Synopsis
The village of Biatz, famous for its nearby elven community and an important something or other. Treasure? Perhaps. It was an object that the elves warned was not to be touched. If it were, it was said that Biatz would be destroyed. It is at this time generations later that an evil-minded sorcerer seeks the power of the ancient relic. Why? With such power one can easily take over the world. Or so it was thought…
Review
Slayers Returns (kinda like Batman Returns) is the second movie setting prior to the original Slayers anime series, Next, and Try. Like its predecessor, the main heroines are the ever so glamorous Nahga the serpent and her underling Lina Inverse. The villain, hardly a worthy match as Joyrock in Slayers the Motion Picture, Lord Galef and his band of lesser demons enslaves the Biatz villagers and forces them to excavate the relic. Lina with her eye set on the treasure and secondly on beating evildoers wherever they may be makes way towards Biatz. Things get more complicated as the treasure is not all that it seems.
The Breakdown
If you have seen the series first, you’ll like the movie. If you watched the movie before ever watching the series, you’ll like the series even more. Doesn’t really matter which you see first.
» The Pros
Slayers Return is another short and sweet introduction to the magical world of Slayers. This time there is a cute, green haired supporting character named Selena, a swordswoman (don't get many of those in the series) and daughter to the mayor of Biatz. Besides the lesser demons are the number of lieutenants who let's just say are not all too thrilled at being summoned by their master Galef. There is more spell casting, more sword slashing, and even more lame gags than the Motion Picture called for.
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» The Cons
I was surprised that Lina wasn't scolded for destroying a restaurant and leaving a giant crater in the middle of a city due to her dragon slave like she usually is during the series. Lina can very well be stronger than a Saijin (DBZ), at least at the end of Slayers Next.
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» Animation
8.5 |
Not as many background scenes as the Motion Picture. Return was limited to forestry, towns, and villages. The main emphasis was on character design. The construction of the lieutenants are not all that original, one of which is a blind guy who resembles Usui from Rurouni Kenshin. The mayor bugs me as having some weird swirly Elvis style haircut. |
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» Sound
9.0 |
Begins identical to how the other movies open with the title screen followed by the horns and trumpets. Megumi Hayashibara once again sings the ending theme 'Just be Conscious' which starts off light and slow but is popish. Background music played during the movie is not as splendid as the Motion Picture but is mainly foreboding. |
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» Story
8.5 |
Why Nahga was never encountered in the anime series we'll never know. The only resemblance Returns has to the series, and this is stretching it, is to Slayers Try. It mentioned a war fought a thousand years ago between all living things and demonkind. The elven wizards created an ultimate weapon to defeat the demons but it turned out to be more than they can handle. So it was sealed. Like all the movies, Returns ends with Lina casting the Dragon Slave. |
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» Recommend
8.9 |
I liked the Motion Picture better than Returns but that doesn't make Returns not worth your while. The rivalry between Lina and Nahga is kept to a minimum. It is hilarious when you see Lina blasting off Nahga launching her like a rocket through the air. Again to learn exactly how Lina met Nahga watch the OVAs. |
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» Other Information
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Extras: None
Package: Lina and Nahga if you can call that a pose, center Selena |
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
