Slayers Media List
Due to its popularity,
Slayers became a fairly large franchise during the
1990's. Since its initial short story premiere in 1988,
it has been spawned into novels, manga, anime, card
games, video games, and much more. Here you will find a
list of the more well-known and important Slayers
products.
For a complete
episode/volume listing, click on the corresponding series
name in the left column.
For information on Slayers
CD albums and singles, please see the Lyrics section.
Novels
For clarification,
this is not the same as the manga. Novels are all-text
books with only a handful of illustrations scattered
throughout. Many fans often get the Slayers novels and
manga confused.
The novels are told in first-person by
Lina Inverse, and feature many characters who never
appeared in the TV anime.
TOKYOPOP is translating and releasing the novels in
English in America.
Slayers
AKA "Honpen"
15 total volumes
Published from January 1990 to May 2000
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Rui
Araizumi
This is the novel series that inspired the TV anime and
two separate manga series. The first eight books
correspond roughly with the Slayers and Slayers NEXT
anime series, while volumes nine through fifteen deal
with a storyline that was never animated. For more
information on this, look at the Slayers section in the
column to the left.
Slayers Special
23 volumes to date
Serialized in Dragon Magazine since January 1989
Published in novel format since July 1991
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Rui
Araizumi
This is the novel series that takes place a year or
two before the main series. It inspired the Slayers
movies (minus one), OVAs, and one manga series. Slayers
Special details the miscellaneous adventures of Lina
Inverse and Naga the Serpent. This series has yet to end,
and as a result, we do not yet know the reason why Naga
and Lina parted ways before the Honpen series began.
Slayers Delicious
4 volumes total
Published from March 1997 to July 1999
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Rui
Araizumi
Not too much is known about this series, and it's
not even known for sure if it has ended or not. These are
more adventures of Lina and Naga. The stories were later
published in the Slayers Special novel series.
Slayers Original
1 total volume
Published in
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Rui
Araizumi
This book has the original stories of some of the
Slayers movies (Return, Great, Gorgeous).
Slayers v. Orphen
1 total volume
Orignally published in March 2001, issued in novel format
June 30, 2005
Written by Hajime Kanzaka and Yoshinobu Akita •
Illustrated by Rui Araizumi and Yuuya Kusakawa
This story featured the cast of Slayers along with
the cast of Sorcerous Stabber Orphen together. Also, the
authors and illustrators competed.
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TV Anime
Each of the Slayers TV
series is connected with the others, yet it is still
possible to watch one season without seeing the others.
In Japan, the series originally aired on TV
Tokyo on Friday nights
at 6:30pm, and has been reaired on Kids Station. In the
USA, the International
Channel in America
aired it in its original Japanese dialogue with English
subtitles in 2001-2003.
For information on Slayers on FOX, please see the rumors
section.
All of the Slayers TV anime is available in North America
through Software Sculptors (a division of Central Park
Media). The entire series is collected on 24 VHS tapes (8
per series) and 12 DVDs (4 per series). In Japan, each
series is collected on 7 volumes (DVD/LD/VHS).
In mid-2005, CPM's rights to the Slayers series expired,
and FUNimation became the new licensor of the series in
the USA. What this company plans to do with the series is
still unknown.
Slayers
26 total episodes
Debuted April 7, 1995 and ended September 29, 1995
Directed by Takashi Watanabe
The first Slayers series is split up into two major
arcs, with a few non-plot episodes in the middle. The
first arc deals with Rezo the Red Priest, Zelgadiss
Graywords, and the conspiracy to resurrect Ruby Eye
Shabranigdo. The second involves Copy Rezo and his use of
the chimera Zanaffar to exact his revenge upon Lina
Inverse.
Slayers NEXT
26 total episodes
Debuted April 5, 1996 and ended September 27, 1996
Directed by Takashi Watanabe
The second Slayers series takes place several months
after the end of the first series. This time around, Lina
and her friends must deal with an entirely new set of
enemies who bring new danger. This series consists of
several subplots which are all connected. Again, humorous
non-plot episodes show up every once in a while. The
first arc involves a man dealing with deadly immortality
research, the second involves an assassination attempt in
Saillune, and the third is when everything comes together
as Maryuu-ou Garv is out to get Lina while Hellmaster
Fibrizo wants her for a more sinister purpose. The
relationship between Lina and Gourry reaches its peak
during the final episode.
Slayers TRY
26 total episodes
Debuted April 4, 1997 and ended September 26, 1997
Directed by Takashi Watanabe
The third and final Slayers series takes place
several months after the end of NEXT. The barrier put in
place by the mazoku sublords has been broken, and as a
result, Lina and her friends are allowed access to the
outside world. There they become wrapped up in a prophecy
stating that a dark lord from another dimension, Dark
Star Dugradigdo, will enter their world and spread chaos.
This series has a much more serious and dramatic tone
than the previous two seasons. There are still non-plot
episodes, but they are fewer and occasionally carry a
very subtle somber tone.
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Anime Movies
ADV Films released
these movies in the United States.
Slayers
AKA "Slayers: The Motion Picture"
65 minutes
Premiered August 5, 1995
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
This, along with Premium, was the only Slayers movie
not based on a preexisting short story by Mr. Kanzaka.
The movie centers around how Rowdy Gabriev wants Lina to
go back into time to defeat the mazoku Joyrock before he
can kill his girlfriend Meliroon and all the other elves
on Mipross Island.
Slayers Return
85 minutes
Premiered August 3, 1996
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
Lina and Naga travel to a city where an organization
is trying to take over the world using a hidden elf-made
power the city protects. The power is awakened and must
be overcome.
Slayers Great
80 minutes
Premiered August 2, 1997
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
Lina and Naga go to the city of Stoner, where two
feuding lords use father-and-son golem makers to try to
build opposing armies. The son builds a golem of Naga,
and the father builds a golem of Lina, and the two fight.
Slayers Gorgeous
64 minutes
Premiered August 8, 1998
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
A kingdom is up in arms when the king's daughter, a
controller of dragons, rebels. Lina and Naga once again
choose differing sides, but come together when a greater
power must be fought.
Slayers Premium
30 minutes
Premiered December 12, 2001
Directed by Junichi Sato
This is another movie that was not based on a short
story. Slayers Premium premiered as part of a movie
roadshow that included movies for Sakura Wars, DiGi
Charat, and Azumanga Daioh. This movie was different from
the rest of the Slayers anime for several reasons. First,
it was the only movie to feature the TV cast along with
Naga. Second, the animation was digital, as opposed to
the cel animation used in previous productions. Third,
the character designs were changed to make everyone look
more cartoonish (and more like Rui Araizumi's current
style).
The plot goes something like this: Lina and Gourry travel
to a seaside town named Acassi, where octopus tentacle is
a delicacy. However, the octopus meat carries a curse
that dooms the eater to only speak Takogo (octopus
language). Ameria, Zelgadiss, and Xelloss all show up,
and the main four characters get cursed. The octopi
enlist the power of a mazoku to get rid of the humans
once and for all. The white sorceress Ruma must learn the
cure to the curse from her long-lost master in order to
save the town. And just how is Naga involved in this?
You'll have to watch to find out.
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Anime OVAs
Like the Slayers
movies, ADV Films also holds the rights to the OVAs.
Slayers Special is available under the name The Book of
Spells (DVD) and Dragon Slave/Explosion Array (VHS).
Slayers Special
3 total episodes
Released in 1996
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
Slayers Special consists of three self-contained
episodes featuring the adventures of Lina and Naga.
Slayers Excellent
3 total episodes
Released in 1999
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
Slayers Excellent, like Slayers Special, is more of
Lina and Naga. This time around, the story of how the
pair met is explained.
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Manga
The Slayers manga is
being released in North America by CPM Manga. So far,
everything by Premium Plus One and Knight of Aqualord
have been licensed.
Slayers
"Slayers: Medieval Mayhem"
1 total volume
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated
by Rui Araizumi
This consists of six stories featuring Lina and
Gourry. Mr. Araizumi drew these comics as a supplement to
the Honpen novel series in between 1991 and 1995. The
time span is evident by the changing art style. As the
book progresses, the art becomes closer and closer to the
anime style.
A second edition came out (in Japan) with a new cover
illustration. This was called "Slayers
Shinsou-ban."
Chou-Baku-Madou-Den
Slayers
"Slayers: Super-Explosive Demon
Story"
8 total volumes
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Shoko
Yoshinaka
Often described as being intermediate to the TV
anime and Honpen novels, this manga series tells the
story that corresponds to the Slayers and Slayers NEXT
anime series, with a few changes here and there. Contrary
to popular belief, this manga started approximately at
the same time or after the Slayers anime begain airing.
Slayers Special
4 total volumes
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Tommy
Ohtsuka
This series is in the same basic format as the
original Slayers manga, except instead of Gourry, Lina is
paired up with Naga.
Slayers Premium
1 total volume
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Tommy
Ohtsuka
Serialized in Comic Dragon Jr. from September 2001 to
January 2002
This tells a more detailed and varied story of the
Slayers Premium movie.
Slayers Premium
Plus One
1 total volume
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Tommy
Ohtsuka
Available only with the limited editon Slayers Premium
DVD release
This is a supplement to the Slayers Premium manga
that was included in the limited edition release of the
Slayers Premium movie on DVD in Japan. It is an epilogue
that tells of a romance between Ruma and Chie-tako.
Suiryuu-ou no
Kishi
"Knight of Aqualord"
6 total volumes
Serialized in Comic Dragon Jr./Comic Dragon AGE since
April 2002
Written by Hajime Kanzaka • Illustrated by Tommy
Ohtsuka
In this story, Lina and Gourry are separated and
Lina wakes up in a strange land that is outside of the
mazoku barrier. There, she meets a boy named Lyos who is
the Knight of Aqualord. Eventually Lina was reunited with
Gourry, and Ameria appeared. This story is another third
ending to the first series and the NEXT series; it is
parallel to TRY and the Dynast novel arc.
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Video Games
Slayers
Released in 1994
For Super Famicom
This was made before the Slayers anime was produced, and
as a result it resembles the novels. It is an RPG, and
the main boss is Zelas Metallium.
Slayers Royal
Released in ___
For Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation
Slayers Royal 2
Released in ___
For Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation
Slayers Wonderful
Released in 1999
For Sony Playstation
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CD-ROM
Collections
Slayers Hyper
Lina-chan to Asobou
Slayers Hyper TV
Lina to Muteki no Goikkou Data File
Slayers Hyper NEXT
Sore-ike Nakayoshi Yoningumi
Slayers TRY Daily
Selection
Slayers Hyper TRY
Sekai wo Sukue! Lina to Yukai na Nakama-tachi
Slayers Hyper
RETURN
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Other Media
Slayers Fight TCG
Illustrated by Rui Araizumi, Shoko
Yoshinaka, Tommy Ohtsuka, etc.
This card game is similar to the Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon
TCGs in that you battle others using famous characters
and spells from Slayers. There are cards for just about
every character (even minor ones). Cards in the Premium
Pack Ver. A and Premium Pack Ver. Z had cards promoting
the Slayers Premium movie.
Slayers MAGUIS
Table Talk RPG
By Mitsuhiro Nakazawa and Atsushi Yamakita
Role play with the Slayers world and characters
1) Naga-sama to Issho
2) Dungeon Dai-sakusen!
3) Nyuumon! Lina no Mahou-kyoushitsu
4) Saillune Adventure
5) Otakara Quest
6) Deka-MAGI Slayers!
7) Naga-sama ga Ippai!
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