| Series Analysis |
| This section breaks apart the elements of each part of the Slayers anime, analyzing its fundamental nature. I've decided this will only cover the normal three series; the Movies and OVAs section is sufficient for themselves. |
| Slayers Description: The first season of Slayers On Humor: The first series's humor is very open and active, especially in the beginning episodes. Although there are indeed filler episodes, just as in Next and Try, even the random serious episode will almost always have a couple of jokes in it. The very first episode is an excellent example of the unbordered open humor that only the first series seems to possess. At every turn, there's another joke, or unexpected twist. Lina rebels against the traditional "maiden in distress" by noting to herself that "this is the part where the heroine is supposed act all scared and shrieky!" Additionally, the first season is the only season in which humor also plays an active part in even the most serious of battles, with the final battle with Copy Rezo being an excellent example. When Prince Philionel comes blindly rushing into battle, and Lina's Magic Lessons lighten up the dark drama, you know it has to be an aspect of the first season. Still, the original season's humor is what set Slayers apart from other anime, although some say that the jokes in the first season are "trying too hard". On Characters: The smoothness with which the main characters are one by one added to the main cast varies. The believeablity of the way in which the four main cast of Slayers are introduced, from most to least, are as follows: Zelgadis, Lina, Gourry, Amelia. Lina, although the main character, is introduced in an explosion of flames in the beginning of the first episode. Though surely interesting and believeable, Zelgadis enters in more slowly, and so is ultimately a better character entry. Zelgadis is portrayed as the cold enemy, but upon capturing Lina, reveals himself to be helping her. Even after that, it is only until Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis decide to fight Shabranigdo that he can truly be considered an ally. Gourry ranks third in believeability, coming in suddenly, also in the first episode, to fight off the bandits. Still, his sudden entrance is compensated by the fact that he was a travelling mercenary. Amelia, by far, was the least believeable character when she came into the series. Shown as some random crazy girl leaping out of trees, it was hardly realistic when she suddenly became part of the main cast to "find her daddy". Also, the transition of her personality from the first half of the season to the second half was almost unbelieveable, changing from an immature insane girl to a more mature young woman. Rezo, the main "villain", along with Shabranigdo and Zanifar, were excellent characters, with whole intertwined storylines behind them. The story of how Rezo became so strong was a powerful one, as was the reason for Zelgadis's body. Other secondary characters such as Rodimus, Zolf, Dilgear, Vrumugun, and Zangulus made a nice addition to the series. Finally, the role of Sylphiel in the latter half of Slayers upon the Slayers' arrival of Sairaag was a good one as well: her personality was always constant, and her nature always helpful. On Music: The opening song for the first season probably took the anime community by storm; Megumi Hayashibara sung Get Along brilliantly, just as with all her other ones. That song quickly became one of the most recognizable anime songs, and probably the one that otaku fans identify the entire Slayers anime with. The ending song, Kujikenaikara!, also made a powerful addition to the series. The BGMs for the first season, however, were only mediocre, probably the reason why CDs for them are so much harder to find than Next or Try. The series did very well on using lighthearted and generally silly songs for the humor portions, however. Also, the action scenes first introduced some of the battle music of Slayers, although it would continue to improve in later seasons. On Plot: The first season's plot is considered OK, although the second and third seasons, once again, surpass it, as the anime community generally says. In my opinion, the second story arc of the anime's first season is far better than the first. The humor is too much, and the plot advances too quickly along with it in the first 10 episodes. Although the portions with Rezo, and how his blindness caused his madness, was actually very good, Shabranigdo was summoned all too soon. And, although the portion about nothing seeming to harm the Dark Lord was intriguing, the fact that Lina suddenly cast a stronger spell out of nowhere was probably the first half's most degrading point. Of course, the Giga Slave had to be introduced somewhere, but I don't believe it should have been suddenly used with such rashness. At the end of the battle, some anime fans probably wondered, "That's it?" The second major battle, that with Copy Rezo, was great, in contrast. Although once again the Bless Blade is an element seemingly from nowhere, the battle formations that the Slayers utilized to kill the enemy were ingenius, and the animation exciting. The notion of making copies using the same magic as chimeras was particularly interesting. Of course, one of the major parts of the plot was the introduction of Zelgadis, of which there is an ongoing plot through all three seasons of searching in vain for his body's cure. A mediocre plot; could be improved. On Mood/Effect: I'd have to say the overal effect of the first Slayers season is that of lightheartedness. In short, if anyone had watched it, they would've thought, "Oh, well, that's all right then. Slayers is pretty funny, but I need some kind of better plot.... Well, at least it was funny." It was more of a parody series, with laughs and action at every turn. Though the magic system introduced was good, the viewer doesn't really get a feeling for the Slayers anime by watching the first season. The only part of the whole thing that might be moving is the almost very end of the series, the point at which Copy Rezo is finally defeated, and as he's dying, asks for one last wish - to be buried under the Holy Tree Flagoon. Still, even that doesn't make the viewer anywhere close to want to cry or anything. The mood is light, and the effect is not powerful. |
| Slayers Next Description: The second season of Slayers On Humor: The humor in this series has matured, so that it isn't overly present. Never again will truly serious episodes be spoiled by random spots of humor. Also, the jokes are funnier, richer, and more interesting. Even the humor episodes have better plots, and are far more unique. Episodes like the doll episode and the Brass Rackets episode set Slayers apart from other anime once again. Plots such as those don't just tell jokes, the filler episode is one big laugh-along, basically. Plus, each episode is standalone with minor enemies, unlike the continuing antics of Zangulus and Vrumugun in the first series. And, episodes like the battle with Gaav, the Demon Dragon King, would never be interfered with by humor; the overall humorous effect is outstanding, however, especially with new characters like Xellos and Martina. On Characters: The two main new characters, Xellos and Martina, enter in with strength. Their personalities are instantly captured in the first two episodes, and the precise ways in which they act and react to situations remains constant throughout all of Slayers Next. Also, they both had stories behind them, not suddenly appearing out of nowhere and joining the cast. Martina's the princess of Xoana, involved in a plot in the first episode, and Xellos has lots of secrets with him that only become gradually revealed throughout the series, as is his overall character. Additionally, it's interesting to see how Martina slowly begins to travel with Lina and company. In the beginning, she had despised Lina in every way for blowing up her kingdom, but as she falls in love with Gourry, everything begins to change. In the end, Martina even ends up battling Phibrizzo with the Slayers. Xellos, meanwhile, gradually reveals more and more of the plan he's involved in, and though he steps out during the final battles, it's obvious he's become one of the cast. Additionally, the original four Slayers show more of their personalities as the viewer sees more what kind of people they are. Every one of them has another side they didn't show much of before - Lina's tearful sacrifice at the end of Slayers Next, Gourry's dedication to Lina and his sometimes unusual bursts of intelligence, Amelia's personality and actions as a whole, and Zelgadis's softer side, the side that can be greatly saddened or angered. Even Sylphiel and Zangulus's re-entry to the set near the end of the series is interesting. Most importantly, Demon Dragon King Gaav and Hellmaster Phibrizzo are convincing villains. The power they wield and their evil bring a sense of fulfillment to the last third of Slayers Next. On Music: The music of Slayers Next is a huge step up from the original series in its entirety. It's opening song, Give A Reason, became another hit anime song, as did its ending song, Jama Wa Sasenai. However, the most noticeable change in music is in the BGMs, and also the way the music matches the mood. The adventurous music is more full and powerful than the original season, and the new humor BGMs spark the laughter even more. One of the biggest changes might be the battle music (example: versus Kanzel and Mazenda), of which the first series was somewhat lacking in comparison. Not one scene passed in Slayers Next that the music wasn't fitting and appropriate, sometimes woven in so seamlessly that the viewer might not even be aware of the music's presence, only the feel. Despite all of this, however, the music that made the second series great was the serious music. It was the deadly, haunting music that made the battle with Phibrizzo so strong, for example. As Hellmaster exhibited his horrible powers, desperate music began to play, doubly enhancing the effect. One of the most recognizable BGMs would be the Lord of Nightmares's theme, which came in with such amazing power that it could have moved almost anyone. Finally, the music when Gourry chased Lina through the clouds to bring her back was both heart-wrenching and strong. On Plot: The second season's plot revolves entirely around the search for the elusive Claire Bible, a holy object said to be able to hold infinite knowledge, the flood of knowledge remaining from the Water Dragon King. The plot is far better than the first season's in general, because of how the path of finding the Claire Bible takes one twist after another. This is a great basis for the humor episodes to be forged from, so the humor in the middle of the series is based on finding false copies of the Claire Bible over and over. When a complex plot begins to be revealed involving Xellos, the Demon Dragon King, the Water Dragon King's spiritual remains, and ultimately Hellmaster, the viewer is surprised again and again. Even the side-plots, such as the major one with Kanzel and Mazenda, gradually build up over the entire series towards the ending climax. Gaav's betrayal, the purpose of Auntie Aqua, Hellmaster's arrival - all of it adds up to an increasingly strong plot. And, when Lina and Gourry both risk their lives for each other in the end, and the Mother of All Things shows up herself, it's certain that it's the last thing anyone would have expected to happen. All in all, a very strong plot that connects everything together after it completes itself in its entirety. On Mood/Effect: Powerful. After watching all of Slayers Next, the typical anime fan is amazed. And, even if it isn't an anime fan that's watching, almost anyone would at least be affected by the message the series sends out. The music, characters, and plot together add up to an amazing experience in the second season that exceeds the first Slayers season in every way. It's a show of extremes, with the humor episodes having you laughing along, and the ending having you moved and saddened, and then cheered again. What Lina did - taking the chance to summon the Giga Slave, choosing Gourry over the entire world - was very powerful indeed. And the despair and dark mood when Hellmaster began killing all of Lina's friends was something to remember. But specific instances weren't important. All of the events, the happenings, the plots that occured were great altogether. The theme of love played a powerful role in the end. Slayers Next gave the anime fan something to think about, and would leave a lasting impression about how much the Slayers series had improved. |
| Slayers Try Description: The third season of Slayers On Humor: Slayers Try probably has a slightly different humor basis than the second season. Sometimes, it can be a bit more bizarre or wild. It's slightly different from Slayers Next's humor, so it might just depend on taste which season is funnier. For example, humor episodes like Lina in Wonderland and Amelia in the Village of Justice were considerably odder than any other humor portions that have been done in the Slayers anime in general previously. Once again, there is zero humor in the most serious portions of the third series, so that nothing will spoil the overall effect. Characters such as Jillas rapidly contribute to the humor of the entire series in their hilarious, but vain, antics. Sometimes, the humor is on a very elaborate scale, such as when Jillas was trying to steal the Sword of Light; plot and humor combine perfectly. Slayers Try deserves credit for one thing - I haven't seen humor like in that series in any other anime. On Characters: There are many, many new characters in Slayers Try, which is cause for some people to complain that they introduced too many new characters, and didn't keep enough old characters (ex. Martina & Sylphiel). However, since the basis is around journeying to the unexplored Outer World, it was bound to happen that a lot of new characters would be introduced anyway. One interesting note is that even after the tearful reunion at the end of Slayers Next, Lina and Gourry still go back to their normal selves. This is a very important part of their character attribute - if they had suddenly turned into open lovers, then their entire essence would have been destroyed. Instead, Lina only blushes and gets angry when Zelgadis comments that he expected her and Gourry to "always be together". Besides for the Village of Justice episode, Amelia hardly ever makes justice speeches, and has definitely matured from her first appearance in the original season. By far the most extreme character change is in that of Xellos; the viewer finally sees the "uncool" side of him, when he loses his cool while arguing with the dragon priestess Filia. Filia makes a very interesting addition to the main cast, shifting between reserved and overly violent; her interaction with Xellos often results in funny situations. The introduction of Overworlders is also presented in the third series, with Almace, Sirius, and Erulogos as examples. The way in which their bodies are formulated is fascinating, since magic from Lina's world presumably can't hurt them. The darkest character of all, however, lies in that of Valgaav, and the anger of the Ancient Dragon race. Even after Valgaav is devoured by the Dark Lord Darkstar, his need of retribution makes him live on to be by far the most powerful enemy the Slayers have faced thus far. On Music: The amazing Breeze and Don't Be Discouraged make up the opening and ending songs of Slayers Try. Like the second series, the BGMs are the most stand-alone in the third series as well. And they are amazing, concentrating on the serious, sad songs. BGMs such as Blood-Stained Fate and Rebel Against Destiny show brilliantly the horrible story that Valgaav had to suffer. Furthermore, battle songs (ex. during the battle between Xellos and Valgaav), redefined the action of Slayers once again, bringing life to every moment. If you're looking for a very sad BGM, the third series has it - Prayer and Rage and Wandering being the primary ones. The first one tells of the death of the Golden Dragons, and the latter is played by Zelgadis, obviously a play off of the golem's endless search for a cure. The very best bit of background music, however, is once again at the end of the series. One only needs to watch the battle against the terrible fusion of god, demon, and dragon to feel the full effect of the music; even the sadness and guilt that Filia feels for Valgaav is portrayed. Amazing, haunting, music. On Plot: In my opinion, the plot of Slayers Try is woven the best. It's very complex, and one part of it is revealed at a time, and a strong effect is achieved in consequence, just like the second series. In the beginning, the whole thing seems simple - a simple servant of Gaav's is back, plotting to get revenge on Lina Inverse, and he has made an alliance with the Overworlder Almace; the Sword of Light is part of the plan of revenge. However, everything changes when Valgaav reveals that he still has the powers of an Ancient Dragon, a thought-to-be long dead race. Still, he wasn't able to control the fusion of good and evil, and so had to retreat until later. Behind all of this in the first half of the third season, the plot of the prophecy and the five Darkstar Weapons is there. It hangs as a mystery throughout the entire season until the very end. In the last episode of the first half of the series, Valgaav even tries summoning forth Darkstar himself, and things get even more interwoven when he turns against Almace, gets absorbed by Darkstar, and two mysterious figures appear to stop the entire summoning process. The resulting explosion is the basis for all the humor episodes as the Slayers try to get back together. In the end, the Golden Dragons are slain along with the Ancient Dragons, and the haunting figure of Valgaav appears again when Darkstar is summoned forth a second time. The sadness and seriousness that winds around the whole series makes the plot unique. On Mood/Effect: The effect of the very long, interwoven plot is everlasting. After watching the end of the third series, there should be an impression of what kind of "person" Valgaav really was. The mood of the entire series, however, was considerably darker than the first and second series. For example, neither the first nor second series dived so deep into the plot so early; Slayers Try is the only series that had a major villain introduced in only the first couple of episodes, and Darkstar was summoned a lot quicker than expected. Also, as mentioned before, the powerful effects and mood of the ending were even more dramatic than that of Slayers Next, at least in my opinion. The interaction between Filia, last of the Golden Dragon race, and Valgaav, last of the Ancient Dragon race, was very moving; finally, the chance for rebirth at the end was the most powerful effect of all. |
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