🎌 What if the anime that defined a generation held a reunion — and 20 years of memories came flooding back?
On February 7, 2026, the five voice actors behind the legendary SOS Brigade took the stage together for the first time in 16 years. Lead actress Aya Hirano, visibly moved, told the packed theater: "I can't believe this is happening." Here's why this moment matters not just for Japan, but for anime fans around the world.
The SOS Brigade Reunites: A 20th Anniversary Milestone
The year was 2006. A quirky anime about a high school girl who unknowingly holds the power to reshape reality burst onto Japanese television and changed everything. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya didn't just become popular — it became a cultural phenomenon that rewrote the rules of how anime could engage with its audience.
Now, two decades later, the five voice actors who brought the SOS Brigade to life gathered at Shinjuku Wald 9 theater in Tokyo for a special stage greeting during the revival screening of the 2010 film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. The reunion marked their first full gathering since the original film's premiere 16 years ago.
What Happened at the Stage Greeting
The cast took the stage after a screening of the 162-minute film, which is playing in 32 theaters across Japan for a limited two-week run starting February 6 as part of the "Gratitude of Haruhi Suzumiya" (涼宮ハルヒの御礼 / Suzumiya Haruhi no Orei) anniversary project.
Aya Hirano (Haruhi Suzumiya) set the emotional tone immediately: "The moment Sugita-san started speaking, I got choked up. Twenty years ago, I never imagined we'd all gather like this again. And there are people in this audience who remember those days too. I just can't believe it."
Tomokazu Sugita (Kyon), known for his sharp wit, lightened the mood by recalling the early days: "Back then, Niconico Douga was just launching, and the buzz between the anime and the platform was incredible. There were so many illegal uploads that the servers crashed." He also recalled sneaking out of the original 2010 premiere wearing a hat to avoid self-proclaimed internet reporters who had snuck into the event.
Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato) expressed quiet gratitude: "The fact that all five of us are here together — that in itself is something remarkable."
Yuko Goto (Mikuru Asahina) captured the feeling of time collapsing: "The moment Sugita-kun started talking, it felt like the SOS Brigade was back. The atmosphere from back then just returned."
Daisuke Ono (Itsuki Koizumi) offered a poetic reflection: "Just as we were all swept up by Haruhi in the story, we as actors were swept up by this series and grew alongside it." He added that rewatching the film before the event reminded him that it remains as visually stunning and emotionally gripping as any modern anime — perhaps even more so.
When audience members shouted "Welcome back!" (Okaeri!) at the cast, it captured the sentiment of the entire room.
Why Haruhi Suzumiya Still Matters After 20 Years
For international fans who may have discovered anime through more recent hits, it's worth understanding just how seismic Haruhi was in 2006.
It pioneered viral anime culture. The ending theme dance "Hare Hare Yukai" became one of the first anime dance crazes to go viral online, years before TikTok existed. Fans around the world uploaded their own versions, making it arguably the first globally viral anime meme.
It redefined anime storytelling. The first season famously aired episodes out of chronological order — a deliberate creative choice by director Tatsuya Ishihara and original author Nagaru Tanigawa that baffled and fascinated viewers simultaneously.
It made Kyoto Animation legendary. While KyoAni had been producing quality work before Haruhi, this series catapulted the studio to international fame, establishing them as masters of detailed animation and emotional storytelling.
It built the modern light novel-to-anime pipeline. Haruhi's success as a Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko light novel adaptation helped create the blueprint that many franchises still follow today.
The 2010 film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is widely regarded as one of the finest anime films ever made. Despite opening in only 24 theaters, it became a massive hit for a late-night anime adaptation, running for over six months. The revival screening in 2026 expanded to 32 theaters — eight more than the original run.
The "Gratitude of Haruhi Suzumiya" Project
The stage greeting is part of a larger 20th anniversary initiative called "The Gratitude of Haruhi Suzumiya" (涼宮ハルヒの御礼). Launched in November 2025, the project has so far included:
- Revival screening of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (February 6–19, 2026)
- New commemorative trailer produced specifically for the revival
- A KDcolle figure of Haruhi based on the light novel cover illustration
- Stage greeting with live nationwide broadcast to theaters across Japan
- Advance ticket bonuses including digital movie cards and original smartphone wallpapers
The project name is significant in Japanese: while the original series title uses "憂鬱" (melancholy), the anniversary project uses "御礼" (gratitude/thanks), signaling that this is about thanking the fans who kept the series alive for two decades.
Fans are also buzzing with speculation about whether the project might eventually lead to a long-awaited third anime season, as the story picks up directly after where the film ended, and new light novels (including The Theater of Haruhi Suzumiya, published in November 2024) continue to expand the universe.
Hirano's Journey and What the Reunion Symbolizes
Aya Hirano's emotional reaction carries extra weight. She was just 18 years old when she first voiced Haruhi in 2006. In the years since, she has navigated career shifts — from voice acting to stage musicals, from anime events to Broadway aspirations (she studied in New York in 2014). Her return to the Haruhi stage feels meaningful not just for the franchise, but as a personal milestone.
As she told the audience: "Whenever a Haruhi event is about to start, I get incredibly nervous. That hasn't changed since I first played the character at 18. This work is something I believe I'll be involved with for my entire life."
Sugita, for his part, revealed that he had never watched the full film of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya from beginning to end: "After the recording session, I had given everything I had. I just couldn't bring myself to watch it."
What's Your Country's Version of This?
In Japan, the Haruhi reunion is being treated as a once-in-a-generation event — proof that a beloved anime can transcend time and still bring people together decades later. The outpouring of emotion from both cast and fans reflects something uniquely powerful about how Japanese anime builds lifelong bonds between creators, performers, and audiences.
Does your country have a similar cultural phenomenon — a TV show, animated series, or franchise where a cast reunion after many years would bring fans to tears? How do anniversaries of beloved shows get celebrated where you're from? We'd love to hear how different cultures honor the stories that shaped them.
References
- https://mantan-web.jp/article/20260207dog00m200015000a.html
- https://haruhitv-anniversary.com/movie/
- https://haruhitv-anniversary.com/movie/greeting.html
- https://us.oricon-group.com/news/6875/
- https://comicbook.com/anime/news/haruhi-suzumiya-anniversary-project-reveal/
- https://haruhi.fandom.com/wiki/The_Gratitude_of_Haruhi_Suzumiya
Reactions in Japan
I was in high school when Disappearance first came out, now I'm a father of two. Cried through all 162 minutes. Couldn't stop sobbing at the scene where Nagato smiles in the library. Hits completely differently after 20 years.
Watched the stage greeting live viewing at a local theater. The moment Sugita opened his mouth, the entire audience gasped. Just his voice alone transported us back to 2006. Unreal.
Honestly, I don't think Haruhi resonates with younger viewers anymore. I get the nostalgia but feels overhyped for a 20-year-old show. Wish people would spotlight current series more.
When Aya-hii said this is 'a work I'll be involved with for my entire life,' I completely lost it. She's been through a lot, but Haruhi is truly her origin story. That really hit home.
Sugita admitting he's never watched the full Disappearance movie is peak Kyon energy lmao. Wild to learn there's a story like that behind such an incredible performance.
First-timer here. This film is really from 16 years ago? The animation quality is on par with modern anime. KyoAni is on a completely different level.
When Minorin said 'the fact that all five of us are here is something remarkable,' that carries huge weight if you know the industry. Voice actors retire all the time. All five still being active and thriving is practically a miracle.
Went to the Haruhi revival screening. Was honestly hoping for a Season 3 tease but... nothing. The Gratitude project is appreciated, but what fans really want is new anime.
Goto Yuko describing it as 'still getting swept up by Haruhi' is pure genius. The way it mirrors the show's premise gave me chills. Twenty years later and the SOS Brigade activities continue IRL.
When Ono D said 'this work will never disappear' — the wordplay on the film's title had me in tears. Don't make me cry, Koizumi...
Twenty years since I danced Hare Hare Yukai at our school festival. Haruhi was my very first otaku experience. After watching the revival today, I wanna dance it again. Muscle memory is real.
Couldn't get tickets. Even the nationwide live viewings sold out instantly... Haruhi's pull is still insane. Please give us a streaming option.
The original opened in 24 theaters, and the revival expanded to 32. For a 16-year-old anime film to get MORE screens is quietly incredible. Has that ever happened before?
Considering the KyoAni tragedy, being able to watch this film in theaters feels like a miracle in itself. I want to express gratitude to the staff we lost too. Director Takemoto of Disappearance was among them...
I'm in my 40s, caught the revival after work. The college-age kid next to me whispered 'that was incredible...' when it ended. Made me so happy to see this story resonating across generations.
As an American anime fan, Haruhi is literally the reason I became an otaku. Saw the Hare Hare Yukai dance on YouTube in 2007 and my life changed. Congratulations on the SOS Brigade reunion — this means the world to us overseas fans too.
At Japan Expo in France, Haruhi cosplay is still a staple. The fact that North High uniforms show up every single year after two decades speaks to this show's enduring power. If Season 3 happens, we need French theatrical screenings.
The reunion is big news in Korea's anime community too. But honestly, as Korean fans we wished the Disappearance revival screening could have included Korean theaters. Japan-only is disappointing.
The Italian dub aired in the late 2000s and half my class watched it. A lot of friends dropped off during Endless Eight (lol), but I still consider Disappearance the greatest anime film ever made.
UK fan here with a slightly cooler take. The 20th anniversary reunion is lovely, but let's not forget the Endless Eight incident. Eight weeks of agony. If they do new content, please never repeat that.
In Mexico's anime culture, Haruhi has permanent 'god-tier anime' status. Our local anime club has a tradition of showing Disappearance to all newcomers first. This reunion news brought actual tears.
From Sweden — voice actor reunions like this feel uniquely Japanese. In Western animation, voice actors aren't identified with their characters this deeply. Really highlights how special Japan's seiyuu culture is.
Haruhi 20th anniversary trended on Bilibili too. Many Chinese people started learning Japanese because of Haruhi back then — myself included. This series definitely helped shape China's otaku culture.
In Russia's anime community, Haruhi is remembered as the OG 'analysis anime.' The chronological shuffle still holds up as groundbreaking. Sadly, overseas fans get zero benefit from the revival screenings.
For Indian anime fans, Haruhi is slightly before our time — anime really boomed here in the late 2010s. But Disappearance always appears on every 'best anime films' list. Betting this anniversary introduced it to plenty of first-timers.
From Australia. Met my best friend through Haruhi fandom and we're still close. This series proves anime can forge lasting human connections. The cast's bond after 20 years is exactly that in action.
Brazilian here with a slightly critical take. Love that the anniversary project is called 'Gratitude' but... a figure and a revival screening? Fans have waited 15+ years for Season 3. Was hoping for something bigger.
As someone who wrote an academic paper on Haruhi at a German anime conference, this show's impact on internet culture is immeasurable. MAD videos, Niconico comment culture, cosplay dances — so much of modern fandom started here.
As a Japanese-American, Haruhi was the show that connected me to my heritage. My mom talking about Haruhi in Japanese inspired me to seriously study the language. Our whole family is celebrating the SOS Brigade reunion together.
Danced Hare Hare Yukai at a Polish anime event around 2008. That dance was the universal language of anime fans worldwide. Never thought it would make headlines again 20 years later.