Excel Saga

Publisher
ADV
Director
Shinichi Watanabe
Production
J.C.Staff, TV Tokyo, Victor Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2000

Excel Saga Volume 3: When Excels Strike (out)

By John Huxley
28th Apr 04

I hate to use the terms 'weird' and 'wacky' in the same sentence, but there is no other description more apt for Excel Saga than weird and wacky. Three volumes, thirteen episodes later and this series continues to surprise with its irreverent, unpredictable structure and more often than not unusual sense of humour.

Even though it features an almost entirely canine cast, the first episode on this DVD is perhaps the least nonsensical, offering a simple A to B structure, accessible characters and a familiar plot. It is also the least enjoyable of the four episodes on this DVD, leading me to the conclusion that Excel Saga thrives on exactly that which should make it weaker. The lack of any major characters besides the nonspeaking Menchi probably didn't help this episode, either.

The next episode steps up a gear or two and returns us to our beloved pairing of Excel and Hyatt as they take up their new jobs as school teachers. In typical Excel Saga fashion they aren't teaching a class for very long, instead turning their attentions to the failing school baseball team. Here we meet a couple of fantastically silly characters: the beleaguered coach with his gigantic head and unfortunate bowel disorder (deep down we all love toilet humour) and the wannabe-poor rich delinquent with unbelievably large hair. As much as the running jokes that punctuate each and every episode it these supporting characters that contribute much of the successful humour in Excel Saga.

Because of their large number not all of these third tier characters meet with a similar success. The schizophrenic detective in the third episode is a nonstarter, failing to generate much laughter from start to finish. It is unfortunate that she plays such a large part in this episode, because the sub-plot in which Hyatt is kidnapped by a couple of hapless criminals is much funnier.

Unlike many comedy anime, disliking one episode of Excel Saga is no guarantee that you will dislike the next; after all, they are most probably entirely unconnected. The last episode of this volume, despite containing mostly recycled animation, is totally and utterly irrelevant to past events. Taking the form of a Japanese New Year's show (I guess the last episode was set around Christmas...that's one connection) in which the rival teams of Excel and Hyatt produce a series of short comedy clips, competing for points from a panel of familiar faces. Of course these clips are a mishmash of earlier episodes with a little new animation thrown in to connect it all together; usually a good way of summarizing events so far. Excel Saga's unusual approach to what is normally the low-light of a series is not only refreshing but also every bit as funny as a 'normal' episode. You have to applaud Shinichi Watanabe for trying something different.

A couple of lacklustre episodes will not change my opinion of the series. The fact remains that Excel Saga is an acquired taste that some will love, others will hate. This could be said of most comedies (animated or not), but is particularly true of Excel Saga.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English subtitles, English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 audio, AD-Vid notes, Find the mint, Menchi recipes, Production sketches, Interview with Shinichi Watanabe, ADV previews

Release information: UK release date: 22nd September 2003, ADV

Notes: If I haven't praised the Excel Saga DVDs enough, please let me reiterate: they are fantastic, the best single disc anime my DVD player has had the pleasure to eat. With each new disc comes a new interface, this third volume representing the New Year's show episode, presented by Excel and Hyatt. The pair exchange banter about indecision and DVD players while you choose from one of the plentiful options. The extras include find the mint (a small playable game), Menchi recipes (all of which seem highly plausible), production sketches and a revealing text interview with Shinichi Watanabe. Not forgetting the ever useful AD-Vid notes, without which Excel Saga would be a totally bewildering experience instead of the mostly bewildering experience it is.

-- John Huxley 28th Apr 04

Excel Saga Images