Slayers Next review: Will the sequel of magic and adventure exceed expectations?

SLAYERS NEXT - Dive again into the world of magic and adventure

"Slayers NEXT," which was broadcast in 1996 as a sequel to the monumental fantasy anime "Slayers," further deepened the worldview of the original story of Kanzaka Hajime and Araizumi Rui, once again drawing viewers into the world of magic and adventure. Here, we will introduce the appeal and details of "Slayers NEXT" in a long article of over 8,000 characters.

Overview

"Slayers NEXT" is a 26-episode anime series that aired on TV Tokyo (TX) from April 5 to September 27, 1996. It is based on the "Slayers" series by Kanzaka Hajime and Araizumi Rui, and is published by Kadokawa Shoten's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint. It is also serialized in Monthly Dragon Magazine and Monthly Comic Dragon (Fujimi Shobo). Animation was handled by Easy Film, and production was handled by softx and TX.

The director is Takashi Watanabe, the series composition is by Hajime Kanzaka, and the script is written by Katsuhiko Chiba and Kyoko Watanabe. The character design is by Nahomi Miyata, the monster design is by Kenji Teraoka, and the animation directors include Nahomi Miyata and Kazuhiro Sasaki. The sound director is Sadayoshi Fujino.

Main characters and cast

The main character Lina Impasto is played by Megumi Hayashibara, Gourry by Yasunori Matsumoto, Zelgadis by Hikaru Midorikawa, and Amelia by Masahito Suzuki. These cast members have continued to appear from the previous work "Slayers", and they bring out the charm of the characters to the fullest.

Stories and episodes

"Slayers NEXT" is a sequel to the previous work "Slayers" and tells the story of Lina and her friends embarking on a new adventure. The story begins with the first episode "Suddenly in a pinch! The terror of the demon Zoamergustar!", in which Lina confronts the demon Zoamergustar. From then on, Lina and her friends overcome various enemies and trials as they throw themselves into the battle to protect the "laws of the world."

In the second episode, "The Freest Priest! His Name is Zeros!", a new character, Zeros, appears and his presence has a major impact on the story. In the third episode, "A Great Business! Being a Bodyguard Isn't Easy!", Lina and her friends are hired as bodyguards, and humor and action intertwine. In the fourth episode, "An Ancient Contract! Those Who Seek Immortality!", a battle with those who seek immortality is depicted, testing Lina's strength and the bonds between her companions.

In episode 5, "Because of the remaining love!", Lina and her friends face a past tragedy, and their humanity is portrayed in depth. In episode 6, "Don't let her go! The determined Martina returns!", Martina, the enemy from the previous series, reappears and gives Lina and her friends a new challenge. In episode 7, "Amazing cooking! Chase the phantom dragon!", Lina's cooking skills are put to the test in a humorous episode.

In episode 8, "Forever! The Day Phil Died?", the episode surrounding Phil's death unfolds, further deepening the bond between Lina and the others. In episode 9, "Hidden Ambition! A Shocking Confession?", Zeros' true purpose is revealed, bringing a new development to the story. In episode 10, "A Strange Journey Filled with Eccentrics?! Recover Your Magic!", humor and action are intertwined as Lina and the others go on a journey to recover their magical powers.

In episode 11, "The Voice of Darkness Approaches! Slice through with the Laguna Blade!", Lina learns a new magic spell, the Laguna Blade, and faces off against a powerful enemy. In episode 12, "A Turn of Events? An Unexpected Truth!", an important episode that gets to the heart of the story unfolds, greatly changing the fate of Lina and her friends. In episode 13, "On the Brink of Falling! The End of Ambition!", Lina and her friends take on the fight to thwart their enemies' ambitions.

Episode 14, "Forbidden Dance? Where's the Strongest Spell?", depicts Lina searching for the strongest spell, and humor and action intersect. Episode 15, "Great Clash? Battle at the Tower of Artem!", depicts Lina and her friends challenging a battle at the Tower of Artem! Episode 16, "The Magic Ball of Hatred! A Fastball of Guts!", depicts Lina and her friends challenging a baseball-themed episode, and humor and action intersect.

In episode 17, "Is His Rumored Girlfriend Zelgadis?", Zelgadis's past is revealed, deepening his character. In episode 18, "The Sand Temple! The Secret of Giga Slave!", Lina investigates the secret of the "Giga Slave", bringing new developments to the story. In episode 19, "Zelos' True Identity Finally Revealed!", Zeros' true identity is revealed, becoming an important episode that gets to the heart of the story.

Episode 20, "We Must Go! Aim for Dragon's Valley!" depicts Lina and her friends heading for Dragon's Valley, and is a mix of humor and action. Episode 21, "The Thousand-Year Truth! The Traitorous Demon Dragon King!", reveals the Demon Dragon King's betrayal, and Lina and her friends' fates change dramatically. Episode 22, "The Stolen Sword of Light! The Demon Dragon King's Final Moment!", sees Lina and her friends take on the Demon Dragon King in a final battle.

In episode 23, "The Menacing Magic Swordsman! A Journey of Reunion!", Lina and her friends face off against a new enemy, the "Magic Swordsman," and the story follows their journey of reunion. In episode 24, "An Evil Trap! The Phantom City of the Dead!", Lina and her friends face off in a battle in the city of the dead. In episode 25, "The Souls of the Dead! Lina's Final Decision!", Lina makes her final decision, and the story reaches its climax. In episode 26, "Go to NEXT! And Again...", the episode in which Lina and her friends begin a new adventure is depicted, building up viewers' expectations for the next installment.

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Slayers NEXT" continues the appeal of the previous "Slayers" series, but introduces new characters and storylines, drawing viewers into a world of magic and adventure once again. The series depicts Lina's strength and humor, her bonds with her companions, and her battles with new enemies, providing viewers with excitement and emotion.

In particular, the appearance of Zeros brings new developments to the story, and his character plays an important role in getting to the heart of the story. There are also many episodes in which Lina grows and the bonds between her friends deepen, which leaves viewers in awe. There are also many episodes in which humor and action intertwine, which entertains viewers.

"Slayers NEXT" has been praised as a milestone in fantasy anime and has received high support from viewers. In particular, Lina's strength and humor, her bonds with her companions, and her battles with new enemies are depicted, providing viewers with excitement and emotion. In addition, the appearance of Zelos brings a new development to the story, and his character plays an important role in getting to the heart of the story.

Recommendations and related works

For viewers who enjoyed "Slayers NEXT," we also recommend the sequels "Slayers TRY," "Slayers REVOLUTION," and "Slayers EVOLUTION-R." These shows depict new adventures for Lina and her friends, providing viewers with even more excitement and thrills. You can also enjoy the original novels and comics, which will give you a deeper insight into the world of Lina and her friends.

Furthermore, for viewers who enjoyed "Slayers NEXT," other fantasy anime are also recommended. Many works depicting worlds of magic and adventure, such as "Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai," "Record of Lodoss War," and "Xenosaga," provide viewers with excitement and emotion. By enjoying these works, you will be able to understand the appeal of "Slayers NEXT" even more deeply.

"Slayers NEXT" has been praised as a milestone in fantasy anime and has received high support from viewers. It depicts Lina's strength and humor, her bonds with her companions, and the battle against a new enemy, providing viewers with excitement and emotion. The appearance of Zelos brings a new development to the story, and his character plays an important role in getting to the heart of the story. We recommend that viewers also enjoy the sequels and related works. By enjoying these works, you will be able to understand the appeal of "Slayers NEXT" even more deeply.