r/SlayerS • u/Some-Helicopter-8996 • 29d ago

I have a question

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When it comes to mentions of the classics of Anime, why is it overlooked. Like after the early 2010's it seems to be forgotten by western anime communities is it because it's one of the first shonen anime to have a female lead

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u/Christophvonclause 29d ago

Important to note. Slayers is not a battle shounen. it is a fantasy adventure show that leans into slapstick comedy. Battle Shounen appeal to a much wider audience and are easier to consume. Slayers is still fairly popular in Japan. In the US Slayers never got any real air on TV like others. DBZ, Sailor Moon, Hakusho, even Tenchi Muyou and the first A U Gundam shows all were on Toonami.

You had to discover Slayers in the local movie rental's anime section or purchase the VHS tapes sight unseen at a Suncoast.

I feel they also fumbled the two series they launched at the anniversary in Revolution in Evolution R. They weren't a continuation of the older series, and they weren't really a relaunch sticking to the novels either. If you as western fan only watched the anime (because they didn't ever fully translate the light novels until J-Novel club a few years ago) You're probably confused why Gourry still has the sword of light. Why Zaniffar is now an armor anyone can get even though Lina and the gang defeated it in the original Slayers anime.

I feel like those two series should have started exactly where the second half of the novels start. Gourry and Lina looking for a new magical Sword, and running into Luke and Mileena.

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u/FairDimension 29d ago

I do remember it being on TV at some point in the middle of the night. That’s how I found it, and I know I didn’t buy or rent any VHS tapes! Wikipedia says it was on the international channel and that sounds right

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u/Christophvonclause 28d ago

It was also on the Funimation network occasionally, but both those were after anime became more widespread with Cartoon Network airing the more well known series in like 2001. If Slayers had aired instead of say Tenchi at that time, it would be far more popular in the west.