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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.<ref>{{cite web || url = http://www.animeondvd.com/specials/primers/slayers.php | title = Anime primers - Slayers | first = Joshua | last = Carvalho | publisher = Anime on DVD | accessdate = 2006-08-18 }}</ref> The series aired on [[TV Tokyo]] from April 7, 1995 through September 26, 1997, totaling 78 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.<ref>{{cite web || url = http://www.animeondvd.com/specials/primers/slayers.php | title = Anime primers - Slayers | first = Joshua | last = Carvalho | publisher = Anime on DVD | accessdate = 2006-08-18 }}</ref> The series aired on [[TV Tokyo]] from April 7, 1995 through September 26, 1997, totaling 78 episodes.


It was released on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] in North America by [[Central Park Media|Software Sculptors]] who produced an english dub for the series. 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. It aired as part of the FUNimation programming block on [[CoLours TV]] before the entire block was canceled, and the first bilingual DVD box set was released on August 27, 2007 containing the [[Software Sculptors]] dub.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MTOMAS Amazon.com] release of FUNimation DVD box, retrieved 2007-08-01</ref>
It was released on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] in North America by [[Central Park Media|Software Sculptors]] who produced an english dub for the series. 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. It aired as part of the FUNimation programming block on [[CoLours TV]] before the entire block was canceled, and the first bilingual DVD box set was released on August 27, 2007 containing the [[Central Park Media]] dub.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MTOMAS Amazon.com] release of FUNimation DVD box, retrieved 2007-08-01</ref>


A fourth anime series, ''[[Slayers Revolution]]'', premiered in Japan on July 2, 2008 and [[Megumi Hayashibara]] performed both the opening and ending theme songs.<ref name="animenewsSR">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9500 |title=Slayers Revolution (TV) |publisher=animenewsnetwork.com |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> ''Revolution'' is 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-27/new-slayers-tv-anime-series-in-the-works |title=New Slayers TV anime series in the works |publisher=animenewsnetwork.com|accessdate=2008-02-28}}</ref> Since the fourth season was aired in Japan on July 2, 2008 through September 27, 2008 with 13 episodes, the totaling for all four seasons is 91 episodes.
A fourth anime series, ''[[Slayers Revolution]]'', premiered in Japan on July 2, 2008 and [[Megumi Hayashibara]] performed both the opening and ending theme songs.<ref name="animenewsSR">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9500 |title=Slayers Revolution (TV) |publisher=animenewsnetwork.com |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> ''Revolution'' is 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-27/new-slayers-tv-anime-series-in-the-works |title=New Slayers TV anime series in the works |publisher=animenewsnetwork.com|accessdate=2008-02-28}}</ref> Since the fourth season was aired in Japan on July 2, 2008 through September 27, 2008 with 13 episodes, the totaling for all four seasons is 91 episodes.

Revision as of 04:01, 15 April 2009

For other uses, see Slayer (disambiguation).
Slayers
File:Slayers-anime-logo.jpg
Slayers anime promotional image
スレイヤーズ
(Sureiyāzu)
GenreAdventure, comedy, fantasy
Manga
Written byHajime Kanzaka
Illustrated byRui Araizumi
Published byJapan Kadokawa Shoten/Fujimi Shobo
English publisherCanada United States Tokyopop
MagazineMonthly Dragon Magazine
DemographicMale
Volumes31
Manga
Written byRui Araizumi
Issei Hyouji
Hajime Kanzaka
Yoshijirou Muramatsu
Tommy Ohtsuka
Shin Sasaki
Shoko Yoshinaka
Published byJapan Kadokawa Shoten
English publisherAustralia New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Canada United States CPM Manga
DemographicShōnen
Original run1995 – 2005
Volumes8
Anime
Directed byTakashi Watanabe
StudioE.G. Films
Released April 7, 1995 – September 29, 1995
Anime
Slayers Next
Directed byTakashi Watanabe
StudioE.G. Films
Released April 5, 1996 – September 27, 1996
Anime
Slayers Try
Directed byTakashi Watanabe
StudioE.G. Films
Released April 4, 1997 – September 26, 1997
Anime
Slayers Revolution
Directed byTakashi Watanabe
StudioJ.C.STAFF
Released July 2, 2008 – September 24, 2008
Anime
Slayers Evolution-R
Directed byTakashi Watanabe
StudioJ.C.STAFF
Released January 12, 2009 – April 6, 2009
Related works

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.

Characters

Main article: List of Slayers characters

Setting and magic

In the universe of Slayers, the supreme being is neither good nor evil, but is called the Lord of Nightmares, who created everything, and who is said to "shine like gold on the Sea of Chaos." Later, it is revealed that the Lord of Nightmares is in fact the Sea of Chaos itself. Four pillars rise out of the Sea of Chaos, and each supports its own world. Since the Sea of Chaos comprises the Lord of Nightmares' body, the worlds likewise spring from her. In Slayers Next, the Claire Bible confides that if the worlds are destroyed and returned to chaos, the Lord of Nightmares can return to her true form (although why she created the four worlds in the first place has not been revealed, neither by the novels nor the author himself).

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 (most of the series takes place within this barrier, shown in the beginning of season three as the limits of the map shown in the first two season). These leaders and their servants are among the principal antagonists throughout the three Slayers TV seasons. They are intelligent, cunning creatures, often indulging in intrigue amongst themselves, and they feed upon negative human emotion, especially fear and pain.

To increase the amount of pain and terror they cause, the most powerful Mazoku lend their power to humans in the form of Black Magic spells that call directly on their powers[citation needed]. Such spells include the Gaav Flare (no longer functional after the events of Slayers Next) and Dragon Slave, and are capable of causing enormous damage and suffering to all things and beings, except the Mazoku whose power is invoked for that spell and higher-ranking Mazoku who can protect themselves.

In contrast to the destructive power of Black Magic are the healing abilities of White Magic, drawn from the caster's own life force. Striking a balance between healing and attack is the rare Divine Magic, which only the dragon servants of the Shinzoku have been shown to channel; it is suggested that the barrier erected by the generals of Shabranigdo blocked the power of Ceiphied and his fragments, and thus those people within the barrier had no access to the power to develop spells based around it. Whether people outside the barrier could channel Divine Magic is suspect, as in Slayers Try people outside the barrier are in awe at a simple light spell--confided by the author[citation needed] to be accessible to anyone regardless of magical potential, with rote study.

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 (explained by Lina to Gourry in season one).

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 (as explained in great detail in Slayers Next).

Media

See also: List of Slayers media

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.[3] The series aired on TV Tokyo from April 7, 1995 through September 26, 1997, totaling 78 episodes.

It was released on VHS and DVD in North America by Software Sculptors who produced an english dub for the series. 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. It aired as part of the FUNimation programming block on CoLours TV before the entire block was canceled, and the first bilingual DVD box set was released on August 27, 2007 containing the Central Park Media dub.[4]

A fourth anime series, Slayers Revolution, premiered in Japan on July 2, 2008 and Megumi Hayashibara performed both the opening and ending theme songs.[5] Revolution is 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.[6] Since the fourth season was aired in Japan on July 2, 2008 through September 27, 2008 with 13 episodes, the totaling for all four seasons is 91 episodes.

A fifth Slayers series titled Slayers Evolution-R was announced recently. This series is the second 13-episode arc of Slayers Revolution and will be aired on AT-X from January 12, 2009 in Japan[7]. 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.[8] Currently, it is unknown whether or not the original english cast will reprise their roles in the upcoming dub.

All 26 English-dubbed episodes of the first season are available to watch on the streaming video site Hulu, with all 52 dubbed episodes of the first and second season also available on Funimation's YouTube channel.[9]

OVAs

Two OVA series followed the anime series. Slayers Special (スレイヤーズスペシャル), also known as Slayers: The Book of Spells, is a collection of three OVA episodes directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and released in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten and J.C. Staff in 1996.

A second three series OVA, Slayers Excellent (スレイヤーエクセレント) followed in 1998. It was also directed by Watanabe and produced by J.C. Staff.

Both OVAs, and all five films were licensed for English language release in North America by ADV Films, who recast every character's voice with their own in house voice cast. This caused controversy with fans who admired the original voices.

Films

  1. Slayers The Motion Picture (Movie, 1995) (also known as Slayers Perfect, although this is just a fan-made name)
  2. Slayers Return (Movie, 1996)
  3. Slayers Great (Movie, 1997)
  4. Slayers Gorgeous (Movie, 1998)
  5. Slayers Premium (Short movie, 2001)

Light novels

Volumes one through eight of the light novels have been translated into English and released in North America by Tokyopop.

Games

A role-playing game called The Slayers d20 was published by Guardians of Order.

Five video games have been created for the series:

References

  1. ^ "The Slayers DVD Collection". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  2. ^ "Anime Review". Exploaded goat. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  3. ^ Carvalho, Joshua. "Anime primers - Slayers". Anime on DVD. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  4. ^ Amazon.com release of FUNimation DVD box, retrieved 2007-08-01
  5. ^ "Slayers Revolution (TV)". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  6. ^ "New Slayers TV anime series in the works". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  7. ^ http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/slayers_revolution/er/index.html
  8. ^ "FUNimation adds Slayers Revolution, Evolution-R Fantasy Sequels". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  9. ^ "Hulu Slayers Channel". Retrieved 2009-01-16. {{cite web}}: Text "Hulu Slayers Channel" ignored (help)
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