Shinpi no Sekai El Hazard (TV-2)

Title:Shinpi no Sekai El Hazard (TV-2)
El Hazard: The Alternate World
異次元の世界エルハザード
Overall:Rent
Keywords: , , , ,
Notables: Animation - AIC Spirits
HAYASHI Hiroki
HAYASHIBARA Megumi
OOKI Tamio
R1 License - Pioneer (Defunct)
During the Coronation of the new Priestess of Water, Qawoor Towles, Makoto and friends are transported to an alternate world by a mysterious entity named Arjah, who claims to be the ruler of the universe. Makoto, Nanami and Qawoor find themselves in the Kingdom of Creteria, where Qawoor and Nanami are mistaken for ancient sky goddesses, while Jinnai, Katsuo, and Shayla-Shayla come upon the alternate world's version of the Bugrom, and Mr. Fujisawa, Miz and Afura Mann have their heads literally in the clouds.

13 TV Episodes. Animation by AIC.
[edit] The ↗El Hazard franchise:

Original timeline: Retelling of the first OVA:
Episode Details 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Unevaluated Ggultra2764 [series:231#1552]
(Watched two and a half episodes)

A rather flat season that failed to hook me in. Qawoor failed to impress me due to her typical archetype and seemingly adding more fuel to the unwanted harem scenario with Makoto, Nanami and Shayla. The new world that the group come into that seemed like a militaristic nation also didn't look too promising. It looked like much of the music for the series was recycled from the OAVs, with only a few new songs (Nanami's ED song for instance) sticking out. Guess I'm jumping off this series without a final review.

Last updated Tuesday, August 23 2011. Created Tuesday, August 23 2011.
Watch 6 6 7 5 5 Tom [series:231#1086]
If you've read any of my other reviews, then you know I'll sit through pretty much anything if there are is a cute girl in it. While there are lots in this chapter of El-Hazard, I cannot recommend this to everyone. The story could have been good, but it was so damned rushed, and nothing seemed to be there for any real reason. The ending was a real let down, it seemed like they twidled their thumbs for eleven episodes then just decided to slap together an ending. Then there was Shayla. I like her, but she turned into a magical girl in this one. Not literaly, but every time she activated the lamp of fire she went through that stupid sequence (you see this in all the El-Hazards, but it is most prevelant here and in the wanderers, and it is most annoying here). The best part of the whole thing was when it was over. I was actually embarassed by the last episode, the animation had degraded so much by then I wasn't sure if I was watching El-Hazard or the Super Friends. Then there was the whole nudity thing, I guess in El-hazard women don't have nipples (yep, you heard that right, they are all drawn like naked barbie dolls).
Once again, if this wasn't related to El-Hazard, I wouldn't be so harsh on it.

Last updated Monday, December 01 2003. Created Monday, December 01 2003.
Rent 8 8 9 9 8 8 AstroNerdBoy [series:231#436]
I give this a "rent" because of episode 13 (the fanservice episode) and the "gotta sex all women I see", lesbian princess, Fatora. But enough on that...

The Alternate World continues after the 2nd El Hazard OAV series. Miz has retired and the water priestest job goes to Qawoor who looks suspiciously like a young Ifurita. Makoto is studying the Eye of God part he found which reacts to Qawoor. In the 2nd episode, Qawoor somehow sends them all to another world during her cerimony to take over the job of water priestest. She, Makoto, and Nanami (and Ura) land at an emperor's castle. Princess Rune, Fujisawa, Afura Mann, and Miz land on a floating farmland. Shayla, Jinnai, and one of his bugrom land in a bug land while Fatora, Alliele, and her twin brother land nearby. Makoto's group follows the main storyline and the others are sub-plots which are interesting to a degree. Eventually, everyone sorta meets up.

Conceptually, this is an excellent story. This new land they've been teleported to resembles ancient El Hazard. In fact, maybe it was ancient El Hazard. Who knows? And while as a whole I enjoyed this story, there were several short comings. First, there seemed no purpose to the subplot of Shayla-Shayla, Jinnai, and the bugrom being held captive by the bug race on this new world other than some cheap laughs. It would have been interesting if the eggs Shayla caused to hatch might have founded a new bugrom-type society.

Second, Princess Rune is suddenly a domestic on a floating farm? I understand the "grass is greener" idea, but Rune didn't seem to be the type. And when the secret of the floating farms is revealed, Rune and her farmer rescuer/love-interest are dropped and forgotten. Eh? Having Rune make a comment on the joys of a simple lifestyle would have helped the domestic issue and instead of a fanservice episode, why not take the time to show Rune and the farmer together?

Another weak point is the Qawoor-Ifurita connection. First, Qawoor looks like a young Ifurita. Second, she has an unexplained ability to activate the Eye of God technology. Third, it is hinted that there is some deep conection between her and Makoto, but it isn't explored. And finally, Makoto dreams that Ifurita gives him a message and a warning, then shortly afterward he meets Qawoor.

There are other unaswered questions to be sure, but there were some good things like the romance story between the emperor and the female head of the military.

Bottom line: The series starts off great and takes its time setting the table. However, once this is done, the show goes into rush mode leaving things unanswered or forgotten. In fact, they finish so quickly that they have the 13th episode to waste on fanservice and ecchi content. Still, it is worth a rent, and is certainly better than OAV 2!

Last updated Wednesday, July 02 2003. Created Saturday, May 10 2003.
Avoid 7 8 5 4 3 Jack Walrath [series:231#375]
People are too lenient with this title. The new world is a dark gloomy place and the filler episodes are fairly dull. The romance between the king and his head night is nice, but is not enough to save this title. Also, the other new characters are dull. Quawool is a wet towel and Parnuss (I hoped I spelled it right) is like a dull Alliele clone. Lots of the music is from the origingal series,animation could have been better, and they do not explain the villains history. Finally to add injury to insult, the final, made-for-video, episode is an insult to watchers. It features Alliele and Fatora being downright disgusting and has nothing to do with the rest of the series.

Last updated Friday, September 13 2002. Created Friday, September 13 2002.
Rent 6 7 6 7 7 Kaitou Juliet [series:231#137]

This is my second favorite of the El-Hazard series, although it's still a long way behind El-Hazard, The Magnificent World in my opinion. The first half of the series has a lot of filler, and not particularly good filler at that. There's a hot springs episode which obviously exists for no reason beyond fanservice, and far too much of the girls acting jealous at each other over Makoto. We already know who he wants at the end of the OAV's, so where's the suspense in watching the others fight over him?

The character of Qawoor annoyed me because everyone kept proclaiming how sweet, talented, charming, and generally perfect she was from the minute she appeared onscreen, and I didn't think she ever really did anything to live up to her reputation. Also, the writers don't seem to know what to do with the princesses of Roshtaria. Rune has turned into Kasumi Tendo for some reason. Plus, her subplot disappears halfway through and is never really finished. Fatora has been demoted to comic relief, which actually works rather well, but I miss the more regal sides of both of them.

However, I did like the main storyline with the emperor, the guardswoman, and the mysterious energy generator. Once the show settled down to concentrating on that plot, it got a lot better in my opinion. Also, I've always liked Nanami, and I felt she got some decent screentime in this series. So I finished it feeling more positive than I did when I started it. It's hovering between a "rent" and a "watch" recommendation for me, but I'll give it a "rent" based on the strong finish.



Last updated Thursday, November 01 2001. Created Thursday, November 01 2001.
Buy 7 7 8 8 9 The Coyote [series:231#64]
Actually I thought this series strong point was it's story line I enjoyed the side story between the Emporer and the captain of the gard emencely of this branch of the story (I still prefer the wanderes version) this is BY FAR the best part it's worth watching the OAV's just so this series makes sence.

Last updated Monday, October 15 2001. Created Monday, October 15 2001.
Buy 9 9 9 8 6 Anonymous #130 [series:231#130]
This seemed just to be a new adventure that they added to the El Hazard series (which it is, just adding one new character and seeing how the people move on a bit). It's not as bad as people may say, it's pretty cool but the others were better. And with the new girl, Qawoor Towles, (voiced by Sakamoto Maaya yay!) you can't go wrong.

Last updated Thursday, January 25 2001. Created Thursday, January 25 2001.
Rent 9 10 9 8 7 Mark Clifton [series:231#126]
For once, AIC decided to continue a OVA series into a TV series. But it seems that they were in a rush on creating this short series. I wonder even why Makoto and company had to go to another world? I mean isn't there anything else to do in El-Hazard? (Then again, the 2nd OVA series might have proven that there isn't.) ^^; Regardless of the storyline's shortcomings, it is still a good series to check out. Of course, you will be completely lost unless you watch the first OVA series.

Last updated Tuesday, January 23 2001. Created Tuesday, January 23 2001.

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