Slayers Goujas: A thorough analysis of the appeal of this fascinating fantasy adventure

Slayers Goujasu - Movie reviews and details

Overview of the film

Slayers Gojas is an anime film based on the light novel series Slayers by Kanzaka Hajime. It was released on August 8, 1998 and distributed by Kadokawa Shoten and Bandai Visual. It was directed by Watanabe Hiroshi and animated by JCSTAFF. The 62-minute film follows the turmoil that Lina Inverse and Naga the White Snake get into.

story

Lina and Naga are spending their time in the provincial city of Condron City. Suddenly, a dragon army flies in before their eyes. Without even understanding the situation, Lina and the others are caught up in a commotion between the beautiful young woman Marlene, who leads the dragon army, and the Cauldron soldiers. However, the dragon army retreats before Lina's attack magic. After hearing the story, King Calvert, the lord of Calvert Castle, sees Lina's strength and asks her for a favor. The request is to bring back his beloved daughter Marlene for 200 gold coins. In fact, the cause of this commotion started when he opposed an increase in his daughter's allowance. At the same time, Naga is lured by the daily wage and joins Marlene's side to defeat his father. The next day, the situation develops into a major incident...

cast

• Lina Inverse: Megumi Hayashibara
• White Snake Naga: Maria Kawamura
• Marlene Calvert: Kyoko Hikami
• Thornfort: Kanehito Shiozawa
• Guy's No: Junpei Takiguchi
• Lord Calvert: Akira Kamiya

Main Staff

• Produced by: Tsuguhiko Kadokawa
• Planning: Takeshi Tamiya
• Original author: Hajime Kanzaka
• Screenplay: Hajime Kamisaka
• Original illustrations and character designs: Araizumi Rui (serialized in Monthly Dragon Magazine/published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko)
• Producer: Kimiaki Sato
• Production producer: Yuji Matsukura
• Music: Takayuki Hattori, Osamu Tezuka
• Director: Hiroshi Watanabe
• Character design and chief animation director: Masahiro Aizawa
• Art director: Shunichiro Yoshihara
• Sound Director: Katsuyoshi Kobayashi
• Director of photography: Katsuyuki Otaki
• Animation production: JCSTAFF
• Cooperation: Fujimi Shobo
• Production: "Slayers Gojas" Production Committee

Main Characters

• Lina Inverse: As you all know, she is our beautiful genius mage. Her skills and magic are top-notch, and she is a big star, but her small chest is a source of worry for her. Due to her disregard for the trouble she causes to those around her, she is feared and nicknamed "Rovers Killer" and "Dragon-Stepping Lina."
• White Snake Naga: Self-proclaimed Lina's strongest and biggest rival. She overwhelms those around her with her costumes that emphasize her beautiful breasts and buttocks. She is good at making meaningless self-assertions, and her specialty is loud laughter. Therefore, when she hears bad laughter, she wants to teach her and tell her how to laugh properly. She often uses troublesome magic.
• Marlene Calvert: Lord Calvert's only daughter. When her request for an increase in her allowance was rejected, she rebelled against her father. She is a female swordsman with the power to tame dragons. She transformed her villa into a fortress castle and leads an army of dragons to fight against her father.
• Thornfort: Formerly the commander of Lord Calvert's royal guard. He serves under Marlene because of his belief that "cute girls are better than ugly old men." Although he is one of Marlene's two "Four Heavenly Kings," he is not very strong.
• Guysnow: Former Minister of Calvert Castle. Marlene's lieutenant, one of the two "Four Heavenly Kings". He is always plotting evil and thinking of the right opportunity to cause trouble. His true identity is a dragon, and he hides by transforming into a human.
• Lord Calvert: A local lord who has a castle in the provincial town of Cauldron City. He looks like a strict father. However, he is a father of one who is troubled by the rebellion of his only daughter, Marlene. He is soft-spoken, but his habit of boasting is a flaw.

Movie ratings and reviews

"Slayers Gojas" is a very enjoyable work for fans of the original work. The dialogue between Lina and Naga and the troubles they get caught up in firmly inherit the atmosphere of the original work. In particular, Lina's powerful magic and Naga's self-assertiveness are not only funny to the viewers, but are also important elements that liven up the story.

Although the story is simple, it is packed with fantasy elements such as family problems and battles with dragons. The humorous setting in which Marlene rebels because her allowance is increased also brings to mind the flavor of the original. The characters of Lina and Naga are also well-drawn, and their actions and lines reaffirm the appeal of the original.

The performances of the cast are also excellent, with voice actors Megumi Hayashibara as Lina and Maria Kawamura as Naga, who bring out the best in their characters. Kyoko Hikami as Marlene also does a good job of portraying the complex emotions of the rebellious daughter. The music also complements the atmosphere of the original, with Takayuki Hattori and Osamu Tezuka's compositions drawing the viewer in as the story unfolds.

The animation quality is also high, and JCSTAFF's technical skills shine through. The dragon and magic scenes in particular are visually beautiful, and you can really feel the appeal of this fantasy anime. Art director Shunichiro Yoshihara's work is also excellent, with the background and set designs really adding to the excitement of the story.

Recommended points

"Slayers Gojas" is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like fantasy and comedy anime. The dialogue between Lina and Naga and the humorous story are sure to entertain viewers. Also, the beautiful animation and music are not to be missed.

In particular, it is highly rated for having retained the appeal of the original, such as Lina's powerful magic, Naga's self-assertiveness, and the reason for Marlene's rebellion. It is also rich in fantasy elements, such as family problems and battles with dragons, making it a visually enjoyable work.

Furthermore, the acting by the cast and the music are superb, drawing the viewer into the story. The animation is of high quality, and JCSTAFF's technical skills shine through. Art director Shunichiro Yoshihara's work is also superb, with the background and set designs adding excitement to the story.

Overall, "Slayers Gojas" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to those who like fantasy and comedy anime. There are many charms to it, such as the dialogue between Lina and Naga, the humorous story, and the beautiful animation and music. Please give it a watch.