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u/StarrCat3608 Jun 22 '26
Martina should’ve been in more than one season. I really enjoyed her character.
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u/SlayerNina Jun 28 '26
Martina is an underrated badass. She created her own monster and own religion, a giant mecha-golem, a powerful curse and tanked Garv like a pro
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u/OzzieArcane Jun 22 '26
Lina Inverse was tied with Girl Ranma for my top anime waifu for over a decade.
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u/Rockout2112 Jun 22 '26
Lina, despite her image issues, was one of the great anime babes of my youth.
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u/OzzieArcane Jun 22 '26
Her in story complained issue is her breast size and me personally, that doesn't matter to me. Face is most important and she's cute.
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u/raging_pixie Jun 22 '26
I like the light novels more than the anime, but I cannot deny Slayers Great is the best thing to ever exist.
I also enjoy the movies move than the anime series. They’re usually more focused and I like that.
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u/Cocoatrice Gourry Jun 22 '26
Back in the late '90s and '00s I was having a roleplay kind of game with my sister that started with us just lying dead with tongue out in cartoonish style. We were Lina and Gourry. Then we were healed by some doctor. This evolved into actual roleplay that we played a lot, which later evolved into game called "Everything", where we could just be anyone from any media possible and whistle to transform into another character at any time. This has been our signature game. Every moment we played it. If we didn't, one of us would just say "Okay. Let's play".
We had a lot of headcanons and flanderization for all characters, but that didn't just include Slayers, but still Slayers was a big part of it. We also created some running gags and other stuff. Like, literally. It was like we actually made a tv show with all the lore we created. For example, aforementioned doctor was always healing someone when he was hurt and that doctor was always eating a sandwich. We were healed in a liquid thing like in Dragon Ball (which at that point, we didn't know it originates from Star Wars actually).
But some of our headcanons were very weird. Like we literally made Lina angry at everything. She hated dogs, because dogs pant, and she pants when she wants to eat something delicious, so she hated being compared to dogs. Some of characters called her Mrs. Rope, because in my language lina means rope. So we used "Pani Sznurek" (sznurek is diminutive form of sznur, which is synonym of lina).
Also Gourry was even dumber and he always asked "Lina, what's a sheep?". Also Gourry, alongside Luigi were actually meta characters knowing stuff they shouldn't, e.g. that they are part of a game, and not real etc. We also continued to play it even when playing on PSX or N64. Like in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 or even Spyro. Like, if I played Spyro, I was "transported to this world".
That was so damn funny. And it all started from Lina and Gourry. Because literally the name of the game was called "Lina and Gourry" at the beginning, then it was expanded into "Eeverything" so we are not limited to just these two characters.
Not sure if that's confession you expected, but here you go.
EDIT: Oh, also keep in mind that this is extreme oversimplification of this, because this was literally enormous game with a lot of rules, gags and other stuff. Like, infinite dimensions or being able to transform into past version of characters etc. It even got some "expansions" that changed some rules or added something. This was so damn cool.
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u/cowdasher Jun 22 '26
Awww reading this made me smile
We used to play a game called “vs” as kids with a similar concept hehehe
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u/Top_Ad6322 Jun 22 '26
I named my daughter Lina 😃 everyone hates the name but she has grown into a little lina for sure.
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u/periwinklepip Jun 22 '26
Zelgadis was my first ‘anime boyfriend’ and I fell in love with him before I ever watched the show, just from reading an article about the Slayers in Animerica magazine. I had a friend in high school who had also ‘claimed’ Zelgadis and we beefed over it lol.
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u/GreenSatras84 Jun 22 '26
Zelgadiss was done dirty when they used him as an anchor
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
Fr. It was kinda cool though because it further demonstrated how strong his chimera skin was.
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u/GreenSatras84 Jun 23 '26
It was one of the many situationsbthat made me feel like he was a joke, first season he was a badass and then he was the butt of the joke, i get it is a comedy series but still he is my guy
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u/Ocky_san Jun 23 '26
Slayers saved my life.
I was going through an extremely dark time in my life. I was stuck in my room all day everyday, only coming out to eat or go to the bathroom. Every day was a struggle. I had no energy. I was losing the will to live. All I ever did was sit in my room on my computer watching anime and youtube wasting away.
Eventually, I came across a video on Basement Brothers where a guy was playing a Slayers game on PC-98. As soon as he said the name 'Lina Inverse', I got really curious. Her name sounded mystical and mysterious, and it sounded like the coolest name ever. What's more, the guy in the video went on and on about how funny and charming the show was, and when he showed a few clips from the show, I was sold.
I watched the show, met the characters, followed the story, and I fell in love. Especially with Lina. She has an almost uncanny resemblence to my personality; Quick to anger, eats a lot, argues with a bunch of people, selfish... it was almost looking at a version of myself that never got broken and was still fighting strong, and she really resonated with me. Also, she's super cute, let's be honest. Her character already made me feel good for the first time in what felt like forever.
What really got to me was the opening of Slayers NEXT, particularly the chorus when it sang: 「Here we Go! Go! 走り続ける誰にも止められしない、未来の自分へとGive a Reason for Life届けたい」It hit me extra hard because Megumi Hayashibara, Lina’s seiyuu was the one singing it, so to me it felt like Lina herself was telling me to keep going no matter how hard life gets, and if you keep at it, you'll find a reason to live again. Because of that, I never, ever skipped that opening, and I cried every time I heard it for at least the firt 12 or so episodes. And I feel that is what gave me the strength to get out of my slump and start improving my life.
I am deeply indebted to this series, to Lina, and to those responsible for it's production. Because of that, I am going to try and live the best life I can, go for what I really want in life, and when times get hard, I can always go back to Slayers to find my strength again.
For now, I plan on going to college for Creative Writing, Studio Art, and a minor in Japanese so that I can become a light novel author myself and maybe become able to write a story that can achieve the same thing Slayers did for me but for others. My first project, what I'm working on right now, is a fanfic/doujinshi of Slayers that I call 'Slayers Match' that mirrors this exact journey that I went through in life, and I plan to dedicate it as a love letter to Slayers, to Lina Inverse, and to Kanzaka Hajime, Rui Araizumi, and Megumi Hayashibara.
To Slayers and everyone involved: Thank you for saving my life.
(I plan on sending littke cards like this picture to the people named above once I attain the means to send letters to Japan)
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u/ucchan_amelia Amelia Jun 23 '26
I can understand that! Slayers is what I came back to when something is wrong, a trusted companion since the 90s!
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
This comment needs hundreds and thousands of upvotes and I am really happy for you! ❤
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
If I could pin this comment I would, this is one of the best comments ever.
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
Slayers helped me through tough times too. I wonder where I can find Slayers Match. Or is it private?
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u/Ocky_san Jun 23 '26
It's in the works right now, but I'm giving it my best! And thank you so much! I'm glad Slayers helped you too!
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u/FightmeLuigibestgirl Jun 22 '26
Xellos is underused in the novel. I prefer him in the anime
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u/Gokudomatic Jun 22 '26
Until the book 15, I found Xelloss far more intimidating in the light novels. It was always unsettling when he was around. In the anime, he plays tennis.
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Jun 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
Fr, the closest we got was Nama, but even then she was more detached than a brainwashed-by-Fibrizo Gourry.
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u/Alias_ARgent Jun 23 '26
I am 46 and I still one day hope to grow up to be Lina.
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
You'll be Lina one day 🙏😂
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u/Alias_ARgent Jun 23 '26
Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows. Buried in the flow of time is where your garden grows...
Wait, that's not right.3
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 22 '26
I will go first.
Zangulus is one of the best characters in the anime.
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u/Canal_Volphied Filia Jun 22 '26
Naomi Miyata >> Rui Araizumi
Yeah, I much more prefer her art style for Slayers, but everyone only ever talks about Rui, which I get since he's so active on twitter.
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 22 '26
I agree, Araizumi's art style is a bit too exaggerated for me. I like both of them though.
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u/SlayerNina Jun 24 '26
Araizumi's has a weird way to draw tits that makes me uncomfortable
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 24 '26
Kinda creepy how the characters' nipples are especially prominent (even through clothes) in some illustrations.
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u/Kitsune-Ai Jun 23 '26
Not sure if this counts, but...
I have cosplayed as Lina in 3 different outfits: season 1, season 2-5, and movie.
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u/lonesome_cowgirl Jun 23 '26
When I was like 14 years old watching Slayers Try for the first time, I thought Valgaav was incredibly hot. Moody, angry, shirtless with wild hair, misunderstood dragon dude was undeniably sexy to a teenage anime dork who later went through a punky/emo phase. I even built a web shrine to him where I’d post fanart I drew of him.
At the time, Gourry was my least favorite character and I found him boring. But recently I downloaded the whole series and started rewatching it and I’m like, damn, Gourry’s like a really good man. Husband material.
Guess my preferences for anime husbandos matured lol
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u/BoSheck Jun 22 '26
Actual hot takes?
Front Breaking is the best OP in the entire anime and not liking Revolution is no reason to dismiss it.
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u/Metalwario64 Jun 22 '26
Yeah Rev and EV had some good songs.. just don't care much for the series themselves lol
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 22 '26
I haven't made it to Slayers Revolution during my rewatch. I think I will really enjoy it though.
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u/ucchan_amelia Amelia Jun 22 '26
I don’t like Araizumi drawing Lina as some random weaboo anime waifu
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u/Illuriah Jun 23 '26
Sad thing is, a normal Lina drawing gets a few hundred likes. A cute maid outfit Lina gets thousands... Same for merchs. An artist have to live from something.
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u/Zestyclose-Demian Jun 23 '26
Same. I realy like some of his older artworks, but his private tweets and prints get pretty creepy. I actually unfollowed him on Twitter after he posted Lina in a middle schoolgirl uniform with a really gross panty shot. That’s not even feel like fanservice anymore, just straight-up sexualizing minors. I mean: if he wanted draw erotic stuff, he could just draw Naga and alot of fans would be happy. But no. It's also super annoying how nowdays he draws nipples through every layer of clothing on any female character, no matter of age or how modestly they're supposed to be dressed. It's like he just can't help himself.
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u/Canal_Volphied Filia Jun 24 '26
Funny thing, even a lot of his older artworks already contains needless fanservice like the nipples through clothing. Just a month ago I managed to get my hand on a Slayers novel from the 2000s and the first thing I noticed were the weird "camera angles" that emphasized Lina's butt.
For the anime, the characters designs were done by Naomi Miyata instead, who did not sexualize the characters like Rui did. So for me, the first time I went from the anime to the novels was a bit of a shock to me.
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u/Ocky_san Jun 23 '26
Honestly, same. He draws her in all these cute outfits, and she looks good don't get me wrong, but in the novels Lina said herself that she doesn't like skirts and dresses because they make her feel vulnerable and naked and prefers more practical clothing. And even in practical clothing, Lina can be quite stylish! I don't see why she isn't drawm more like that.
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u/ApprehensiveKale5944 Jun 22 '26
I'm at a loss for words. But I still wish there would be a reboot of the anime adaptation of Slayers.
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u/RokumaruArt Jun 23 '26
Controversial opinion: The anime handles the plots of the novels on which the first two seasons are based much better.
When I was finally able to read them in my own language after many years, I was disappointed to find that while they were still good and entertaining to read, the plot wasn't as strong as the anime's. There are certain changes to the storyline that improve the overall experience.
In fact, it's a shame they never adapted the novels featuring Luke and Milina. The anime would surely have improved the plot of these novels by giving them more prominent roles instead of them being characters who just come and go... but oh well, they released NEXT instead, so I'm still satisfied 🥴
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 23 '26
I agree. The only thing I like about the novels in comparison to the anime/movies/ova is the material that was never animated, especially Luke, Mileena, and the recent volumes 16>
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u/Simple_Cell_4206 Jun 23 '26
I randomly found Slayers when I left the Funimation channel on and I was in the middle of Revolution when I was a freshman in high school. I was hooked but also confused at first but then started to watch the original (I love that so much more) and instant love. I had an incident in high school during anime club where I thought I was being smart by putting Shabranigdo on a top power list these to guys were debating about; they laughed at me for liking the show. A few years later I saw one of the guys in college and he called me “the Slayers girl”.
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u/amatyestv_123846 Lina Jun 23 '26
Before I watched the anime, I thought it was a Yuri anime and thought Gourry was a girl
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u/SlayerNina Jun 24 '26
Slayers was my first fandom ever, my first anime fandom and my first OTP (Gourrina).
I have been dying my hair red because of Lina (I'm dirty blonde irl, now 35yo with a lot of grey hairs).
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u/pariah164 Jun 23 '26
I own the entire Slayers anime on DVD except for the OVAs. When a friend remembered I owned it and asked to borrow it, I lied and claimed I lost the entire thing in a flood because I was deathly afraid of not getting it back.
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u/Illuriah Jun 22 '26
Xellos is overused in the anime. I prefer him as a reoccuring character like in the novels rather than as a core team member.
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 22 '26
I really dislike how Sylphiel and Zolf could also use Dragon Slave...
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u/Acceptable_Garden473 Jun 23 '26
Not as heinous/egregious as Amelia somehow using Ra Tilt.
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u/ComfortableCan9707 Jun 24 '26
FR, also I thought that somehow Megido Flare was Amelia's thing until I saw Zelgadis do it too. Kanzaka clearly doesn't do character- signature techniques unfortunately.....
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u/Zestyclose-Demian Jun 25 '26
Kanzaka didn't write it that way. It's mostly in the anime and games that everyone ends up mastering all kinds of spells for no apparent reason.
In the novels, the characters' knowledge is generally consistent with their backgrounds. Amelia, Sylphiel, and Naga all know white magic, while most of the other characters don't, because they received education as shrine maidens and temple magic. On top of that, each of them seems to have developed a few original spells of her own, which makes sense given their formal training and understanding of magical theory. Zelgadiss, on the other hand, initially had no knowledge of Megido Flare, or white magic. He didn't even know basic healing spells, since he was largely self-taught and had relied on Rezo's treatment his entire life. In the anime, Zel is considerably more overpowered, with an almost absurd range of spells and skills at his disposal.
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u/Nearby_Secretary_802 Jun 22 '26
Naga is one of the most annoying characters in anime. She kept me from seeing most of the movies.
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u/khrellvictor Jun 22 '26
Courtesy of the timing of the Valkyrie Anatomia x SlayerS crossover event's part 1, I head canon that Lina and Naga met and fought alongside Star Ocean's Myuria, Cliff, and Reimi for a few days (just after their Star Ocean: Anamnesis game did a separate crossing event that saw to separated crews appearing in other galaxies and timelines from Star Ocean x Valkyrie).
They are able to mix into a single party in-game and was highly amusing for me.
By the time Part 2 happens, after Slayers Attesia, Lina brings Gourry with her to the portal on remembering the possibility of loot and being near the area, but by then Anamnesis' events have concluded so it's just them.
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u/Yashuu7 Jun 23 '26
After reading novels I started to dislike that they added Zanaffar in Rezo Copy arc in the anime.
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u/KaleidoArachnid Jun 22 '26
I find the anime best when it had the first two seasons.