Slayers The Motion Picture
Slayers: The Motion Picture is a 1995 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film that serves as a prequel to the Slayers television series.[1] Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe with a screenplay by Kazuo Yamazaki, it is based on the light novel series written by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi.[2] The film centers on the powerful sorceress Lina Inverse and her boastful companion Naga the Serpent as they arrive on Mipross Island seeking relaxation, only to become involved in a battle against the ancient demon Joyrock, who destroyed the island's elven settlement centuries ago and requires them to travel back in time to protect it.[1] Animated by J.C. Staff and produced in collaboration with companies including Bandai Visual and Kadokawa Shoten, the 65-minute movie premiered in Japan on July 29, 1995.[3][1] The story explores themes of ancient curses and heroic intervention within the comedic fantasy world of the Slayers franchise, introducing key elements like Lina's signature Dragon Slave spell and Naga's exaggerated personality.[4] Voiced by Megumi Hayashibara as Lina and Maria Kawamura as Naga in the original Japanese version, the film also features Osamu Saka as the elderly mage Rowdy Gabriev and Tesshō Genda as the antagonist Joyrock.[1] Music was composed by Takayuki Hattori, with the ending theme "Midnight Blue" performed by Hayashibara, enhancing the film's adventurous and humorous tone.[5] Released theatrically by Toei Company in Japan, Slayers: The Motion Picture was later dubbed and distributed internationally by ADV Films, with an English release in 1998.[6] It received positive reception for its action sequences and character dynamics, earning a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on audience scores, though some critics noted its reliance on series lore for full context.[4] As the first theatrical entry in the franchise, it helped expand the popularity of Hajime Kanzaka's universe, paving the way for subsequent films and OVAs.[1]Background and development
Slayers franchise
The Slayers franchise originated with a series of light novels written by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi, beginning serialization in Dragon Magazine in 1989 before the chapters were collected into volumes published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko starting in 1990.[7][8] The stories center on Lina Inverse, a powerful yet comedic sorceress known for her beauty, brilliance, and impulsive greed, who travels a fantasy world filled with trolls, demons, and ancient magic, blending high-stakes adventure with satirical parodies of traditional sword-and-sorcery tropes.[8] This core narrative established the franchise's signature mix of explosive magic battles, witty banter, and RPG-inspired elements like questing for treasure and confronting otherworldly threats.[8] The franchise expanded into anime adaptations, with the first television series produced by J.C. Staff airing on TV Tokyo from April 7 to September 29, 1995, significantly boosting its visibility and fanbase.[9] The series highlighted Lina's bombastic personality and her partnership with the straightforward swordsman Gourry Gabriev, emphasizing themes of action-packed sorcery, slapstick humor, and subversive takes on fantasy clichés that resonated widely.[9] This adaptation drew directly from the novels, amplifying their appeal through dynamic animation and voice performances that captured the chaotic energy of Lina's exploits.[9] During the 1990s, Slayers reached its peak popularity in Japan, becoming one of the era's defining anime franchises with 20 million novel copies sold and multiple spin-off series, including the 30-volume Slayers Special prequel novels published from 1991 to 2008. Its international appeal grew through licensing deals, with the anime airing in countries like the Philippines in 1997 and Italy in 1997, alongside OVAs such as Slayers Special that explored side stories in the same whimsical universe.[9][10] As of 2025, the franchise continues to expand with new short story collections and English-language releases by J-Novel Club.[11] This momentum paved the way for theatrical films as key expansions, often diverging into spinoff continuities separate from the main television timeline.[9]Film development
Following the success of the Slayers television series that premiered in April 1995, J.C.Staff produced Slayers The Motion Picture in co-production with Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd., Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., Marubeni Corporation, and King Record Co., Ltd., marking the franchise's first theatrical release to build on the growing popularity of its light novel origins and animated adaptation.[1] The screenplay was penned by Kazuo Yamazaki, drawing from an original story by series creator Hajime Kanzaka, and crafted as a prequel set in a spinoff continuity that spotlights Lina Inverse alongside Naga the Serpent while omitting key television companions like Gourry to explore their dynamic in isolation.[1] Hiroshi Watanabe served as director, with Yamazaki additionally handling chief direction and storyboarding duties, as the project was planned for a concise 65-minute runtime emphasizing the franchise's signature comedic elements alongside distinctive time-travel mechanics central to the film's plot.[1]Synopsis and cast
Plot
Lina Inverse and Naga the Serpent, the latter having acquired complimentary passes from defeated bandits, embark on a vacation to the remote Mipross Island to enjoy its renowned hot springs.[1] Upon arrival, their relaxation is disrupted by increasingly formidable assailants, including warriors and undead minions, leading them to uncover ancient elven ruins beneath the island's surface.[12] The duo's adventure intensifies when they encounter the elderly sage Rowdy Gabriev, who reveals that the island's barren state and strange afflictions stem from a curse inflicted by the demon lord Joyrock centuries earlier; Joyrock had massacred the elven inhabitants after absorbing their magical life force to gain immortality.[2] Motivated by a promise of a restorative hot spring soak and Rowdy's tales of lost elven prosperity, the greedy Lina and vain Naga agree to aid him in breaking the curse by using an ancient elven artifact to travel back in time.[12] In the past, the trio witnesses Joyrock's initial assault on the thriving elf colony, where the demon slays the inhabitants, including Rowdy's beloved elf maiden, to fuel his power.[1] Lina and Naga, separated briefly during the temporal vortex, reunite to confront Joyrock directly in a fierce battle; Lina unleashes her signature Dragon Slave spell, a devastating incantation that nearly consumes the battlefield but ultimately weakens the demon enough for Rowdy to deliver a fatal blow with his sage magic.[2] With Joyrock defeated, the timeline restores the elf colony to its former glory, lifting the curse and revitalizing Mipross Island in the present, allowing the elves to return and the land to flourish once more.[12] In a humorous post-climax twist, Lina and Naga finally indulge in the hot springs, only to discover its magical properties cause exaggerated physical enhancements—much to Lina's dismay and Naga's delight—highlighting their contrasting personalities amid the chaos.[1] The film resolves with the restored peace on the island underscoring themes of unlikely friendship and adventurous mayhem, as Lina and Naga bid farewell to Rowdy and set off on their next journey.[2]Cast
The voice cast for Slayers The Motion Picture features prominent Japanese seiyū who reprised their roles from the broader Slayers franchise, alongside an English dub produced by ADV Films in 1998. The original Japanese audio emphasizes the film's comedic and fantastical tone through energetic performances, while the English version aimed to capture the exaggerated humor central to the characters.[1]Japanese Cast
Megumi Hayashibara provided the voice for Lina Inverse, the fiery protagonist and thief-mage known for her impulsive magic and treasure-seeking antics; Hayashibara's portrayal of Lina became iconic across the Slayers franchise, including the television series and subsequent OVAs.[1][13] Maria Kawamura voiced Naga the Serpent (also known as Gracia ul Naga), Lina's boastful rival and comedic foil whose over-the-top laughter and self-aggrandizing demeanor add levity to the story.[1] Osamu Saka lent his gravelly tones to Rowdy Gabriev, the wise sage and mentor figure who guides the protagonists with ancient knowledge and a tragic backstory.[1] Tesshō Genda portrayed Joyrock, the antagonist demon whose menacing presence drives the central conflict.[1]English Dub Cast
In the ADV Films English dub, Cynthia Martinez took on the role of Lina Inverse, bringing a spirited energy that aligned with the character's chaotic personality; Martinez had previously voiced Lina in the Slayers OVAs, leading ADV to select her over the television series' dub actress Lisa Ortiz for consistency with those entries.[1][14] Kelly Manison (credited as voicing "Nahga") performed Naga the Serpent, emphasizing the character's bombastic humor through exaggerated delivery.[1] Phil Ross voiced Rowdy Gabriev, conveying the sage's authoritative wisdom and emotional depth.[1] Tristan MacAvery handled Joyrock, infusing the demon with a sinister edge suitable for the villainous role.[1]| Character | Japanese Voice Actor | English Voice Actor (ADV) |
|---|---|---|
| Lina Inverse | Megumi Hayashibara | Cynthia Martinez |
| Naga the Serpent | Maria Kawamura | Kelly Manison |
| Rowdy Gabriev | Osamu Saka | Phil Ross |
| Joyrock | Tesshō Genda | Tristan MacAvery |