Slayers Revolution
(Funimation Entertainment, 312 minutes)
Born out of a light novel series by Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi, Slayers presented a tongue in cheek story that parodied the fantasy genre while at the same time taking it seriously enough to tell a captivating story that would leave fans wanting more; so much more in fact that the authors churned out over 50 novels before finally settling down. Eventually the series was adapted into an anime, thus allowing it to reach a broader fan-base.
When Slayers first showed up on TV, it earned itself an instant cult following in both Japan and America. The series, though not as recognizable as other popular shows of that era, has appeared in just as many media, transcending its status as a simple anime into a viable media franchise, with an assortment of products including manga, video games, and even radio dramas. Slayers Revolution is the fourth entry into the show’s run and dubbed the fourth season despite airing 10 years after the previous installment.
The series focuses on the adventures of Lina Inverse, a powerful yet immature sorceress who travels throughout the land seeking glory and treasure, occasionally stopping to thwart the forces of evil that crop up along the way. Over the course of the series she’s been joined by an eclectic group of warriors including the memory deficient swordsman Gourry Gabriev, a chimera sorcerer named Zelgadis Greywords, and the magically inclined princess Amelia Wir Tesla Seyruun. Together they embark on various misadventures that range from light-hearted to dangerous.
As Revolution begins, Lina and Gourry have rid the world of any and all existing bandits, and so have decided to take up pirate hunting in the meantime until the bandit population can recover. Soon enough, their careers as pirate hunters are cut short when they are reunited with Amelia and Zelgadiss, who have a new face in tow. As it turns out, Lina’s exploits have landed her in the cross hairs of Wizer Freion, a special investigator seeking to arrest her for the crime of “being Lina Inverse”. In actuality, he was assigned to investigate the destruction of newly built weaponry by a magic similar to Lina’s own. In an effort to clear her name, the group sets out to capture the real culprit, an imp named Pokota.
From here, Pokota is given center stage, as the series delves into his history as a displaced prince that must win back his kingdom from a wicked marquess. Needless to say, wacky hijinks ensue as the group chases Pokota while fending off evil ninjas, boat-loads of assassins, as well as Wizer who blatantly disregards all evidence in an effort to pin the multiple offenses on the hapless Lina.
For those new to the series, Revolution is easy enough to get into thanks to the characters getting a quick reintroduction in the first episode, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a gander back at the previous three seasons. As the story progresses, references to past events make it a burden for new viewers to understand.
The episodes contained herein are hit and miss. True to form, Slayers offers up frenzied sword duels, loud explosions, and all the comedic tropes the series has come to be known for. Unfortunately, despite having only 13 episodes to tell its story, there are a few fillers mixed in. There are also instances in which the plot feels rushed and could have benefited from the extra episodes used for filler.
Further adding to the disappointment is the lack of bonus features. Typical for an anime release, all that is present here are textless openings and closings. With the effort Funimation took to reunite the original cast, one would think they could have grouped them together for a commentary or a featurette detailing their thoughts and feelings on returning to the series after so many years.
Slayers Revolution offers fans the same formula that made it a success. It’s mix of humor and a surprisingly dark story still manages to entrance viewers, resulting in an entertaining experience for all.
Slayers Revolution - B
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