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Title (English) Excel Saga

Title (Japanese) Excel Saga

Advertising
Fantasy Novel

Notes Available on DVD (J).

Classification -

Synopsis "The heroine of this story was Excel. Her mission was to terrorize the town suburbs."

Review I've seen two episodes of this and it seems to be another madcap action comedy with satires of and references to other shows. It's probably funnier if one can understand all the dialogue - I was watching the Italian version.
.Excel Saga was one of the 'late-night anime' only broadcasted around Tokyo area and I could not see it at the first broadcast. The concept of it was 'heppoko jikken animation' (difficult to translate but loosely 'goofy experimental animation'. The director was Watanabe Shin'ichi (nicknamed as Nabeshin) He appeared himself in the show (the Lupin the 3rd looking guy) He is always in that style in everywhere. He is known as a slapstick gag director and he also directed Hare Tokidoki Buta and was a big hit. The heroine of this story was Excel. Her mission was to terrorize the town suburbs (g) (kougai seifuku keikaku). The story almost went nowhere around her, but was quite strange and hilarious. It is almost impossible to write about this funny show with my poor capability of English. Watch it with your own eyes! Mitsuishi Kotono is doing an excellent job. Opening theme composed by Watanabe himself was also great.
If you are looking for a dry, non-stop slapstic comedy, this is the one you are looking for. My recent best push!!
(CALCI)
I've been watching "Excel Saga" in small doses over the past few weeks - two episodes here, another two episodes there - attempting to avoid suffering from permanent neck damage ( from shaking my head in disbelief ) and lock jaw ( from laughing too hard ). But tonight, since my wife is out of town and my daughter is out clubbing, I had an opportunity to watch the final 8 episodes of this totally whacked-out series and digest the marvelous genius of its creators.
Instead of a formal review I'll make a number of general observations -
Firstly, I was surprised at the ending of the series. I wasn't expecting anything like a plot to develop considering how off-the-wall the early episodes were. But everything came together in quite a witty manner.
Secondly, all the way through watching the series I was surprised at the miniscule amount of fan service or general nastiness ( with the exception of the episode with Key ). But Episode 26 took care of that in a big way!
Thirdly, I was certainly glad that I was watching the DVD version and on a wide screen, high definition TV. There are lots of details in very short one or two frame bits during lots of the series. Check out the opening animation for instance - go through Excel popping out of the trapdoor frame-by-frame and try to count how many things are there with her. Then at the end, compare the opening animation of Episode 26 with the animation that was used in the rest of the series.
As far as the characters go, I really liked Excel - there is a girl who is definitely in need of a good hug (and someone to keep her totally away from coffee). Come to think of it, I would hire both Excel and Hyatt immediately to work for me - they are unswervingly loyal and go-getters.
I also found the opening theme to be maddeningly addictive. I found myself watching through the opening animation and theme for each episode. The rest of the BGM was okay, but I don't think that I'd go out to buy the sound track.
There was truly "something for everyone" in this series. I would be tempted to show the "Bowling" episode to my Dad, who in recent years has become a real bowling nut in his old age ( and bowled a 300 game last year for the first time in his life, just before going for a heart valve replacement ). Bishounen/yaoi fans would undoubtedly like the episode with Key in it. Fans of fan service will definitely appreciate episode 26. And fans of anime parody will find something to laugh at in every episode.
But this series isn't just about parodies - it is a masterful agglomeration of parody, satire and great characterization. One of the strong points of the series is that the characters stay "true to themselves" without becoming parodies of themselves. All-in-all, if you enjoy laughing at the entertainment you watch, "Excel Saga" is a good place for you to go to get a real laugh fix.
Dave Baranyi

Credits Series director: Shinichi Watanabe

Episodes 26

Release It:TV, Jap:DVD, US:DVD

TV Showing See the whole series for free? This series may be syndicated to regional cable, satellite or terrestial TV stations. For Europe click here.

Date 1999 October 7 - 2000 March 30

Production JC Staff

Broadcaster

Animation

References & Help Look up the latest data on this title at:
Richard Llewellyn's Animated Divots, or
Anime News Network (see Encyclopedia section) ,
or in "The Anime Encyclopedia" (Clements & McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 2001).
Help & further information.

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Information
Title (English)	Excel Saga
Title (Japanese)	Excel Saga
Advertising Fantasy Novel
Notes	Available on DVD (J).
Classification	-
Synopsis	"The heroine of this story was Excel. Her mission was to terrorize the town suburbs."
Review	I've seen two episodes of this and it seems to be another madcap action comedy with satires of and references to other shows. It's probably funnier if one can understand all the dialogue - I was watching the Italian version. .Excel Saga was one of the 'late-night anime' only broadcasted around Tokyo area and I could not see it at the first broadcast. The concept of it was 'heppoko jikken animation' (difficult to translate but loosely 'goofy experimental animation'. The director was Watanabe Shin'ichi (nicknamed as Nabeshin) He appeared himself in the show (the Lupin the 3rd looking guy) He is always in that style in everywhere. He is known as a slapstick gag director and he also directed Hare Tokidoki Buta and was a big hit. The heroine of this story was Excel. Her mission was to terrorize the town suburbs (g) (kougai seifuku keikaku). The story almost went nowhere around her, but was quite strange and hilarious. It is almost impossible to write about this funny show with my poor capability of English. Watch it with your own eyes! Mitsuishi Kotono is doing an excellent job. Opening theme composed by Watanabe himself was also great. If you are looking for a dry, non-stop slapstic comedy, this is the one you are looking for. My recent best push!! (CALCI) I've been watching "Excel Saga" in small doses over the past few weeks - two episodes here, another two episodes there - attempting to avoid suffering from permanent neck damage ( from shaking my head in disbelief ) and lock jaw ( from laughing too hard ). But tonight, since my wife is out of town and my daughter is out clubbing, I had an opportunity to watch the final 8 episodes of this totally whacked-out series and digest the marvelous genius of its creators. Instead of a formal review I'll make a number of general observations - Firstly, I was surprised at the ending of the series. I wasn't expecting anything like a plot to develop considering how off-the-wall the early episodes were. But everything came together in quite a witty manner. Secondly, all the way through watching the series I was surprised at the miniscule amount of fan service or general nastiness ( with the exception of the episode with Key ). But Episode 26 took care of that in a big way! Thirdly, I was certainly glad that I was watching the DVD version and on a wide screen, high definition TV. There are lots of details in very short one or two frame bits during lots of the series. Check out the opening animation for instance - go through Excel popping out of the trapdoor frame-by-frame and try to count how many things are there with her. Then at the end, compare the opening animation of Episode 26 with the animation that was used in the rest of the series. As far as the characters go, I really liked Excel - there is a girl who is definitely in need of a good hug (and someone to keep her totally away from coffee). Come to think of it, I would hire both Excel and Hyatt immediately to work for me - they are unswervingly loyal and go-getters. I also found the opening theme to be maddeningly addictive. I found myself watching through the opening animation and theme for each episode. The rest of the BGM was okay, but I don't think that I'd go out to buy the sound track. There was truly "something for everyone" in this series. I would be tempted to show the "Bowling" episode to my Dad, who in recent years has become a real bowling nut in his old age ( and bowled a 300 game last year for the first time in his life, just before going for a heart valve replacement ). Bishounen/yaoi fans would undoubtedly like the episode with Key in it. Fans of fan service will definitely appreciate episode 26. And fans of anime parody will find something to laugh at in every episode. But this series isn't just about parodies - it is a masterful agglomeration of parody, satire and great characterization. One of the strong points of the series is that the characters stay "true to themselves" without becoming parodies of themselves. All-in-all, if you enjoy laughing at the entertainment you watch, "Excel Saga" is a good place for you to go to get a real laugh fix. Dave Baranyi
Credits	Series director: Shinichi Watanabe
Episodes	26
Release	It:TV, Jap:DVD, US:DVD
TV Showing	See the whole series for free? This series may be syndicated to regional cable, satellite or terrestial TV stations. For Europe click here.
Date	1999 October 7 - 2000 March 30
Production	JC Staff
Broadcaster
Animation
References & Help	Look up the latest data on this title at: Richard Llewellyn's Animated Divots, or Anime News Network (see Encyclopedia section) , or in "The Anime Encyclopedia" (Clements & McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 2001). Help & further information.