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(Recent talk of subs vs. dubs reminded me of this show. This was previously posted to the Anime Primer thread but I went on too long, and then asked to have it deleted so I could start a dedicated topic. So... )
El-Hazard: The Magnificent World is an absolutely peerless OVA series from 1995, that is accessible, fabulously designed and directed, action-packed, brimming with great characters and terrific comedy, and has one of the best, most emotionally satisfying resolutions yet seen in the medium.
So now I've hyped it to hell and back, what's it about? Our hero, popular, unassuming high school student Makoto Mizuhara accidentally unearths some mysterious archaic ruins beneath the foundations of his school, causing a stir on the campus when his self-appointed arch-rival Katsuhiko Jinnai tries to take the credit for the discovery. Pursued by the insanely jealous Jinnai one night after school, Makoto encounters a beautiful woman who appears from within the crypt and greets him like a long-lost lover, before casting a spell that flings Makoto, Jinnai, Jinnai's cute yet shrewd sister Nanami and their alcoholic but dedicated teacher Mr. Fujisawa across the dimensions to the exotic world of El-Hazard, which like all good fantasy kingdoms is facing a crisis that could bring it to the brink of war. Fortunately the abducted Princess Fatora, whose presence is needed to activate the devastating Eye of God and thus keep the invading Bugrom hordes in check, has a perfect double in Makoto....
That's an auspicious beginning for any show and El-Hazard wastes no time building on it. Pretty soon you're dealing with a marauding insect army whose soldiers are all named after famous Japanese comedians, sorcerous priestesses yearning for heroes who'll make good marriage material, the missing princess's sex-mad underage lover, Mr. Fujisawa's unexpected acquisition of superhuman strength ('Fujisawa KICK!!!' - but only as long as he lays off the booze), a bishonen villain you can see coming a mile away, a Death Star ripoff, ancient mystical CD players and a demonic living weapon activated by a frankly suggestive method. It's also one of the best-written anime comedies I've ever seen, and certainly one of the few anime that could be imagined working well outside a Japanese context, something proven by the English dub which has been created with love and care, right down to the background performances.
There are several iterations of El-Hazard. The original seven-episode Magnificent World is all you really need, and happily after a long period out of print it's recently been rereleased on two dirt cheap DVDs. The sequels El-Hazard 2 and The Alternative World and the TV remake The Wanderers are sadly superfluous, recycling and diminishing the value of the original's great characters and situations and lacking the accustomed wit and shine. It doesn't matter: the OVA is a classic of the 1990s and more than enough. |
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