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wildvision) wrote2010-10-13 11:58 pm
wildvision) wrote2010-10-13 11:58 pm
Slayers Revolution Review
Well, I finally got around to watching Slayers Revolution. I know, it's about time, right? XD
First of all, I watched the English version. Slayers is one of a handful of titles that I honestly prefer the dub. I saw the dub first, and it was really well done. And I honestly prefer a few of the English actors to their Japanese counterparts. I really like Megumi Hayashibara as both an actress and a singer, but she just isn't Lina to me. Lisa Ortiz is.
So, needless to say, I was thrilled that they managed to get the original VAs for Lina, Gourry, Zel, and Amelia all to come back and do Revolution. And they all still sounded great. I was a little worried, since they haven't played these roles for something like ten years, but it worked out okay. <3 They did recast the lesser characters, though, like Xelloss, Sylphiel, and Phil, but that's not so bad. I actually rather like the new Xelloss. He sounds more like the Japanese actor, in tone. Kind of soft and quiet, and able to do polite or creepy as the situation demands. It was a little weird, since I was so used to David Moo, but if they had to replace him, I'm glad they got this guy.
Let's see...what other things did I wonder about the translation of? Spells, for one. They kept the original chants for the Dragon Slave and the Ragna Blade, which I really hoped they would. It just wouldn't be right to change those, now. They did keep 'monster race' as a translation for Mazoku, which I have mixed feelings on. It keeps the contiunity, but I've always thought that 'monster race' was a ridiculous translation. I mean...there are so many things in the Slayers world that could be called monsters. Something like 'demon race' would be better, especially since the Mazoku are portrayed as being the opposites of the Gods in the mythology. Ah, well. Also, on a totally minor note, they changed Sylphiel's 'Gourry dear' to 'Sir Gourry'. I was a little disappointed, though I do agree that this is a more accurate translation. Still, it's one of the things I think of when I think of Sylphiel. Oh, well. It's not like we see that much of her, anyway. XD
Also, just the dialogue in general. The original three seasons were dubbed by Software Sculptors, and Revolution/Evolution-R was done by FUNimation. So, I wondered if the dialogue would still be accurate. And, thankfully, it was. Pretty much the same as the first three seasons...sometimes they'd need to rearrange a line, or add a little to it, to make it fit the animation, but the meaning is always the same, and heck, the wording is too, most of the time. So, yay.
I think that's it, translation-wise. Now, for the rest. =D
I have to say, the art is so shiny! I just love it. Obviously, I like the original art, too, but this is just so pretty and newer-looking. The colors are brighter, and the new Dragon Slave animation is very pretty. <3 And the opening and ending footage! Again, very very shiny. And heck, the music is, too! That's something else that I'd worried about, back before the series started airing in Japan. The themes for Slayers have a certain feel to them, and I was afraid they wouldn't get it right. But they did. More Megumi Hayashibara songs, as usual, and they're just awesome. <3
Now, for the story! I laughed so hard at the beginning of that first episode...Lina and Gourry had hunted the bandits nearly to extinction, so they decided to go beat up on pirates for a while, to give the bandit population time to recover. XD Seriously, though...Lina, fighting pirates. What's not to love? XD And Gourry, he keeps breaking his swords, then having to try to fix them. XD Poor guy needs his Sword of Light back! (Or another, equally awesome sword. I really hope they find him something better to use.) Honestly, I was really pleased with the humor, overall. Slayers is a funny series, and they kept that going here. (But I'm seriously going to pout if we don't have a crossdressing episode later.)
As for the new characters, I've got mixed feelings. I like Pokota, though it took a little while. I also kinda like Duclis, which is weird, since he's a bad guy. Giocanda was a crazy bitch (who looked like a circus clown) and Wizer is just loopy. I keep hoping that he's actually not as stupid as he acts (and we do see evidence hinting at that a couple of times), but still. XD He's a little painful to listen to, sometimes. I'm not quite sure what I think of Zuuma. I remember him from the novels, so I actually had some expectations. I'm mostly happy, but there's just something that feels a little...off. I don't know, like maybe he's not quite as creepy or scary as he was in the novels. Maybe that's just me, though.
Reviving Zanafar was an interesting plot device. We've heard about Zanafar, from back in the first season, but this is obviously the first time we've seen it. Actually, that's something else...before, I always got the feeling that Zanafar was one-of-a-kind. It was just 'Zanafar', not 'a Zanafar', as we see here. Oh, well. Watching Gourry kick its ass was one of my favorite bits. <3
And I'm really curious as to the jar holding part of Rezo's spirit that they mentioned earlier...I'm guessing that's going to be the plot of Evolution-R. I'm looking forward to finding out what's up with that. It's a bit surprising to see Rezo come up again, though. Again, we saw him in the first season, but not since then. So this season feels both new and nostalgic, all at the same time. XD
Overall, I'm really pleased. I'm having a lot of fun, and I can't wait to watch Evolution-R. <3
First of all, I watched the English version. Slayers is one of a handful of titles that I honestly prefer the dub. I saw the dub first, and it was really well done. And I honestly prefer a few of the English actors to their Japanese counterparts. I really like Megumi Hayashibara as both an actress and a singer, but she just isn't Lina to me. Lisa Ortiz is.
So, needless to say, I was thrilled that they managed to get the original VAs for Lina, Gourry, Zel, and Amelia all to come back and do Revolution. And they all still sounded great. I was a little worried, since they haven't played these roles for something like ten years, but it worked out okay. <3 They did recast the lesser characters, though, like Xelloss, Sylphiel, and Phil, but that's not so bad. I actually rather like the new Xelloss. He sounds more like the Japanese actor, in tone. Kind of soft and quiet, and able to do polite or creepy as the situation demands. It was a little weird, since I was so used to David Moo, but if they had to replace him, I'm glad they got this guy.
Let's see...what other things did I wonder about the translation of? Spells, for one. They kept the original chants for the Dragon Slave and the Ragna Blade, which I really hoped they would. It just wouldn't be right to change those, now. They did keep 'monster race' as a translation for Mazoku, which I have mixed feelings on. It keeps the contiunity, but I've always thought that 'monster race' was a ridiculous translation. I mean...there are so many things in the Slayers world that could be called monsters. Something like 'demon race' would be better, especially since the Mazoku are portrayed as being the opposites of the Gods in the mythology. Ah, well. Also, on a totally minor note, they changed Sylphiel's 'Gourry dear' to 'Sir Gourry'. I was a little disappointed, though I do agree that this is a more accurate translation. Still, it's one of the things I think of when I think of Sylphiel. Oh, well. It's not like we see that much of her, anyway. XD
Also, just the dialogue in general. The original three seasons were dubbed by Software Sculptors, and Revolution/Evolution-R was done by FUNimation. So, I wondered if the dialogue would still be accurate. And, thankfully, it was. Pretty much the same as the first three seasons...sometimes they'd need to rearrange a line, or add a little to it, to make it fit the animation, but the meaning is always the same, and heck, the wording is too, most of the time. So, yay.
I think that's it, translation-wise. Now, for the rest. =D
I have to say, the art is so shiny! I just love it. Obviously, I like the original art, too, but this is just so pretty and newer-looking. The colors are brighter, and the new Dragon Slave animation is very pretty. <3 And the opening and ending footage! Again, very very shiny. And heck, the music is, too! That's something else that I'd worried about, back before the series started airing in Japan. The themes for Slayers have a certain feel to them, and I was afraid they wouldn't get it right. But they did. More Megumi Hayashibara songs, as usual, and they're just awesome. <3
Now, for the story! I laughed so hard at the beginning of that first episode...Lina and Gourry had hunted the bandits nearly to extinction, so they decided to go beat up on pirates for a while, to give the bandit population time to recover. XD Seriously, though...Lina, fighting pirates. What's not to love? XD And Gourry, he keeps breaking his swords, then having to try to fix them. XD Poor guy needs his Sword of Light back! (Or another, equally awesome sword. I really hope they find him something better to use.) Honestly, I was really pleased with the humor, overall. Slayers is a funny series, and they kept that going here. (But I'm seriously going to pout if we don't have a crossdressing episode later.)
As for the new characters, I've got mixed feelings. I like Pokota, though it took a little while. I also kinda like Duclis, which is weird, since he's a bad guy. Giocanda was a crazy bitch (who looked like a circus clown) and Wizer is just loopy. I keep hoping that he's actually not as stupid as he acts (and we do see evidence hinting at that a couple of times), but still. XD He's a little painful to listen to, sometimes. I'm not quite sure what I think of Zuuma. I remember him from the novels, so I actually had some expectations. I'm mostly happy, but there's just something that feels a little...off. I don't know, like maybe he's not quite as creepy or scary as he was in the novels. Maybe that's just me, though.
Reviving Zanafar was an interesting plot device. We've heard about Zanafar, from back in the first season, but this is obviously the first time we've seen it. Actually, that's something else...before, I always got the feeling that Zanafar was one-of-a-kind. It was just 'Zanafar', not 'a Zanafar', as we see here. Oh, well. Watching Gourry kick its ass was one of my favorite bits. <3
And I'm really curious as to the jar holding part of Rezo's spirit that they mentioned earlier...I'm guessing that's going to be the plot of Evolution-R. I'm looking forward to finding out what's up with that. It's a bit surprising to see Rezo come up again, though. Again, we saw him in the first season, but not since then. So this season feels both new and nostalgic, all at the same time. XD
Overall, I'm really pleased. I'm having a lot of fun, and I can't wait to watch Evolution-R. <3