The mid 1990s were a bit of a special time for anime, kind of like a mini golden age. Akira had opened the doors to the West and, after a taking a little rest, the second great expansion of anime began to gather pace. Titles like Ghost in the Shell, Martian Successor NADESICO, Fushigi Yuugi, Golden Boy, Escaflowne, Macross Plus, Giant Robo, and the ever contentious Neon Genesis Evangelion became firm fan favourites and cemented the media's place as a viable form of entertainment in the West.
In amongst all these great shows came a fantasy series that would literally change the way studios would approach
...
the genre for years to come. With its irreverent humour, memorable characters, and a story that was more about getting rich than going on quests, it possessed an appeal that was almost universal.
I am, of course, talking about Slayers.
The saga began as a series of light novels written by Kanzaka Hajime (with illustrations by Araizumi Rui), which were adapted for manga from 1990 onwards. In 1995 the series was then re-adapted for anime, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The series follows the adventures of the notorious Lina Inverse, a young sorceress whose name strikes fear into the hearts of, well, pretty much everyone (even though she's petrified of slugs and her older sister). She is joined in the first episode by a wandering swordsman named Gourry Gabriev, the wielder of the Sword of Light (which Lina wants for herself), who initially believes Lina to be a lost little girl and decides to become her bodyguard.
Many shenanigans ensue from that fateful meeting, and things only get worse when the pair are joined by princess and perpetual justice freak Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune, and the man with a huge chimera chip on his shoulder, Zelgadis Graywords.
The story is, at heart, a fantasy adventure that on the surface resembles many other sword and sorcery romps. The big difference though, is that Slayers doesn't take itself too seriously, mainly because of the characters themselves. Although the plot follows a pretty straightforward route through the series, there are many occasions where the narrative plays second fiddle to the comedy, especially where Lina and Gourry are concerned. Whilst there are some obvious holes in the story, the comedy more than makes up for it, and more often than not the viewer will find that they simply ignore any inconsistencies just so they can see Lina lose her temper and destroy something else.
The humour is pretty formulaic for the most part, however that doesn't mean that it's bad. The comedy sequences are actually very good throughout the series, and some of the running gags are well thought out and executed. It's strange, but there are very few comic fantasies out there, especially those of the sword and sorcery type, and most of the shows that include a degree of comedy often treat it as an afterthought to the main, and often serious, storyline. Slayers approaches things from the other direction, and the main aim of Lina and Gourry isn't to save the world, but to get as rich as possible for the least amount of effort (and we won't even mention how much food the pair can put away).
This is perhaps the main reason why the franchise has become a benchmark for the fantasy genre, and many shows will, either fairly or unfairly, be compared to Slayers. It would be fair to say that the most common question asked about almost every fantasy anime since is "Is it as good as Slayers?". The uniquely defined characters, the lack of any real "quest", the explosive humour, and the underlying tone of sheer anarchy all serve to separate this show from the rest of the pack.
It's the characters in particular that draw people into the series though. Lina Inverse is, without doubt, the most notorious female lead in fantasy anime, and one of the most well known in the entire medium. Her vivacity and explosive (and often destructive), temperament, together with her streetwise savvy and tremendously powerful magical ability, all serve to provide the viewer with all manner of entertainment. Gourry is very much like Lina in that he provides the audience with much of the physical humour whilst never becoming a part of the visual "furniture". An added bonus is that he is also a play on the stereotypical knight, being handsome, brave, strong, virtuous, and as dumb as a brick.
That said, some may find Amelia and Zelgadis to be annoying at first, but due to the combative relationship they have with both Lina and Gourry (and with each other), viewers may find themselves warming to the pair. It should also be noted that because Slayers tries to avoid the inclusion of stereotypical fantasy characters, the writers had far more freedom to make trouble for Lina and the gang to get into, and they seem to have approached this task with some enthusiasm.
As the series progresses the characters do actually develop to a degree, however this is usually masked by some action or comedy so it doesn't really get pushed to the fore. This may seem a bit odd at first, but given the nature of the plot, this method is actually better for the franchise as a whole. This may not sit too well with some viewers though, especially those who believe that character development is one of the most important aspects of a show. That said, Slayers has some particularly strong and complex characterisations, in particular Lina herself. Because of this, the series doesn't actually need any unnecessary development, and the door is left open for the characters to go off and do other things (like arguing, eating, destroying monsters/bandits/towns/mountains, trying to kill each other (only as a joke - honest), looting treasure, etc).
Given that the series is from 1995, it's actually aged pretty well. The colours are bright and bold, especially with backgrounds and settings. The characters themselves are designed to be unique and expressive, although much of this comes from their actions rather than their faces. Animation is a big plus for the show, and it's to the credit of J.C Staff and SoftX that the series has held up rather well over the years. The animation by modern standards may not be exceptional, especially as it tends to add a more cartoon-like quality to movements, but it is extremely well choreographed for it's time and genre.
Sound is another big plus for Slayers, especially the fact that the series has been dubbed into over seven different languages (including Japanese and English). In all honesty I prefer the Japanese dub, however that is no reflection on the quality of the English version, and is nothing more than a personal preference. The Japanese seiyuu are very good on the whole, and are able to express a wide range of basic emotions, as well as humour. The English cast are pretty good as well, however I did find Lisa Ortiz' voice to be a little too high pitched for my tastes.
The music is pretty decent throughout the series, and while the pieces generally work well with the on screen action, there is a degree of repetition that can become annoying for some viewers. The sound effects are well timed and choreographed, however the more complex combinations can become a little too heavy on the ears.
Even with its age and obvious flaws Slayers is an absolute joy to watch, and it's truly rare to find a fantasy series that has such memorable characters or humour. There is a certain amount of formula to the plot, however the blend of comedy and action, together with the unique take on the characters, ensure that cliches don't feel out of place in the story.
This is a series that is worth watching by, well, everyone, especially those who prefer fantasy and comedy. There are very few shows around even today that can be called comic fantasies, and most of those have the name "Slayers" somewhere in the title.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: The Slayers, Slayers TV
Japanese: スレイヤーズ
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
26
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Apr 7, 1995 to Sep 29, 1995
Premiered:
Spring 1995
Broadcast:
Fridays at 18:30 (JST)
Studios:
E&G Films
Source:
Light novel
Duration:
22 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#11632
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#1600
Members:
143,319
Favorites:
2,041
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Your Feelings Categories Oct 16, 2009
The mid 1990s were a bit of a special time for anime, kind of like a mini golden age. Akira had opened the doors to the West and, after a taking a little rest, the second great expansion of anime began to gather pace. Titles like Ghost in the Shell, Martian Successor NADESICO, Fushigi Yuugi, Golden Boy, Escaflowne, Macross Plus, Giant Robo, and the ever contentious Neon Genesis Evangelion became firm fan favourites and cemented the media's place as a viable form of entertainment in the West.
In amongst all these great shows came a fantasy series that would literally change the way studios would approach ... Jul 31, 2008
This is my first review, so please bear with me ^_^
Slayers, based of of the novels of the same name written by Kanzaka Hajime, is the story of a young sorceress named Lina Inverse and her 'protector' Gourry Gabriev as they travel the land in search of anything that can get them treasure. Inspired by one of the original Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, fans and players of the game can step into the series with ease as it feels just like the game. Even if your not a D&D player or a RP'er in general, the characters alone are enough to pull you in and ... Mar 26, 2018
As a person who is actually quite a lot into old anime, in fact even stuff much older than Slayers, I'm honestly bewildered by the amount of praise this show gets, and I think its status of an old classic might be heavily influenced by nostalgia. The anime is severely lacking in multiple areas, most of all it's just boring and completely devoid of anything unique.
Slayers tells a story of Lina Inverse, a powerful yet inconspicuous magician who travels around, kills monsters, fights bandits and robs them of their treasure. Over the course of the show, new adventurers, starting with a travelling swordsman Gourry, join ... May 14, 2015
Overview:
Time for another wonderfully nostalgic anime review! Slayers was a very popular anime in the mid 1990s, but most young anime fans in 2015 either haven't heard of it, or they are only familiar with the less spectacular later seasons. After 5-6 seasons of the same formula, Slayers has sadly become like the Simpsons of anime. It is one of those series that older fans love and younger fans are baffled at how the franchise ever gained fans and can't even imagine a time when it used to be good. To truly understand what made Slayers special, we have to go back to 1995 and ... Nov 18, 2006
Slayers is a comedy/adventure/fantasy anime directed by Takashi Watanabe (directer of Kino's Journey and Boogiepop Phantom) and in many ways it can be seen as a parody of conventional RPG video games. it revolves around Magician Lina Inverse, and Swordsmen Gourry Gabriev as they travel around meeting new people, fighting demons and monsters, and getting into various predicaments along the way.
Story: In my opinion the best aspect of Slayers. The events flow nicely into one another and they frequently recall past events, making it feel as though nothing watched early in the series was a waste of time. Although the plot is quite linear, it ... Nov 3, 2014
Slayers is an anime based on a series of light novels by Kanzaka Hajime, and it was by far one of the most popular series of the 1990s, spanning several anime seasons, OVAs, movies, video games, and other merchandise. How does the anime fair nowadays? Pretty well, I'd say, but I'm easily hit by nostalgia and have been wanting to see Slayers since I saw the trailer for one of the movies when I was a wee little thing, so the verdict's ultimately up to you, dear reader.
The anime follows the adventures and misadventures of Lina Inverse, a sorceress with a lust for food ... Jan 13, 2021
I've talked about The Slayers franchise on several occasions with films and OVAs. Well, the time has come for me to talk about the anime series proper. It aired mid to late '95 and was brought to us by E&G films. The whole series was based off of a light novel series and proved popular enough that it spawned five anime series along with video games, OVAs and films. Today, I'm looking at the first anime.
Story: We open with a group of bandits revelling in their ill-gotten gains when a fireball rains down and our heroine, Lina Inverse, makes her appearance. She beats the bandits, ... May 4, 2012
Bored and lonely, equipped with a strong burning desire to watch some nostalgic shit, led to my chance encounter with Slayers.
Story 9/10 Slayers is a long running and popular Light Novel series by Hajime Kanzaka, but if you're reading this review, you probably already knew this.What YOU need to know about Slayers' Story is that it's basically about an overpowered girl named Lina Inverse and her wacky adventures in medieval fantasy Japan. That's essentially, how you should think about it. I know it doesn't really make much sense, but you'll find a strict definition of this show's plot does not necessarily do it justice. They ... Nov 2, 2009
Slayers is an anime about a party of characters and their misadventures to kill bandits, get treasure and, eventually, save the world.
The story's main protagonist is one Lina Inverse whose blade is nearly as quick as her temper (overshadowed only by her ability with magic). She's considered to be witty, intelligent, the natural leader of the group and also very powerful. It's a refreshing change to see a strong female lead in an anime during a time where this was almost unheard of. Where the show really shines through is in its cast of characters that compliment each other very well. Without rehashing what ... Oct 7, 2008
Slayers is a really funny fantasy comedy. It's the story of Lina Inverse, the flat chested underdeveloped sorceress extraordinaire and her friends the ditzy swordsman Gourry, steadfast do-gooder Amelia and the stoic chimera man Zelgadis. This show never gets boring and fluctuates from a over the top comedy to a dramatic series on the fly. It never takes itself to seriously though and frequently breaks the 4th wall (Lina sometimes complains about her screen time, or Gourry about the episodes being too serious). It's truly one of my favorite Anime. All of the sequel series are awesome as well.
Also Prince ... May 28, 2013
This show doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s what I love about this. It’s much like a dungeon and dragons game where you’re just with a group of friends who jokes around. Even Glass Reflection has said (want more of that, go to the other reviews) and each character has there own personality.We follow two characters most of the times, Lina who is a sorceress with a chip on her shoulder and Gaurry, a rather bumbling warrior. The two work rather well together from the moment they met and are the main reason why the show keeps going on. The two argue like an
...
Jul 20, 2023
Slayers is a show based on a book series about how it feels to play Dungeons & Dragons: 2nd Edition while at the mercy of a level 90, metagaming Black Mage addicted to Fireball. If you have any experience with magic users in tabletop RPGs, this should be enough to sell you on it.
If not, here's a few more words to better sell you on it. Much like Dirty Pair, many of its gags involve said metagaming Black Mage, Lina Inverse, causing massive amounts of collateral damage while fighting assorted fantasy goons for one reason or another - so much that I feel like it and ... Sep 5, 2012
First let me start by saying that for me, the anime that was released in the 90's, is the best shit around. It broke ground for all the new age, digitally enhanced, CG infused stuff we watch and love nowadays. It was a time where zooming in on a single cel or panning out was top of the line animation. It was a time when no one cared about character development, background music, and a quick glimps of a leading ladies underwear. It was a time where you could sit back, zone out, and just enjoy the antics that were about
...
Sep 17, 2008
For me, Slayers was one of the most humorous series to watch. It really starts off with a bang, keeping the mood lighthearted, with plenty of enjoyable, comedic moments. Throughout the series, Lina, the main character, and Gourry, her guardian, work really well together in terms of combat and keeping the mood upbeat.
The series has a good deal of action, with sorcery, sword fighting, dragons, you name it. Although the action scenes are nothing compared to what we see in today's anime selection, it held its own seeing as it is an older series. The music in the series was appropriate for the ... Mar 5, 2014
Well, Slayers; what an interesting anime. I think it was a trailer from a Dragon Ball Z movie that got me interested. And a couple of years later when I became interested in all sorts of different anime and step out of my one or two likes Slayers was on the top of my list.
Story- The story is diferent I must say. It's unique and this is one of the older animes from the 90's and do to popular opinion, it is part of the 2nd "Big 3". The reason why the story wasn't incredible is that the pacing seemed way off. I don't want ... Dec 27, 2015
Whenever I was asked which time period I found to be anime's finest hour the 90's has always been my answer and I don't see my take on that changing any time soon. I find this time period the most ambitious as anime became quite more innovative expanding on multiple genres. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Berserk, and various others are directly responsible for boosting the genre's credibility; and as a result anime was no longer something one had to be ashamed to admit they were actually fans of. Many series had plenty of depth and characters people could relate
...
Jun 9, 2008
Note That this is only about season one, not the series as a whole.
Slayers has a decent story line going for it, dealing with sorcerers and dark lords or destruction. Its very much a magical adventure story, along with some great humor. Despite the fact that the characters are made so well and the concepts of the magic etc are there, the plot does seem lacking at times, the writers could have done a better job writing it out. One major draw back i did find with the story, is that there are TWO climax points, which is dumb because it seems ... Sep 25, 2010
The Slayers series for me is very interesting- I don't know exactly what made me start watching it but there is some hook that just pulls you in. I would reccomend though that most people maybe start with Slayers Next instead of this, mostly because unless you are a hardcore old-school fan, it takes a while to get into (especially since Crispin Freeman~, playing Zelgadis, doesn't come in for quite a while). By the second season (next) the show has definitely gotten much better, and it starts off fresh so you don't need to have seen the first season to enjoy it or follow the
...
May 22, 2015
The Slayers is considered one of, if not the, most popular anime of the nineties. Based on a huge series of light novels (over fifty) The Slayers is a comedic response to the more serious fantasy anime of the time, most notably Record of Lodoss War.
This first season of Slayers came out in 1995 and I feel it’s only right to watch and review this series as we approach its’ twentieth birthday. So for the next few weeks, we’ll be exploring all five seasons of the show, as well as the movies and OVA’s. Lina Inverse is the star of Slayers, a dark magic user who ... Jan 13, 2018
Slayers is a 26 episode adventure comedy TV anime produced by studio E&G Films. It was directed by Takashi Watanabe (Boogiepop Phantom) and aired from Apr 7 1995 to Sep 29 1995.
Set in a fantasy world filled with magic and monsters, we meet Lina Inverse. She's a powerful sorceress who's also known as the bandit killer. She's traveling the world stealing the stolen goods from bandits, meeting new people, and getting into all sorts of trouble. She ends up running into a swordsman named Gourry Gabriev who thinks he's helping out a little girl who's getting attacked by bandits. They end up forming a duo ... |