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 4: Doing whatever it takes!

By John Huxley
28th Apr 04

Having just finished watching volumes 4 and 5 (review coming soon) of the increasingly bizarre Excel Saga, I am reminded of just how incomprehensible and down right crazy it is. But no less ingenious and brilliant, I might add.

The first episode of this volume starts, as does every other episode, with the author of the original Excel Saga comic Koshi Rikdo giving his seal of approval to the JC Staff's latest crack-pot idea. In this case, having reached the half-way point of the series with disappointing results and quickly running out of fresh ideas, the JC Staff plea with (or rather force) Koshi Rikdo to approve the introduction of a highly merchandisable character to generate interest in the flagging show. The result - Ropponmatsu, a purple haired android in a tight white suit - was created by a genius scientist with a heavy dose of Lolita complex to aid the SAA in their struggle against the idealistic terrorist organisation ACROSS. Lost? Confused? Don't worry, you'll be more confused when you've watched the entire series.

This 'story' (and I use the term lightly) is something of a two-parter, with the next episode introducing us to a second, much younger Ropponmatsu and their suspiciously overzealous relationships with their newfound owners, Hyatt and Excel. Underage android lesbianism notwithstanding (don't get too excited...you don't see anything), these episodes are some of the best Excel Saga has offered in a good long while. The two new characters (who aren't identical despite sharing the same name) suit the atmosphere of the show perfectly, coming on like slightly less extreme versions of Excel and Hyatt with added eye lasers and knee rockets. Hopefully they'll both stick around for the remainder of the series.

The final episode on this disc takes a sly peek at how the anime industry is perceived in the West, or rather how the Japanese think anime is perceived in the West. Cunningly titled 'Animation USA', this intriguing episode takes Excel and Hyatt around the world to visit the birthplace of the self-proclaimed otaku - the USA. There they discover the American public has an absurd fascination with all things 'Japanimation', young boys dream of becoming Japanimation artists (or alternatively football players) and counterfeit key frames from the hot new OVA 'Puni Puni Poemy' are sold on the black market by nefarious mafia types. Far fetched for certain, but you have to remember than Excel Saga was never supposed to be a serious social commentary; it's ridiculous comedy for which almost no subject is taboo.

There's the usual mixture of obscure parodies, awful puns and complete disregard for established convention, as we've all come to expect, so Excel veterans need not concern themselves just yet. It's very rarely laugh-out-loud and a little too incoherent for my tastes, but it's undoubtedly one of the better anime comedies available right now. Not for everyone, a comedy for those who love anime.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English and Japanese 2.0, English subtitles, AD Vid-notes, open credits first cut, open credits timing sequence, Puni Puni Poemy OVA preview, Puni Puni Poemy interview with Yumiko Kobayashi, production sketches, ADV previews.

Release information: UK release date: 17th November 2003, ADV

Notes: Yet another great addition to the Excel Saga lineup. Along with the extra useful AD Vid-notes which provide the viewer with much needed cultural information during some of the more obscure jokes and references, there's two alternative versions of the opening credits, a Puni Puni Poemy OVA preview, a Puni Puni Poemy interview with Yumiko Kobayashi (voice actress), production sketches and the regular ADV previews; all of which should keep you entertained for long enough. The presentation is as good as it ever was, with some lovely sleeve art and a similarly pretty single page leaflet included inside the box. The disc menus are equally well presented, although they're not quite as distinctive as previous Excel Saga efforts. Very nearly definitely faultless.

-- John Huxley 28th Apr 04

Excel Saga Images