disc sales in Japan crashing and being replaced by unlimited money from western streamers we will start to get everything both anime that appeals to modern hardcore Japanese fans and long time western anime fans.

And yeah, the ENOZ performance is still, to this day, my standard-setter for in-series musical performances.

I still go back and watch that scene at least once or twice a year.

However, one aspect that I don't think has gotten enough attention in this thread is that it was the first true "meta" series to hit big. Unless I'm forgetting something obvious, series before it weren't as self-aware of what they were as Melancholy was. That kind of thing has been so commonplace these days (especially in isekai series) that it can be hard to appreciate how fresh that was at the time.

However, one aspect that I don't think has gotten enough attention in this thread is that it was the first true "meta" series to hit big. Unless I'm forgetting something obvious, series before it weren't as self-aware of what they were as Melancholy was. That kind of thing has been so commonplace these days (especially in isekai series) that it can be hard to appreciate how fresh that was at the time.

What is this supposed to mean? That the west has the right to dictate to the Japanese industry of what they can do with their own anime because they provide more money?

I understand the west's influence on the Japanese industry in terms of medium popularity but at the end of the day, the ball is in Japan's court to decide where they want to go anime wise. It's realistically not the west's business to pull Japan's strings on their own industry.

You're forgetting Nadesico, which combined the meta with an interesting look at memory and history, and how they shape who we are, as individuals, as a subculture, and as a society. Plus parody. And a great soundtrack.

Nadesico's recap episode was as meta as you can get (as well as being the Best Recap Episode Ever).

Key wrote:

And yeah, the ENOZ performance is still, to this day, my standard-setter for in-series musical performances.

I'd probably place it second behind the duet in Sakamichi no Apollon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRHJntLYMh0

(But that's only the second-best recap episode ever. The best one belongs to Re:Creators.)

(But that's only the second-best recap episode ever. The best one belongs to Re:Creators.)

Oh, that's one's up there with ENOZ in terms of animation quality, no doubt. But I'd still rate "God Knows" a little higher because of impact and how well the song worked despite the sheer absurdity of the situation.

If you are going to use impact as a criteria, I'd nominate this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an_0IIRDlc4

I realize that this is the opener, but it also is "in series" as part of the plot and world building.

Key wrote:

(But that's only the second-best recap episode ever. The best one belongs to Re:Creators.)

I'll see your Re:Creators and raise you an SDF Macross.

The only "west" that's really influencing anime is China. like a lot of other industries. Although the way the original post is worded makes it sound like streaming isn't a thing in Japan.