Which series to buy?

[TwoToned]

Hello all, I'm kinda new to anime and am interested in watching the Slayers series. I have a question however. Do I need to watch any of the series in a particular order? For example, can I watch Slayers Next before Slayers Try? Or Slayers Next or Try before the original "The Slayers" collection? Thanks to those who answer.

[fireguy]

In my opinion it doesn't matter which order you see them in and if you want to get started you could start by watching Slayers: The Motion Picyure.

[Schizm]

Watching the Motion Picture without knowing who's who can cause some problems. Better to start at the beginning with Slayers and move on from there.

[Commander Fuyutsuki]

Firts watch Slayers vol 1- 8, then slayers next vol 1- 8, finally slayers try vol 1- 8

[fireguy]

Didn't think of that, something else you could watch is either Slayers: Explosion Array or Slayers: Dragon Slave. Both of these are also good.

[TwoToned]

Thanks everyone. I've already seen the motion picture and, yeah, I was a little confused. I could tell that it came from a good series though.

[jlozito]

...the motion pictute (and all of the other movies and oav's) have really no relation to any of the slayers tv series, aside from Lina Inverse. Lina's companions are different: Nagha in the movies and oavs and Amelia, Zel, Gourry, and Xellos in the tv series...

i would definitely start with the slayers (the first tv series), then slayers next, then slayers try, i would definitely watch them in this order, it's not ultra-critical, but it will make it more enjoyable and a little easier to follow...after all the tv series you can move onto the movies and oavs (the ones that have been released, at least)...although it really doesn't matter if you watch the movies first as you shouldn't be confused. what you saw, slayers the motion picture, was actually the first slayers thing ever made as far as i know (aside from the manga)...

as someone who has seen just about everything slayers related, the tv series are superior in my opinion, so i would start with them...hope this helps!

:P

[Lord_Satorious]

Note to anyone getting into Slayers the first time...

WATCH IT SUBTITLED!

I don't know how many potential fans have been turned off by the crappy English dub of Slayers. No way Lisa Ortiz could EVER compare with Megumi Hayashibara. Megumi is God. I've talked to people who hated Slayers when they watched the dub, yet loved it after viewing the Japanese subtited. The experience is completely different.

They sell DVD box sets of each TV series (original, Next, Try). They contain all 26 episodes and cost about $120 at most. Quite a good deal if you think about it.

ADV puts out the Motion Picture and Slayers Special OAV (called Slayers: Book of Spells DVD). A bit different than the TV series, it's a younger Lina with Naga instead of Gourry, Zelgadis, and Amelia. Still very enjoyable though.

[TwoToned]

Well, thanks for all the info! I might move onto Slayers after I finish watching Eva and Escaflone (yes, I'm new to anime). Later!

[BeautifulDreamer]

The Motion Picture, Explosion Array, and Dragon Slave should be watched first because they are before Lina even meet Gourry and then the original series, then next, and then try! If you don't do it in that order you will be confused that's like watching any other series volumes 1,3,2, and 4! It shouldn't be down I wouldn't allow it! You will end up asking questions like who's this guy where did he come from! I admit the only related person in the Motion Picture is Lina and not to mention the backgroung of the sword of light! And where Gourry gets his blond hair and His ancestor Rowdy! (great-great-great-grand father) I've seen the Motion Picture sub-titled!

[Dryden-san]

Ignore the motion pictures unless you have money to burn. They take place before the original series, with Lina traveling with Naga instead of the rest of the cast. Nothing they do in the movies and OAVs effects the TV series. My advice would be to just plunge into Next. It's easy to find character descriptions and brief season summaries on the net, and that's all you really need to watch Next. I suggest starting with the 2nd season becuase on the whole the quality of animation and humor is a step up from the first season. Also, the 2nd season adresses more questions of the nature of the Slayers world that the 1st season igonres. Plus, NEXT has Xellos, and everybody lovs Xellos. Why?

Sore was himitsu desu.

[Neojin]

I also am fairly new, to the board as least hehe. I've seen bits and pieces of the TV series but I have not seen any of the movies. I do enjoy Slayers and will be purchasing some videos, however I might purchase a DVD player (or ps2 hehe).

Thanx for the info Lord_Satorious, you prob save money down the road by buying DVDs.

See you guys around, I plan on being a new regular :D

OH by the way Dryden-san, I dont love Xellos so :P