The Slayers: Vol.2 and Vol.3
Running time: Both discs 150 mins approx (7 eps per volume)
Classification : Both PG
Distributor: MVM
Region: R2 PAL
Video: 4:3
Audio: Japanese 2.0, English 2.0.
Subtitles: English.
Release Date: Vol2 – 2nd February 2009, Vol 3 – 2nd March 2009.
RRP: £15.99 each
Overview, Volume 2:
To many, Rezo the Red Priest is a just and kindly benefactor, saviour of the needy and an all-round pretty swell guy, but to those in the know he’s the biggest threat to the human race since time began. He’s got a fiendish plan, the power to take on the gods, and no qualms about destroying anything or anyone that may stand in his way. So this leaves Lina and Gourry with a little problem since they’re the ones that are standing in his way. When your enemy has the might of an ancient and terrible Dark Lord behind him, you’re going to need more than a sharp sword and a hand full of fireballs just to stay alive, let alone save the world. When the final showdown beckons, will Lina and her companions really have what it takes?
Overview, Volume 3:
Saving the world’s all well and good but it’d be nice to get some recognition for it every now and again. No such luck for Lina who’s the unwitting victim of a particularly nasty frame-up. With a hefty reward out for her capture our heroine has to make a sharp exit whilst trying to get away from not only a mass of bounty hunters, but also a former ally. With the ever-loyal Gourry in tow, Lina has to evade capture, kick arse and clear her name. In comparison, saving the world seems like a piece of cake.
Episode list, Volume 2:
Ep 7, GIVE UP! But, Just Before We Do, The Sure Kill Sword Appears!
Ep 8, HELP! Shabranigdo is Reborn!
Ep 9, IMPACT! The Eve of the Menacing Battle!
Ep 10, JACKPOT! The Great Life or Death Gamble!
Ep 11, KNOCK OUT! The Seyruun Family Feud!
Ep 12, LOVELY! Amelia’s Magic Training!
Ep 13, MONEY! Crush Those Bounty Hunters!
Episode list, Volume 3:
Ep 14, NAVIGATION! An Invitation to Sairaag!
Ep 15, OH NO! Lina’s Wedding Rhapsody?
Ep 16, PASSION! Shall We Give Our Lives for the Stage?
Ep 17, QUESTION? He’s Proposing to THAT Girl!
Ep 18, RETURN! The Red Priest is Back!
Ep 19, SHOCK! Sairaag Falls!
Ep 20, TROUBLE! Rahanimu, the Furious Fish Man!
Comments:
Slayers is a shining example of an old anime done right. It’s no surprise to the fans that, almost 15 years after this series first debuted in Japan, it’s still going as strong as ever. Such is the appeal of both the characters and the Slayers universe in general that it’s rarely been out of active production ever since. Over the years it’s spawned numerous OVAs, films, various manga projects, untold amounts of music CDs and currently airing in Japan is the umpteenth Slayers TV anime.
Whether you’re an “old skool” anime fan looking back fondly to the VHS days of the 20th century or a newer anime fan growing tired of the homogenised, CGI heavy, cookie-cutter digital download anime of today, Slayers is worth checking out.
Audio/Dub/Subtitles:
The sheer exuberance of both the original Japanese cast and the English dub cast really help make for an interesting show. While the Japanese versions of Lina and Gourry really made this show work, it’s the collective efforts of Lisa Ortiz and Eric Stuart that really carries them over to an English speaking audience with their fiery zest and amusing quirks intact.
Extras:
None, but seeing as we’re getting 7 episodes per volume, rather than the average 3 or 4 episodes we usually get, it seems like a pretty good trade-off to me. With the sheer number of episodes being packed onto each disc, the entire series of 26 episodes will fit quite happily on 4 DVDs instead of 6 or 7 making these “no-frills” releases great value for money.
The Slayers: Vol.2 available from major retailers including Amazon
The Slayers: Vol. 3 is released on 2nd March 2009 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon
xxxHolic – Series 1 Part 2
Label: Manga / Funimation
Release date: 16th February 2009
Certificate: 12
Running time: Approx 290 minutes (12 episodes over 3 discs)
Region: R2 PAL
Video: 16:9 anamorphic
Audio: Japanese 2.0, English 5.1.
Subtitles: English.
RRP: £24.99
Synopsis:
When Kimihiro Watanuki started working part time at Yūko Ichihara’s store he thought he’d just be cooking some meals, doing some cleaning and maybe running some errands. It turns out Yuko, also known as “The Dimensional Witch”, has other plans for her new assistant. Several of Yuko’s errands require someone to get hands-on with the supernatural and Watanuki’s just the man for the job. On the whole it’s not such a bad job dealing with supernatural and unexplainable beings but, while most are just odd and some are just plain creepy, there’s a few that are out and out sinister or evil. Being unable to quit while working off his debt to Yuko, Watanuki will just have to carry on with her tasks whether he likes it or not. However, the longer he spends on the job, the more it becomes evident that his involvement with this other world may not be as coincidental as he first thought.
Comments:
xxxHolic is back with this, the concluding half of it’s first series. It’s as wonderfully animated, scored and acted (in both languages) as the previous release. For those who like their tales of the supernatural with a dollop of humour, healthy helpings of mystery and mystique and all topped off with lashings of style, then this the series to be checking out.
Extras:
Much like the xxxHolic – Series 1 Part 1 set which I reviewed on this site last
xxxHolic – Series 1 Part 2 is available from major retailers including Amazon