Summary: Feature film debut of the popular anime farce places the heroic warriors on a mysterious island. Screwball comedy and absurd dialouge is appealing to die hard fans, though some may be thrown off by the film's lack of originality.
Title Aka:	N/A
Company/Distributors:	A.D.V. Films
Year:	1995
Length:	75 Minutes
Rating:
Genres:	Fantasy, Comedy
Format:	Feature Film
Content Level:	Violence: Mild Sex: N/A Nudity: Mild Profanity: Mild
Comments:	N/A

Review: Unlike many anime series/OAV to film transfers, Slayers: The Motion Picture is not your typical kind of movie, but more or less the familiar 'Slayers' characters caught up in several 'fun-filled' adventurous escapades, predicaments and all around good-time anime mayhem. In following the traditions of it's many predecessors like "Tenchi: The Movie" and "Ranma 1/2", 'Slayers' utilizes it's several highly appealing, vaguely familiar and often hilarious characters into an all new adventure much different from it's original screenplay. We as anime fans however, like to label this type of film, as an anime motion picture. I myself as a reviewer like many others fear one aspect of this type of film. If anyone out there is a fan of the Slayers series, you know exactly what I mean. I realize that most anime motion pictures suffer from a common and well-known syndrome which I feel most anime motion pictures contain to some extent. Although if in the most unexpected event that Slayers motion picture will undoubtedly be totally different and non-superior to that of the series, the fact of this does not ruin my sense of judgement for this particullar film. The Slayers T.V. Series (Though rather ridiculous in it's own right) was both entertaining, often engaging and very funny. The film does not merely suffer from the occasional "series-to-film" syndrome, but instead presents the viewer a highly worthless comedy; and nowhere completely reminiscent of the series in any sense. Slayers: The Motion Picture suffers from several flaws, particulary in it's entire techincial and storyline presentation; it tends to loose all structure from the beginning. It does not contain the charm, humor and techniques of the show but twists them in such a way to make the 'Slayers' experience downright annoying. The viewers are left with not an entirely different concept, throwing all the characters into the mix of things, but instead the characters are often embarrassing to witness on-screen. Indeed, Slayers emphasizes it's worn techniques. Once again "Lina Inverse" is caught into the mix of things. She continues to use her magic powers to her advantage, attempting to steal from any thugs or bandits she may come across. Though what is most noticable about the film is the absence of several key characters, (Particulary Gourry) and the other new ones that are present. This time, she is accompanied by her companion and self-made rival Naga. The both of them have obtained two tickets to a supposedly magic-island resort known as "Mipross". On Mipross Island lies a legendary spring which natives of the island and elseware have been talking about for centuries. The spring in fact is thought to be magical, Lina attempts to seek out the spring in order to experience it's effects (To fullfill her long-awaited, um-'cough'; dream. Slayers fans know what I'm talking about). While upon arrival, the two realize that their long awaited vacation will have to come to a halt. Like many mystical worlds in anime, Mipross does contains a dark past; one once clouded by the forces of darkness and evil. While durring this vast struggle of good and evil long ago on the Island, two beings were involved in this. A young boy whom being one of them, has been clouded in Lina's mind for quite some time durring her journey to the Island. On several occasions Lina has had dreams about this experience though she does not know why. After someone on Mipross summons Lina and Naga to investigate the occurrences of this incident, Lina feels that it is her duty to find out the nature of her dreams, the boy and the historic struggles of the Island of Mipross. In uncovering the many secrets, Lina and Naga find themselves in a battle for time, good and evil, and the peace of Mipross; against one powerful being who will stop at nothing to finish what he began in the past. But of course Lina and Naga will rely on there magical powers and spells in order to save Mipross, that is if they don't kill off each other first. Yawn.... Um, but haven't I heard a story like this before. There are a number of things which hardly attempt to impress about this film. The fact that the entire concept of a "Slayers Motion Picture" always drifts into a much expected cliche nature is one thing, but the visual appeal of this movie is another. As I've mentioned the film is indeed vastly different from the series, in a sense that it fails in attempting to maintain the style seen in the original series. The new character designs don't seem to better serve the production, but instead attempt to ruin the aspects of these highly likable characters; which become something else we know them to be. Character development is absent from this lackluster of a feature Although Lina, Naga and the other characters in the film share the familiar 'goofy' characteristics, Slayers the motion picture is technically a disappointment. The art and animation in the film is extremely choppy, and the colors bland and lifeless. Though the various effects are often clever (especially considering the style of the original series) this doesn't save a film which already buries itself in faults. Who would of thought Slayers could have ever looked this bad? The film's goofy sense of humor tends tp fall flat on it's face, drenched in a never-ending struggle of the cliche and idiotic. Yes, the typical 'Slayers' humor is still present. The various in-jokes about Lina and the other characters, the often goofy and ridiculous sub-plots. But what would be the most highly entertaining about a film like this one, is the mere fact that these are the "Slayers!", and that this is anime. Slayers: The Motion Picture is the anime film which proves you can't rely on the reputation of characters to save a film from being ridiculous; a fact that this movie can't avoid. Click Here To See Overview!

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