El-Hazard (神秘の世界エルハザード) is a Japanese anime franchise written by Ryoe Tsukimura and directed by Hiroki Hayashi. The series was animated by AIC and produced by Pioneer LDC.
There is also a manga adaptation, which is published in English by Viz Media. The series was formerly distributed in the U.S. by Geneon. The distribution rights to the Wanderers TV series were acquired from Geneon by Right Stuf entertainment, announced during a Right Stuf press release on May 18, 2010. The anime was distributed by Right Stuf's publishing label Nozomi Entertainment. Later, during their panel at Anime Expo 2019, they also rescued The Magnificent World and The Alternative World OVAs.[2]
Plot
The story focuses on three high school students, Makoto Mizuhara, Katsuhiko Jinnai and Nanami Jinnai, and the History teacher Masamichi Fujisawa, who are mysteriously transported to the fantastical world of El-Hazard. When they arrive they find themselves in the middle of a war between the human nations and the insectoid Bugrom tribe.
The Magnificent World
The central conflict in El-Hazard: The Magnificent World (神秘の世界エルハザード) focuses on Makoto, who along with Nanami, Mr. Fujisawa and human residents of El-Hazard fight against Jinnai who is made leader of the Bugrom armies by Queen Diva, but meanwhile, other, more sinister machinations lie below the surface.
The Wanderers
El-Hazard: The Wanderers, known in Japan as simply El-Hazard (エルハザード), takes place in an alternative timeline from the original OVA. It is a simplified version of the original OVA plot, stretched to twenty-six episodes and eliminates or alters several of the OVA's major characters.
The Magnificent World 2
El-Hazard: The Magnificent World 2 (神秘の世界エルハザード2) is a sequel to the original OVA and features Makoto and the others continuing on in their lives in El-Hazard after the war with the Bugrom has ended. When Mr. Fujisawa suddenly runs off, getting cold feet the night before his wedding with Miz Mishtal, Makoto and the others race off to find him.
The Alternative World
El-Hazard: The Alternative World (異次元の世界エルハザード) follows up after the actual wedding of Mr. Fujisawa and Miz Mishtal, but the cast is then thrust into another world for a second time; the militant world of Creteria.
Characters
Media
The series began as a seven episode OVA produced by the animation studio AIC and Pioneer LDC, and it was entitled as, El-Hazard: The Magnificent World. It was popular enough to be remade into a twenty-six episode TV series, The Wanderers, set in an alternate time-line.
A second four-episode OVA series, El-Hazard: The Magnificent World 2, followed. El-Hazard: The Alternative World is a twelve-episode TV series with a follow-up special later released on laserdisc called "A Night of Captivation, Temptation, and Purification".
El Hazard: The Magnificent World 2, and El Hazard: The Alternative World are continuations of the original OVA (El-Hazard: The Magnificent World) whereas the TV series El Hazard: The Wanderers is a standalone series.
There is also a Sega Saturn visual novel video game inspired from the TV series, with several possible endings.
Guardians of Order released the El-Hazard Role-Playing Game role-playing game based on the first OVA series in 2001 and with rules based on the company's Tri-Stat system.
On August 13, 2018, AIC announced that they were planning to crowdfund a short five minute pilot for a new El Hazard series titled The Dual World.[3]
List of The Magnificent World and The Magnificent World 2 episodes
Reception
Anime reviews
Theron Martin argued that the series doesn't "come close to representing the cream of the crop of '90s anime," and neither did it "establish any new trends or have a marked influence on the course of anime.[5] He also criticized Alielle Relryle for being presented as a "midget flaming lesbian" who sees Princess Fatora Venus as the "only object" of her affection. Chris Beveridge further said, in Mania that he still finds himself "grinning stupidly at many parts of this series."[6] Raphael See said that the series is "remarkable when it counts," referring to the scenery and backgrounds.[7]
Soundtrack reviews
"As nice as the opening piece and Ifurita's theme may be, the rest of the album doesn't quite succeed at reaching out and grabbing your attention." – Keith Rhee, about "Best of El Hazard" in EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga.[8]
Further reading
External links
References
- Lynzee Loveridge. 8 Anime That Were Isekai Before It Was Cool Anime News Network, August 19, 2017, retrieved February 11, 2024^
- Jennifer Sherman. Right Stuf, Nozomi Ent. Add Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, A.D. Police, El-Hazard Anime Anime News Network, July 6, 2019, retrieved July 6, 2019^
- AIC Plans Crowdfunding for El Hazard Sequel Project