Riuva : Research Institute for Unicultural Visual Arts

The Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody of three weeks ago was but a teaser to whet appetites, but this week the God Empress Herself makes an emphatic return. And how! It has been three years since the first season burst out from obscurity to capture the imagination of an entire generation of otaku, and things have changed a lot since then. The franchise is no longer the surprise cult hit it started out as; it has become the most anticipated thing in the industry. The iconic dancing ED is a thing of the past. The assorted fan-created media is not as widespread as they used to be, even though they had a good long run. It may no longer be a one-of-a-kind series; it may instead be the original that spawned an entire genre of anime in the 21st century. But though these three years have brought about a host of changes from the heady days of 2006, there are some things that remain the same. And for one, it’s still the same Haruhi we came to love 3 years ago. The SOS Brigade is back for good.

As winter sets in upon the year once again, marking the impending end of another cycle of seasons, the cold chill of the air settles upon the everyday happenings of the girls of After School Teatime. As the low temperatures slows the pace of life to a glacial rate, it is a time to sit back and relax, disengage from life’s usual activities, and contemplate the year that has gone by. To catch a breath from the events of the past, such that one can psych up for what’s to come next. And, it is a time to bid goodbye, along with a wish of ’see you again soon’.