Search - Slayers Next - The Complete Second Season on DVD

Can't get enough of that Lina Inverse.

trashcanman | Hanford, CA United States | 12/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Slayers Next" is typically cited as the best season of this fantasy/comedy anime that should serve as a centerpiece to any animation collection. I've already gone over the show's basics on my review of The Slayers - The Complete First Season so I'll cut to the chase here. While the first season is my favorite, this is in no way an inferior outting for Lina and her band of merry misfits. Many new characters are introduced, all the favorites from season one are back, and the storylines continue to balance comedy reminiscent of the Three Stooges with an epic fantasy universe that seems to live and breathe on it's own.

This second season expands on that universe and manages to ramp up the tension as Lina Inverse is forced to learn more and more dangerous magics to keep pace with the chaos-worshipping demons that intend to destroy mankind. That's not to say that our heroine doesn't find plenty of time to fight over food (one of her passions), pick on bandits and other pathetic would-be villains (it's a hobby), and destroy a kingdom or two with her Dragon Slave spell. Her primary nemesis for much of this season is Martina, a princess displaced by Lina's aforementioned destruction who worships a monster named Zomoulgustar. Sound like a name an autistic kid would think up? Welllll....
Martina's usually poorly though out attempts at revenge provide plenty of comic relief throughout the season, but don't think that Gourry gets off the hook. He picks up an admirer of his own; a rogue swordsman who wishes to duel with him. But who has the time with all these apocalypses to avert? But the newcomer most beloved by fans is the mysterious priest Xellos; a character fond of dropping hints at crucial plot points and then, when asked for more specific information, declaring "That.....is a secret" with his pointer finger thrust upward for emphasis and then disappearing.

Who the hell is this Xellos guy? Will Martina ever get a life? What manner of beast could possibly challenge the mighty Lina Inverse at this point? Will the jokes about Lina's small breasts ever cease? All questions will be answered and there will be both dungeons and dragons aplenty for fantasy buffs. "Slayers Next" delivers exactly what fans of the first season would want: more of the same. More characters, more action, more madness, more magic, more slapstick, and best of all more Lina Inverse. If you dug season one, have no fear; this is exactly what you'd hope for in a sophomore season."

What Slayers is supposed to be

Galvatron | New York, NY USA | 08/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Slayers NEXT is the second season to the 1995 TV Anime "The Slayers". Both seasons are based off novels written by Hajime Kanzaka. This season of Slayers is 26 episodes long, like the first one is. In my opinion, it has the perfect balance of comedy/seriousness, and every episode has memorable moments, even the filler episodes are 5 star quality.

This season introduces Xellos, the trickster priest. A favorite character among many Slayers fans. He has comical charm with his wacky antics, and at the same time a mysterious motive that will keep you wondering what it is he's really up to.

Watching this kept me wanting more and more, and I didn't stop watching until I reached the end.

Chances are, if you liked season 1, you will like this too. Maybe even more. I recommend this to anyone who likes the fantasy/comedy genres"

A great overall value for the must-own season of all Slayers

D. White | NY USA | 04/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Slayers Next is overall the best season of Slayers. And in this package you can own all 26 episodes for a very reasonable price. It is true however that the overall quality of the DVD transfer here leaves room for improvement, despite the nebulous claim to "remastering". Ignoring that loaded term, the episodes look otherwise fine for the age of the series. And of course with these DVDs one can switch between both the excellent English and Japanese voice work at will.

The show itself--the second season of Slayers--contains the best overall balance of humor, gravitas, and animation of the seasons. Original Slayers remains fun to watch, of course, though Next really does look a step above in animation. The later Slayers Try also has relatively impressive animation, but is populated by more significant highs and lows. Specific episodes of Try are some of the funniest episodes of all Slayers (especially the volatility of Filia and Xellos). But other--usually filler--episodes of Try are in some cases actually painfully bad.

Slayers Next gets almost everything right, including an epic series of final episodes with a wonderful ending that continues to overshadow the rest of the series (including the new Revolution/Evolution currently showing in Japan).

In many ways, Slayers Next is akin to The Empire Strikes Back or The Wrath of Khan, being the "superb second entry" of the given series. And thus of all seasons I consider it a must-own for any animation collection."

Best of the Slayers line

J. Miller | Portland, OR | 06/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While I can't speak to any particular production issues that this release of Slayers: Next may have, I can say that it is absolutely my favorite season of anime, period. The mood of the show varies between dangerously silly (ie: The Macho Dragon Blood Battle Brothers bandit gang!) and deadly serious, with a more episodic quality improving the re-watchability of the component episodes. The humor of the series -- which really is the hallmark of the series -- translates fabulously from the japanese without relying on obnoxious fan-servicey behaviors. The production quality of the show is looking a bit dated (compared to, say, Samurai Champloo which was a surprisingly good show) but the writing is absolutely top-notch for an honest-to-goodness swords & sorcery adventure slug-fest."