SLAYERS EXCELLENT
What, you were expecting Slayers Halfway Decent?
Review by: Craig "I wish my eyes would stop bleeding" Norris
Length: 3 episode OAV
Genre: Fantasy, comedy
Watched: 1-3, subbed
Ah, good old reliable Slayers. Whenever life gets to be too much, I take comfort in knowing that all I have to do is watch Lina and Naga, and I’m laughing again. And there’s certainly enough of them, what with four movies and two OAVs starring the pair. Kind of makes poor Gourry seem overrated, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, I was extremely pleased to find this, the second OAV, following Slayers’ tried and true formula and pumping out laughs with rapid regularity.
Plot synopsis: Like Slayers Special, this OAV gives us three self-contained episodes. The first has Lina and Naga entering an underground labyrinth to find a hidden treasure and pay off the damage they caused to a nearby town, only to find a vampire waiting for them at the end. The second episode has Lina hired as the personal bodyguard of a wealthy man’s stuck-up daughter, with Lina, hoping to free herself of the burden that is the girl, arranges a fake kidnapping. Unfortunately, the kidnapping becomes real, and Lina and Naga are forced to save her. Episode three has Lina and Naga fighting each other again, this time as the right hands of a pair of rival fashion designers whose differing styles and concepts have sparked a small war.
Artwork: This OAV falls into the middle of the Slayers visual tier; much better than the series, but not as good as the movies. The style and quality works well for the content, but it’s not visually impressive by any means. Then again, the jokes and gags fly out too quickly to leave much time to pay attention to the artwork. If it had been animated with three Crayola crayons on brown paper, I would have been laughing just as hard.
Music: All of the good tracks must have been used up on the series, because this is a yawner of a soundtrack. Once again the only worthwhile song is the closing number, with everything else relegated to spackling in some audio noise here and there to give a bit more fullness in sound to dialogue and explosions. Although, if anything was sub-par about this anime I’m glad it was the soundtrack, because it’s the least important in terms of content. A roomful of deaf people with kazoos could come up with a soundtrack for this OAV, because the music was so often drowned out by my own laughter.
Characters: Big surprise! Lina and Naga are the only main characters again. Then again, with those two you get all the dynamic you need. Naga really shines in these three episodes, sometimes even taking over as the main sorceress to watch. Especially in the second episode, where her... unique traits are instrumental in reaching a resolution. Also, the second and third episodes give us a few worthwhile supporting characters. Shilene, the spoiled rich girl, and Marty and Tatiana, the gung-ho fashion designers, are memorable in their own way. They provide adequate support while not trying to steal the spotlight from Lina and Naga, which works to the OAVs advantage.
Plot: As per usual, these Slayers episodes don’t offer up a very provocative plot, instead relying on the characters to make us laugh. As far as plot is concerned, this is definitely the better of the two OAVs, with the episodes seeming a lot more well-rounded. And, as an added bonus, the first episode contains a flashback showing how Lina and Naga first met. Fans of origin stories rejoice! Really, though, if you go into anything with the word “Slayers” on the cover expecting a blockbuster plot, you don’t know the franchise at all!
CHICKS!: Okay, so the first OAV gave us Lina and Naga, and that was it. Not that I’m complaining; I just hoped to see an extra pair of breasts tossed in on occasion. Well someone must have been listening, because that’s exactly what Slayers Excellent has to offer. Of course there’s the trim and petite Lina, and the totally rack-tacular Naga to gawk at. The second episode has Shilene, whose figure seems to be a cross between Naga’s and Lina’s. She’s spoiled and bossy, always expecting to get her own way. But after meeting Naga, she discovers another side of her personality that I found quite interesting. Tatiana and Marty from episode three have average bodies and are a bit too fanatical for my tastes. Point of interest, though, Marty has Naga’s fashion sense, so you know you get to see most of her. Besides the little extra drool fuel, though, Lina and Naga are still the main attractions.
Overall: Slayers Excellent just about lives up to its name. More often than not I was laughing, or at least had a wide grin on my face. The outlandish humor and overkill spell-casting we’ve come to expect from the franchise all appear in spades. Those who enjoy the Lina/Naga duo will undoubtedly find much to enjoy about this OAV, which I feel is better than the first one. And for those who make this their first Slayers experience, a word of advice: cover your ears when Naga starts laughing.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Laugh out loud comedy
+ Well-rounded plots
+ Naga’s boobs
- Lackluster soundtrack
Rating: 8/10
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