Hey there! It’s time for another Rising Sun, and this time, we’ve got an bit of a obscure series as the topic today: The Slayers.

The Slayers is a fantasy series based on a series of light novels that were published in Japan beginning in 1989. The series revolves around Lina Inverse, a teenage sorceress, who is quite possibly the only woman who can scare the wind out of an entire gang of bandits with her entrance. However, her habits of wiping out bandit gangs and pillaging their treasure begin to attract the attention of shady figures like Zelgadis and Rezo the Red Priest. So now, it’s up to Lina and her new companion Gourry to investigate and figure out who is to trust. (This is only the conflict for the first ten episodes, adapted from The Ruby’s Eye.) It may seem like an intense story, but it’s also pretty silly most of the time. Not only are Lina and Gourry big eaters, but they also contrast each other quite effectively: Lina is the knowledgeable one, Gourry not so much. Not only that, Lina tends to overdo it at times during the show’s exciting magic battles.

The exciting storylines are backed up by a appealing aesthetic, all the characters are well designed, the universe is well thought out, and the music captures the feel of the show’s world effectively. (The theme song is also one of the catchiest I’ve ever heard) The voice performances are just as excellent (I’m only speaking for the English version), even if all the actors sound suspiciously familiar (Gourry is voiced by Eric Stuart who plays Brock in Pokemon, and it’s really obvious.). In fact, this show is so entertaining, I can’t seem to understand why Fox Kids wouldn’t want to air this show after buying the broadcasting rights for it.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a creative, Tolkien-esque fantasy anime that is as silly as it is serious, I gladly point you in the direction of The Slayers on Hulu.