SLAYERS SPECIAL
Gourry who?
Review by: Craig "Dreams about Naga's breasts" Norris
Length: 3 episode OAV
Genre: Fantasy, comedy
Watched: 1-3, subbed
I haven’t seen a series receive this much renewed interest through movies and video since Star Trek. As if 78 episodes wasn’t enough, we get five movies and 2 OAVs. This, the first OAV, once again teams Lina Inverse up with Naga the White Serpent, and presents three self-contained episodes for our edification, in an attempt to squeeze as much blood from the Slayers stone as possible. Turns out, this stone’s got a lot of blood left.
Plot synopsis: The first episode has Lina and Naga trying to escape the clutches of an evil sorcerer who attempts to cross Lina with a pair of dragons to create a very destructive monster. The second episode has the two hired by the over-protective mother of an inept knight named Jeffrey, and instructed to help the young paladin-wannabe vanquish the villains that they encounter. The third episode has Lina and Naga attempting to capture a sorcerer who has discovered a mystical mirror that makes copies of anyone and anything that are loyal only to the holder of the mirror.
Artwork: Very similar to that of the movie, but perhaps a tiny bit worse due to its direct release to video. If there is a difference, I certainly didn’t notice it. The animation does, however, seem a bit more “confined” than in the movies; the backgrounds aren’t as sweeping, and the action sequences are much more subdued, meaning no huge spells to animate. Overall I’d call the artwork a success, but nothing to get terribly excited over.
Music: Just like the movies, this OAV suffers from a lack of catchy music. A lot of it feels very generic, and the soundtrack only has a chance to spread its wings during the closing number. Then again, I can’t really think of any 3 episode OAV that has ever had a really impressive soundtrack, so I guess mediocrity is par for the course.
Characters: Come on; we ALL know Lina and Naga by now. Their friendship/rivalry once again comes to the forefront in these three episodes in all its comedic glory. Also, Naga seems to step out from Lina’s shadow a little bit, sometimes even stealing scenes from the redheaded sorceress. There is no other character carry-over, with Lina and Naga the only ones to appear in more than one episode. Which makes sense, seeing as how they’re the stars. And it makes this section really easy for me to write!
Plot: “Typical Slayers” pretty much describes the three episodes. It’s got more humor than action, a return to the roots of the success of the series that I found very gratifying. The first episode contains one of the most bizarre sights I’ve ever seen in any anime, with a dozen Nagas storming a castle and laughing in unison. It is a sight I’m sure few will be able to forget. The second episode is the most forgettable, but still good for a chuckle here and there. I’ve certainly seen worse attempts at comedy. The third episode is my favorite, only because of the scene where Lina and Naga get copied by the mirror, and they get to meet their “opposites.” The reactions of the two are absolutely priceless, and the behavior of the copies is hilarious. The plot is not complex, philosophical or thought-provoking, meaning you should watch it when you’re not in the mood to take anything seriously.
CHICKS!: Like I said, we ALL know Lina and Naga. We’ve all marveled at the totally inverse proportions of the two costars, and we’ve all sighed in bliss when Naga’s breasts wobble and shake. There aren’t any new chicks introduced, so Lina and Naga (mostly Naga) remain as the only eye candy during these three episodes. As long as Naga’s fashion sense doesn’t change, though, you won’t hear me complaining.
Overall: I know this review seems kind of short, but that’s because anyone who has seen even a fair amount of Slayers in its various incarnations could have pretty much guessed what I was going to say. If you are new to Slayers, expect a lot of silly comedy and explosion spells flying all over the place. If you are a Slayers veteran, expect more of the same, as the familiar formula is followed faithfully for three light and entertaining episodes.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Great comedy
+ Episodes effectively short
+ Naga’s boobs
- Boring soundtrack
Rating: 7.5/10
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