Slayers

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The Slayers

Slayers anime promotional image
スレイヤーズ
(Sureiyāzu)
Genre Adventure, comedy, fantasy
Light novel
Author Hajime Kanzaka
Illustrator Rui Araizumi
Publisher Flag of Japan Kadokawa Shoten/Fujimi Shobo
English publisher Flag of Australia Madman Entertainment
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Tokyopop
Demographic Male
Magazine Dragon Magazine
Volumes 31
Manga
Author Rui Araizumi
Issei Hyouji
Hajime Kanzaka
Yoshijirou Muramatsu
Tommy Ohtsuka
Shin Sasaki
Shoko Yoshinaka
Publisher Flag of Japan Kadokawa Shoten
English publisher Flag of Australia Flag of New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States CPM Manga
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Dragon Magazine
Original run 1995 – 2005
Volumes 8
TV anime
Director Takashi Watanabe
Studio E.G. Films
Licensor Flag of Japan Bandai Visual
Flag of Australia Flag of New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Central Park Media, Funimation Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo
English network Flag of the United States Funimation Channel
Colours TV
International channel
Original run April 7, 1995 – September 29, 1995
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Slayers Next
Director Takashi Watanabe
Studio E.G. Films
Licensor Flag of Japan Bandai Visual
Flag of Australia Flag of New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Flag of the United States Central Park Media, Funimation Entertainment
Flag of the United Kingdom MVM Films
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo
English network Flag of the United States International channel
Funimation Channel
Original run April 5, 1996 – September 27, 1996
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Slayers Try
Director Takashi Watanabe
Studio E.G. Films
Licensor Flag of Japan Bandai Visual
Flag of Australia Flag of New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Central Park Media, Funimation Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo
English network Flag of the United States International channel
Funimation Channel
Original run April 4, 1997 – September 26, 1997
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Slayers Revolution
Director Takashi Watanabe
Studio J.C.STAFF
Licensor Flag of the United States Flag of Canada Funimation Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo
Original run July 2, 2008 – September 24, 2008
Episodes 13 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Slayers Evolution-R
Director Takashi Watanabe
Studio J.C.STAFF
Licensor Flag of the United States Flag of Canada Funimation Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo
Original run January 12, 2009 – April 6, 2009
Episodes 13 (List of episodes)
Related works
Anime and Manga Portal

Slayers (スレイヤーズ Sureiyāzu?) is a series of over 50 light novels written by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi. It was later developed into several manga titles, five televised anime series, two three-episode original video animations (OVAs), and five movies. It also spanned three console role-playing games for the Sony PlayStation, as well as one for the Nintendo Super Famicom (known internationally as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Slayers is a Dungeons & Dragons inspired narrative that follows the adventures of the young sorceress Lina Inverse and her companions as they journey through their world.[1][2] Using powerful magic and swordsmanship they battle overreaching wizards, demons seeking to destroy the world, dark lords, and the occasional hapless gang of bandits.

Contents

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of Slayers characters

[edit] Setting and magic

In the Slayers universe the Lord of Nightmares is the ultimate being. The Claire Bible states that if the worlds are destroyed and returned to chaos, the Lord of Nightmares can return to its true form.

On each of these worlds are gods (shinzoku, lit. "godly race") and demons (Mazoku, lit. "evil race"), fighting without end. Should the gods win the war in a world, that world will be at peace. Should the demons win, the world will be destroyed and returned to Chaos. In Lina's world, the supreme god is the Red Dragon God "Flare Dragon" Ceiphied, and the supreme demon is the Dark Lord "Ruby-Eye" Shabranigdo. Long ago, the war ended more or less in a stalemate, when Ceiphied was able to split Shabranigdo's existence into seven pieces in order to prevent him from coming back to life, then sealing them within human souls. As the souls are reincarnated, the individual fragments would therefore be worn down until Shabranigdo himself would be destroyed. However, Ceiphied was so exhausted by this that he himself sank into the Sea of Chaos, leaving four parts of himself and his soul in the world.

A millennium before the events in Slayers, one of Ruby-Eye's fragments (which was sealed in the body of Lei Magnus, a very powerful sorcerer) revived and began the Resurrection War (降魔戦争 Kōma-sensō?, alternately "War of Demon Conquering") against one of the parts of Ceiphied, the Water Dragon King (Aqualord). Ultimately, the piece of Shabranigdo won, but Aqualord, using the last remnants of her power, froze and sealed him within the Kataart mountains. Nevertheless, Shabranigdo's lieutenants escaped and remained at liberty, sealing a part of the world within a magical barrier, through which only Mazoku could pass.

There are three types of Magic within the Slayers universe. Black Magic spells call directly on the powers of the Mazoku, such as the Dragon Slave, and are capable of causing enormous damage. White Magic spells are drawn from the caster's own life force and used for healing or protection. Shamanistic Magic is focused on manipulation and alteration of the natural world such as Raywing and Fireball, as well as the Astral Plane including Elmekia Lance. The greatest Astral spell is the Ra-Tilt, a spell of devastating power when used against a spiritual being, such as a Mazoku, and equal in power to the Dragon Slave.

Above all other magic, however, and of its nature used purely for destruction, are spells drawing power from the Lord of Nightmares. Two spells of this class are the Ragna Blade, capable of "cutting through anything", and the Giga Slave, capable of felling any opponent, but which could destroy the world if the spell is miscast.

[edit] Media

[edit] Light Novels

 This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (May 2009)

Slayers was originally serialized in Dragon magazine in 1989 as a Light Novel series written by Hajime Kanzaka, and with artwork by Rui Araizumi.[3] The serialized chapters were then published as "Slayers" across 15 volumes from January 25, 1990 to May 15, 2000.[4][5] On September 7, 2004, Tokyopop began releasing the light novels in English. [6] On January 2, 2008, they released Volume 8.[7]

  • Slayers Special (30 Volumes, prequel to Slayers series, 1991-2008)
  • Slayers Smash (2 Volume, prequel to Slayers series, ongoing)[1]
  • Slayers Delicious (4 Volumes, prequel to Slayers series, 1997-1999)
  • Slayers VS Orphen (1 Volume, crossover between Slayers and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen, 2005)

[edit] Manga

 This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (May 2009)
  • Slayers (1 volume, illustrated by Rui Araizumi, original story, published in 1995, reedited in 2001, also known as Slayers Medieval Mayhem)
  • Chō-baku Madō-den Slayers (original name: 超爆魔道伝スレイヤーズ, 8 volumes, illustrated by Shoko Yoshinaka, adapted from Slayers main novels 1-8, 4th volume adapted from Slayers Return movie, 1995-2001, also known as Super-Explosive Demon Story)
  • Slayers Special (4 volumes, illustrated by Tommy Ohtsuka, adapted from Slayers Special novels, 2000-2001)
  • Slayers Premium (1 volume, illustrated by Tommy Ohtsuka, adapted from the movie of the same name)
  • Slayers Knight of the Aqualord (6 volumes, illustrated by Tomy Ohtsuka, original story, 2003-2005)
  • Slayers Revolution (1 volume, illustrated by Issei Hyouji, original story)
  • Slayers Evolution-R (still being published in Monthly Dragon Age, illustrated by Issei Hyouji, original story)
  • Slayers Legend (2 volume compilation from old Slayers manga, with chapters from Slayers and Chou-baku Madou-den Slayers, and a new manga called Slayers: Falshes no Sunadokei, "Slayers: the Hourglass of Falshes")

In July 1998, Central Park Media announced they had licensed the manga for distribution in North America.[8] On June 15, 1999, "Slayers: Medieval Mayhem" was released.[9] The 4 volume series "Slayers Special" was published between October 12, 2002, and June 25, 2003 [10][11] "Super-Explosive Demon Story", a 7 volume series, followed Between July 9, 2002 and December 1, 2004.[12][13] Finally, On July 5, 2005, "Slayers Premium" was released.[14]

Between July 26, 2008 and March 2009, a new series entitled "Slayers Light Magic" began serialisation in Kadokawa Shoten's Kerokero Ace. The series is written by Yoshijirō Muramatsu and Shin Sasaki, and set in a technological world instead of a fantasy world.[15][16]

[edit] Anime

Main article: List of Slayers episodes

The first of the four seasons of the anime bore the franchise's title. The second season was titled Slayers NEXT, and the third season was titled Slayers TRY. A fourth season, Slayers AGAIN, was rumored following the success of TRY, but early scheduling conflicts caused interest in the project to dissipate.[17]

The series was released in North America by Software Sculptors, who released the first series on VHS and Laserdisc in 1996, with a choice of dub or subtitles.[18] Slayers Next was released on VHS from April 1999 in subtitled and english dubbed options. A boxset of the first four volumes was released in July 1999, and a boxset of the second four volumes was released in October of the same year.[19]

In May 2005, at Anime Central in Chicago, FUNimation Entertainment announced they obtained the license for the TV series, since the previous owner's license expired in Fall 2005.[20] It aired as part of the FUNimation programming block on CoLours TV.[21] and the first bilingual DVD box set was released on August 27, 2007 containing the Central Park Media dub.[22] A boxset of Slayers, Slayers Next and Slayers Try will be released by Funimation on August 04, 2009.[23]

In 2009, MVM Films began releasing the series in the United Kingdom on a monthly basis. The first series was released on four DVDs between January 05, and April 06, 2009. The first volume of Slayers Next was released on May 11, 2009.[24]

Episodes have also been made available on the streaming video site Hulu and Funimation's website.[25]

A fourth anime series, Slayers Revolution, premiered in Japan on July 2, 2008.[26] Megumi Hayashibara performed both the opening and ending theme songs.[27] The new plot to be told across two 13-episode arcs and follows an original storyline, with series director Takashi Watanabe and production studio J.C. Staff reprising their duties from the three original TV series.[28] A fifth Slayers series titled Slayers Evolution-R is the second 13-episode arc of Slayers Revolution and was aired on AT-X starting on January 12, 2009 in Japan[29].. FUNimation has licensed both Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R for American release; digital releases are currently scheduled for 2009, with the first of the DVDs set to be released in 2010. [30] Funimation was able to reunite most of the original Central Park Media cast for the English dub of the new season. However, Michael Sinterniklaas will replace David Moo as Xellos.[31]

[edit] OVAs

Two OVA series followed the anime series. Slayers Special (スレイヤーズすぺしゃる?) consisted of 3 individual episodes directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and released in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten and J.C. Staff. The first episode was released in Japan on July 25th, 1996 on Laserdisc and VHS.[32] In North America, Slayers Special was initially released on as two separate titles, Slayers: Dragon Slave and Slayers:Explosion Array.[3] On January 12, 1999, ADV Films released "Slayers: Explosion Array!" on VHS in a choice of subtitled and dubbed options.[33] On November 21, 2000, ADV Films released "Slayers: Book of Spells", containing all 3 Slayers Special episodes. [34] A

A second three series OVA, Slayers Excellent (スレイヤーえくせれんと?) followed in 1998. It was also directed by Watanabe and produced by J.C. Staff.

[edit] Films

 This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (August 2008)
  1. Slayers The Motion Picture (Movie, 1995)
  2. Slayers Return (Movie, 1996)
  3. Slayers Great (Movie, 1997)
  4. Slayers Gorgeous (Movie, 1998)
  5. Slayers Premium (Short movie, 2001)

[edit] Anime Comics

  • SLAYERS Return (1 Volume, adapted from Slayers Return movie, 1996)
  • SLAYERS Great (1 Volume, adapted from Slayers Great movie, 1997)
  • SLAYERS Gorgeous (1 Volume, adapted from Slayers Gorgeous movie, 1998)

[edit] Radio drama

  • Slayers Extra (4 episodes, adapted from Slayers Special novels, 1995-1996)
  • Slayers N'extra (4 episodes, adapted from Slayers Special novels, 1997)
  • Slayers Premium (1 episode, prologue and epilogue to Slayers Premium movie, 2002)
  • Slayers VS Orphen (1 episode, adapted from Slayers VS Orphen novel, 2005)
  • Kaette Kita Slayers Ex ("The Return of Slayers Ex", new Radio-Drama, 3 episodes for the time being, 2006)

[edit] Games

[edit] RPGs

The series was adapted into an add on for the Magius RPG.[3]

In August 2003, Guardians of Order published a Licensed Slayers RPG that used the d20 System[35], and three guidebooks that included pages of game stats in Guardians of Order's BESM game system for major characters, spells and weapons.[36]

[edit] Video games

Several Slayers role playing games have been released in Japan. "Slayers" was released by Banpresto on Super Famicom on June 24, 1994.[37] Another game entitled "Slayers" was released for PC98. Slayers Royal was released by Kadokawa Shoten for Sega Saturn on July 25, 1997. and by ESP Software for Sony Playstation on June 25, 1998.[38][39] A sequel, Slayers Royal 2 was released on Sega Saturn by ESP Software on September 03, 1998 and on Sony Playstation on July 11, 1999.[40][41] Slayers Wonderful was published by Banpresto for Sony Playstation on October 22, 1998.[42]

[edit] Music

Main article: List of Slayers songs

[edit] Reception

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (May 2009)

In "Anime Essentials: Every Thing a Fan Needs to Know", Giles Poitras wrote "More humorous and less serious looking than the characters in the Lodoss War series, the stars of Slayers provide action and laughs".[43]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "The Slayers DVD Collection". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.ca/The-Slayers-DVD-Collection/dp/1578004861. Retrieved on 2007-05-01. 
  2. ^ "Anime Review". Exploded goat. http://www.explodedgoat.com/animereview.php?num=9. Retrieved on 2007-05-01. 
  3. ^ a b c Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen. The Anime Encyclopedia, Revised and expanded edition. p. 591. ISBN 1-933330-10-4. 
  4. ^ "スレイヤーズ! (富士見ファンタジア文庫) (文庫)". Amazon.co.jp. http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4829123451/. Retrieved on 2009-06-23. 
  5. ^ "デモン・スレイヤーズ!―スレイヤーズ〈15〉 (富士見ファンタジア文庫) (文庫)". Amazon.co.jp. http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4829129662. Retrieved on 2009-06-23. 
  6. ^ "Slayers Volume 8: King of the City of Ghosts (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1427805059/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  7. ^ "Slayers Text, Vol. 1: The Ruby Eye (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1595320946/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  8. ^ "CPM Comics gearing up to release Slayers manga". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-09-21/cpm-comics-gearing-up-to-release-slayers-manga. Retrieved on 2009-05-18. 
  9. ^ "Slayers Book 1: Medieval Mayhem (Slayers (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1562199137/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  10. ^ "Slayers Special: Touch Of Evil (Slayers (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1586648659/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  11. ^ "Slayers Special: Notorious (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com//dp/1586649027/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  12. ^ "Slayers Super-Explosive Demon Story Volume 1: Legend Of Darkness (Slayers (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)". Amazon.com,. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1586648667/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  13. ^ "Slayers Super-Explosive Demon Story Volume 7 (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com//dp/158664937X/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  14. ^ "Slayers Premium (Slayers (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1586649736/. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  15. ^ "Kerokero Ace's Slayers Future Manga to Start in July". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-02/kerokero-ace-slayers-future-manga-to-start-in-july. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  16. ^ "Slayers Light Magic Manga Ends in Kerokero Ace Mag". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-03-27/slayers-light-magic-manga-ends-in-kerokero-ace-mag. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  17. ^ Carvalho, Joshua. "Anime primers - Slayers". Anime on DVD. http://web.archive.org/web/20021019152008/http://www.animeondvd.com/specials/primers/slayers.php. Retrieved on 2009-05-25. 
  18. ^ "The Slayers". Software Sculptors accessdate=2009-06-11. http://web.archive.org/web/19961128093159/http://www.software-sculptors.com/slayers.htm. 
  19. ^ Animerica 7 (4): Inside cover. May 1999. 
  20. ^ "FUNimation acquires Slayers TV series". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-05-15/funimation-acquires-slayers-tv-series. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  21. ^ "Funimation Channel on Colours Update". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-09-07/funimation-channel-on-colours-update. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  22. ^ Amazon.com release of FUNimation DVD box, retrieved 2007-08-01
  23. ^ "Slayers Seasons 1-3 Collection". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/slayers-seasons-13-collection_article_115501.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  24. ^ {{cite web |url=http://www.mvm-films.com/catalogue/letters.htm |title=MVM Films Catalog - Letter S |[[Publisher=MVM Films |accessdate=2009-06-11}}
  25. ^ "Funimation Adds Shuffle, Peach Girl, Slayers to Hulu". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-07/funimation-adds-shuffle-peach-girl-slayers-to-hulu. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  26. ^ "Enoki Films Seeks Licensors for Slayers Revolution". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-28/enoki-films-seeks-licensors-for-slayers-revolution. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  27. ^ "Megumi Hayashibara to Sing Slayers Revolution's Themes". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-28/megumi-hayashibara-to-sing-slayers-revolution-themes. Retrieved on 2009-05-19. 
  28. ^ "New Slayers TV anime series in the works". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-27/new-slayers-tv-anime-series-in-the-works. Retrieved on 2008-02-28. 
  29. ^ http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/slayers_revolution/er/index.html
  30. ^ "FUNimation adds Slayers Revolution, Evolution-R Fantasy Sequels". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-29/funimation-adds-slayers-revolution-fantasy-anime-sequel. Retrieved on 2008-12-29. 
  31. ^ "Funimation Adds Sengoku Basara TV Anime Series (Update 2)". Aime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-07-04/funimation-to-release-sengoku-basara. Retrieved on 2009-07-05. 
  32. ^ "Releases:Japan". ex.org. http://www.ex.org/1.1/18-releases_japan.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  33. ^ Animerica 7 (1): 2. 1999. 
  34. ^ "Slayers:The Book of Spells - Mania.com". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/slayers-book-spells_article_73956.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-10. 
  35. ^ "BESM News". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-07-11/besm. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  36. ^ "Guardians Of Order - Licensed Anime Products". Guardians of Order. http://web.archive.org/web/20070812000527/www.guardiansorder.com/games/anime/. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  37. ^ "Slayers Release Information for SNES". Gamefaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/snes/data/574852.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  38. ^ "Slayers Royal Release Information for Saturn". Gamefaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/saturn/data/562860.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  39. ^ "Slayers Royal Release Information for Playstation". Gamefaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/data/573537.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  40. ^ "Slayers Royal 2 Release Information for Saturn". Gamefaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/saturn/data/574371.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  41. ^ "Slayers Royal 2 Release Information for Playstation". Gamefaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/data/575461.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  42. ^ "Slayers Wonderful Release Information for Playstation". Gamefaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/data/562852.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
  43. ^ Poitras, Giles. Anime Essentials: Every Thing a Fan Needs to Know. Stone Bridge Press. p. 40. ISBN 9781880656532. 

[edit] External links


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Slayers
Characters
Races
World
Various media
Movies
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