Review of Excel Saga!

[stanteau]

<b>Excel Saga</b>

<i>In an underground base far below the city of F, the ideological organization of ACROSS secretly plots to conquer the world....the problem is ACROSS only consists of two members. Japanese teenager Excel is ACROSS's sole operative, fiercely devoted to her overlord Ilpalazzo's vision of global domination. Ilpalazzo, however, is more interested in rock music and video games. Aided by her pet dog/emergency food supply Menchi, the anemic Martian Princess Hyatt, and the Great Will of the Macrocosm (who handily alters reality every time Excel dies in the line of duty) Excel undertakes all sorts of stupid and pointless missions that are somehow supposed to help ACROSS take control of the city. Throw in Pedro the immigrant worker, super secret agent Nabeshin, and Space Butler...and you have the fall-down funniest anime since Dragon Half.</i>

Well,I'll start with the good.

The music is brailliant.The opening theme has a nice catchy poppy feel to it but a good little 80's style as well and the ending is a pretty goofy little song sung by a dog.The animation is good.Lots of motion and some nice muted colors,but the character designs are...ehh.It's just,the main characters wear these giant suits most of the time and it just looks kinda weird but it fits the style of the show.Too bad the rest of the show wasn't the same.

This thing is supposed to be a comedy,I laughed all of maybe 10 times.Excel saga is in the new genre of "talk fast and it'll be funny!" style of anime.Abenobashi suffered from this.Basically there's little to no story,no character developement,it's just these 2 girls tlaking fast and cosplaying.The problem is,there's no real punchline in the least.They just talk fast and reference stuff.This is good in concept,I mean,FLCL pulled it off,but like I said,there's no punchlines.

For example,the most famous one is probably the Man in the Iron Mask parody.all it is is they have a guy running aorund,screaming (what a suprise) in an iron mask much like the Leo movie.They didn't say anything about the movie,they didn't satirize it,nothing,they just ran around screaming like dumbasses.Fans will back it up by saying you just don't watch enough anime,I saw Glass Mask way back when I was 5,I think I get the crappy jokes.

And another thing,these girls get REAL REAL REAL annoying.They just,again,run around screaming abotu the stuff that's supposed to be funny.Again,an example,the Naked Gun movies are based on a TV series called Police Squad,they we're also slapstick.In the TV series Police Squad,there's a scene where a boxer punches his shadow out.Noone mentions it,acknowledges it,nothing.It just happened,it's subtle.Had thta same gag of been in Excel Saga they'd be running aorund screaming "HE PUNCHED HIS BOXER OUT!THIS IS INSANE!"

There's just no subtlety which is the key to slapstick humor.Just do a gag,don't acknowldge it,and let your subtleness make the viewer go "oh,I get it,this crayz ****s happning and noone cares" not "oh,crazy stuff happens so they all run around...some more".

This things a gigantic favorite and I have no ****in clue why.It has to be the dumbest sack of crap I have ever seen.For that,a huge dog****ing

<b>F</b>

[Masamune2052]

Excel Saga is best described as something for the hardcore otakus who have seen it all and want something new....... namely something that parodies anime as a whole. Most people wouldn't get the gags unless they've seen quite a bit of anime.

[jeffrey 228]

Well one of my friends at school has seen the series and is pretty good overall, but it could be my guess maybe.

[Zero Angel]

Originally posted by stanteau


This thing is supposed to be a comedy,I laughed all of maybe 10 times.Excel saga is in the new genre of "talk fast and it'll be funny!" style of anime.Abenobashi suffered from this.Basically there's little to no story,no character developement,it's just these 2 girls tlaking fast and cosplaying.The problem is,there's no real punchline in the least.They just talk fast and reference stuff.This is good in concept,I mean,FLCL pulled it off,but like I said,there's no punchlines.

For example,the most famous one is probably the Man in the Iron Mask parody.all it is is they have a guy running aorund,screaming (what a suprise) in an iron mask much like the Leo movie.They didn't say anything about the movie,they didn't satirize it,nothing,they just ran around screaming like dumbasses.Fans will back it up by saying you just don't watch enough anime,I saw Glass Mask way back when I was 5,I think I get the crappy jokes.



actually, they arent parodying man in the iron mask. what they are poking fun at is GE 999. even the scene where Tet-chan is shot is the most platent pointing to that series. watch episode 23 to see the other bit where they show their "appreciation" of that universe.

as for the fact that they dont set anything up as far as punchlines...eh. that could be up for discussion. the biggest laugh mark that the show got for me was the over the top insanity they mixed in ontop of the whole breaking the 4th wall on multiple occassions. for getting no story or character development, that may be true on the whole but there are some really great individual episodes that have mini growthes of characters.

i dont want to get into an arguement about this but it seems that either your not getting the jokes or you havent seen the show in its entirety. i could be wrong on both marks but thats just the way it seems from the way you explained the reasons you dont like it.

[andrael]

Originally posted by stanteau
For example,the most famous one is probably the Man in the Iron Mask parody.all it is is they have a guy running aorund,screaming (what a suprise) in an iron mask much like the Leo movie.They didn't say anything about the movie,they didn't satirize it,nothing,they just ran around screaming like dumbasses.

Um... a person with a face obscured by a metal mask is a pretty common archetype. You can find it in Star Wars and Fantastic Four and about a hundred places other than "that Leo movie", which by the way is probably more famous as a novel by Alexandre Dumas. So it's not like they were trying to spoof Man in the Iron Mask; more like putting a well-known archetype in a ridiculous situation. I agree with Zero Angel, the more obvious reference in that episode was Galaxy Express 999.

[stanteau]

I typed that thing up in record speed and I screwed that reference up,my mistake

And please,for the sake of christ,don't say I don't get the jokes.GOD that's an old excuse.

[MachSabre]

Okay guys... Play nice. Not warning anyone here. Just keep the tempers in check.

[Outside Angel]

Excel Saga is that kind of humour you either get or you don't. If it's your thing, then you'll crack up, otherwise, it just won't seem funny to you.

[Andy Mancini]

Originally posted by Outside Angel
Excel Saga is that kind of humour you either get or you don't. If it's your thing, then you'll crack up, otherwise, it just won't seem funny to you.
Here is a test: Click here. (http://www.migooch.net/menchi_gun.jpg) If you find this picture funny, then more than likely, you'll like this show. If you don't find the humor in the rather strange situation displayed in that picture, don't even try it.

[ohmrbill]

To me, the humor of Excel Saga is funny for pretty much the same reason that the "Mr. Sparkle" commercial from The Simpsons was funny; it's just one massive piece of satire.

[Batmex]

Batmex's tears are running like waterfalls!

Has anybody got Exel Saga vol 4?

[VinceA]

I've got volume 4 (thank you RightStuf for early shipping - I had it before the weekend that just passed). Loved it all especially Japanimation USA (I think that was the title of the episode about anime in the US)

[KingKoopa]

To anyone with volume 4:

How's Excel's new voice? Does she have a new sound that'll take getting used to, or did she mimic the old one?

[Karl Olson]

Originally posted by KingKoopa
To anyone with volume 4:

How's Excel's new voice? Does she have a new sound that'll take getting used to, or did she mimic the old one?

ADV is changing VAs midstream? This doesn't sound good...

[KingKoopa]

Originally posted by Karl Olson
ADV is changing VAs midstream? This doesn't sound good... The original voice hurt her vocal chords doing the role. It couldn't be helped, really. If you've seen the series, you'd understand why she had to leave midway through.

[The Drizzle]

Originally posted by KingKoopa
To anyone with volume 4:

How's Excel's new voice? Does she have a new sound that'll take getting used to, or did she mimic the old one?

I just bought it today ($19.99 at Best Buy :D) and watched two of the four episodes. The new voice is a little different, but I didn't have a hard time getting used to it. I don't think anybody will have a problem with her.

[VinceA]

Larissa's voice was just fine. Not entirely different from Jessica's voice. Larissa seemed a little more understandable but just as manic.

[Batmex]

Let's hope this actress doesn't get hurt too.

[Conekiller]

Originally posted by VinceA
I've got volume 4 (thank you RightStuf for early shipping - I had it before the weekend that just passed). Loved it all especially Japanimation USA (I think that was the title of the episode about anime in the US)

that episode was great espcically the part where they zoom into the pixels in Hyatt's eye. i was on the floor

[Umino]

I have a question about vol.4 I heard Excel parodys Sailor Moon. How does she do this? Is it funny? Can someone post a image?

[Batmex]

Originally posted by Umino
I have a question about vol.4 I heard Excel parodys Sailor Moon. How does she do this? Is it funny? Can someone post a image?

Wanna know?:

she parodies Sailor Moon while saving Sandora from a bunch of tugs, which speech and all

This volume makes me happy because:

Good Excel and Bad Excel Appear!

And what caught off guard was:

The big stab at Disney and US animation rules

Any toughts guys?

[Charred Knight]

Originally posted by Umino
I have a question about vol.4 I heard Excel parodys Sailor Moon. How does she do this? Is it funny? Can someone post a image?

Theirs no spoof of Sailor Moon but Shinchi Watanabe plugs Puni Puni Poemi which is his original OAV that spoofs Magical Girl series and hentai.

It mostly spoofs Card Captor Sakura though.

If you have ever read the manga version of Card Captor Sakura you will very well know why Nabeshin combines it with hentai. The members of Clamp are really perverted.

Interesting enough that Nabeshin didn't spoof hentai with the Diatzen-jin episode considering that Diatzen-jin is a hentai doujinshi.

[Umino]

Originally posted by Batmex
Wanna know?:

she parodies Sailor Moon while saving Sandora from a bunch of tugs, which speech and all
Good Excel and Bad Excel Appear!



That's it I'm getting the DVD!!

[Batmex]

Originally posted by Charred Knight
Theirs no spoof of Sailor Moon but Shinchi Watanabe plugs Puni Puni Poemi which is his original OAV that spoofs Magical Girl series and hentai.

Excuse me but:

Excel did parodied Sailor Moon, with really fake pigtails and a fake moon behind her.

And I could not believe that:

Sandora was shot to dead!?

[Lunacat]

Finally got vol. 4, very glad I did. The "Japanimation USA" also had me cracking up. Definatly one of the better DVDs of the series (although my eyes began to hurt from the very colorful menus and spinning Excel head @_@). The "make a face" kit that came with the DVD is somewhat amusing.

Back to topic, unfortunatly the show really isn't for everyone. You could say you have to be a "hard-core otaku" to enjoy it, but that's not really the case. The show has a certain kind of style with very subtle puns and jokes half the time and crazy in-your-face jokes the other half. There is no plot, character development, etc. It's just good clean fun (well...maybe not entirely clean, LOL).

Anyone interested in the show might want to test it out first because it will definatly not be entertaining to everyone.

P.S. Anyone else have AD Vid-note problems on their vol 4 DVD's? I was watching some of the show this morning and I heard the sounds of the bubbles coming up...but nothing appeared on the screen (it was during a scene involving all the figurines).

[Karl Olson]

Originally posted by KingKoopa
The original voice hurt her vocal chords doing the role. It couldn't be helped, really. If you've seen the series, you'd understand why she had to leave midway through.

That's a fair enough reason. I thought the english VA was doing more screaming and yelling than can be considered healthy.

[DaphHime]

Excel Saga is an aqured taste, you like it or you don't. I like spoofs and shows where strange things happen in unlikely stiuations. And I've seen quite a few anime, at least some of the major ones, in anime club.

My favorite episode that I've seen so far is the New Years Review episode. A clip show that's acutally funny. And I just loved....

The part were Ilplazzo is setting up the domino set. :D

And I think there is more character devlopment as the series goes on. This is one seires that defantly dosen't take it's self seriously. In fact....

I think there's a clash between the Cvil Pertecion Agency (I think that's what it's called, the place where Wantanabe works at) and Across.

[Momijii]

I just have volume 1 and 2, and it reminded me of something like a Mel Brooks film, just more manic.

[Umino]

Originally posted by Lunacat

P.S. Anyone else have AD Vid-note problems on their vol 4 DVD's? I was watching some of the show this morning and I heard the sounds of the bubbles coming up...but nothing appeared on the screen (it was during a scene involving all the figurines).

Yes I do. But it's a problem with my other DVDs of Excel Saga.

[Batmex]

I still getting used to Excel's new voice actress, she's great tough.

[Killtacular]

I saw the first episode of this series, and it wasn't great. Humorous parts were the angel getting arrested and Ilpo trying to become a punk rocker. Otherwise, meh. I like wacky shows but this needs just a little more hilarity.. so far the fast talking hasn't done much to make me chuckle.

[Nin-Nin69]

I have a question about vol.4 I heard Excel parodys Sailor Moon. How does she do this? Is it funny? Can someone post a image?

Lucky for you my DVD player can capture immages. :cool:

http://www.geekshelf.com/gallery/Nin-Nin69/NinNin2/azsailorexcel.jpg

[Umino]

Originally posted by Nin-Nin69
Lucky for you my DVD player can capture immages. :cool:

http://www.geekshelf.com/gallery/Nin-Nin69/NinNin2/azsailorexcel.jpg

THANK YOU!! :D

[Galaxia]

The "Animation USA" episode was hysterical - especially when Excel had Mickey ears, lol. :D

[Nin-Nin69]

The best part has to be when Excel said, " Yo! Yo homies! Valiece navita?! Che yama, Excel! You're my *****es!" :p

[Aragami_Frog]

Excel Saga is hillarious. I think it's the funniest series I've ever seen. It's even better than Urusei Yatsura.

[Batmex]

Originally posted by Lunacat
P.S. Anyone else have AD Vid-note problems on their vol 4 DVD's? I was watching some of the show this morning and I heard the sounds of the bubbles coming up...but nothing appeared on the screen (it was during a scene involving all the figurines). [/B]

I have that same problem, anybody else has this glitch?

Also something for you guys to know, the japanese actress that plays Excel also played Serena from Sailor Moon!

[andrael]

Originally posted by Batmex
Also something for you guys to know, the japanese actress that plays Excel also played Serena from Sailor Moon!

Kotono Mitsuishi? The same one who did Misato in Evangelion, Juri in Utena, Kagura in Fruits Basket, Kagero in Flame of Recca, and that one elf chick in Those Who Hunt Elves? Cool! She's one of my favorite voice actors. ^_^

[Conekiller]

Originally posted by Lunacat
There is no plot, character development, etc.


actually there is. it's subtle but its there and isn't really evident till the last set of episodes.

the last.......5 episodes are 100% interrelated (excluding 26 which was an OAV)

[Nobuyuki sama]

Originally posted by Batmex
I have that same problem, anybody else has this glitch?

Double-check your soundtrack settings. There are 4 soundtracks and 5 subtitle tracks to mess around with.

[Aragami_Frog]

Originally posted by Nobuyuki sama
Double-check your soundtrack settings. There are 4 soundt
racks and 5 subtitle tracks to mess around with.

There might be a glitch. I'm saying this based on the fact that ADV has yet to send the 4th EXCEL DVD to www.planetanime.com. I preordered the 4th DVD back on November 4th and I have yet to recieve it. I emailed the planetanime.com and they said that ADV has yet to send them any and that it was kind of odd. Given that, maybe ADV doesn't want to put anymore on the street untill they have the bug fixed. Either that or it could be just coincidence.

[Nobuyuki sama]

Originally posted by Aragami_Frog
There might be a glitch. I'm saying this based on the fact that ADV has yet to send the 4th EXCEL DVD to www.planetanime.com. I preordered the 4th DVD back on November 4th and I have yet to recieve it. I emailed the planetanime.com and they said that ADV has yet to send them any and that it was kind of odd. Given that, maybe ADV doesn't want to put anymore on the street untill they have the bug fixed. Either that or it could be just coincidence.
Glitches are always a possibility. However, mine works just fine, I've had disc 4 for almost two weeks now.