Michelle Ruff: “We really redubbed Haruhi Suzumiya Endless Eight”

‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’ voice actress Michelle Ruff (Yuki Nagato) confirmed to The Natural Aristocrat® that the cast really did redub every single episode of the infamous “Endless Eight” story arc. No copying and pasting of voices occurred.

This Michelle Ruff interview contains spoilers for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan.

Yuki Nagato in Endless Eight VI arc of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT (NIR REGEV): What are your thoughts on ‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’ repeating set of episodes (“Endless Eight” arc) as a voice actress? Did you like the artistic experimentation on déjà vu?

MICHELLE RUFF: The Eight?! (laughs) Yeah, it was interesting because Alex Von David directed that and I thought that they would just copy and paste. Because each line was literally, exactly the same. So I didn’t understand why we had to like redub every single line over again.

Yuki Nagato in Endless Eight VII arc of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

We literally went through and redubbed every single episode of the “Endless Eight” because the client wanted it. So it was a little annoying actually.

Yuki Nagato, Mikuru Asahina, and Haruhi Suzumiya in Endless Eight VII arc. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

I was like, “Oh my God, can’t we move on?! Alex, can we move to episode nine and then just come back?” And he was like, “Nope.” (laughs)

Yuki Nagato, Mikuru Asahina, Itsuki Koizumi, Haruhi Suzumiya, and Kyon in Endless Eight VII arc. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: I interviewed Brina Palencia about returning to record “The Future Diary” Redial OVA years later and she remarked how it was ‘kind of jarring to do something positive with Yuno Gasai’. Brina mentioned Yuno being happy felt kind of ‘unnatural’.

Yuki Nagato in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

On that same note, you returned to voice a Yuki Nagato that was world’s different from her ‘Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’ iteration. What was the adjustment period like for ‘The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan’ and ‘The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya’?

Yuki Nagato and Ryoko Asakura in The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan movie. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

MICHELLE RUFF: I mean, it was the same. Yuki was the same character but just in a different world I think. I didn’t change her character per se, vocally at least.

Yuki Nagato in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

Her placement and how I thought of her remained the same. I think she was a little bit more human-like maybe.

Changes begin in ‘North High’ high school literature club with Yuki Nagato in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie. No longer a humanoid interface. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

I feel like with Yuki Nagato in her own series, I looked at it as her growth. You know, a sentient being on the earth.

Her growth and kind of assimilation into being on Earth and actually having a relationship and exploring that.

Yuki Nagato wears glasses and has feelings for Kyon in The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan anime series. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

You know, I thought it was really sweet actually. I enjoyed being able to take her in that direction. And she enjoyed it too! (laughs)

Yuki Nagato in The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya II episode. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

– Be sure to read part 1 of our interview with Michelle Ruff on voicing Etna in the Disgaea anime and game series dub!

– Get the English dubbed Blu-ray for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya on Amazon to see what led to the Nagato-chan spinoff! A twist on Yuki and Kyon & even Kyon and Mikuru through time loops…

– There’s also the comedic Haruhi chan spinoff streaming on Funimation to complete your fandom.

Michelle Ruff on Social Media:

Michelle Ruff Headshot

You can follow American voice actress Michelle Ruff on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and on her official website!

Michelle Ruff is represented by Epoch Talent. Business and booking inquiries can be made out to [email protected].

Yuki Nagato in Endless Eight I arc of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya English Dub Cast

Itsuki Koizumi, Mikuru Asahina, Kyon, Haruhi Suzumiya and Yuki Nagato. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya English Dub Cast. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

Wendee Lee as Haruhi Suzumiya
Crispin Freeman as Kyon
Michelle Ruff as Yuki Nagato
Stephanie Sheh as Mikuru Asahina
Johnny Yong Bosch as Itsuki Koizumi
Bridget Hoffman as Ryoko Asakura

* Bryn Apprill also voices Ryoko Asakura in The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan.

Mikuru Asahina, Itsuki Koizumi, Haruhi Suzumiya, Kyon, and Yuki Nagato. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya English Dub Cast. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

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Haruhi Suzumiya gold fish scooping with Mikuru Asahina in Endless Eight VI. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Art Credit: © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tanigawa Nagaru, Ito Noizi / SOS Brigade.

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– Ricco Fajardo on why same day English SimulDubs aren’t common (Video Interview)

Visit the Anime Interviews and Anime NYC sections for the latest chats with the top English dub talent in the industry!