El-Hazard
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El-Hazard is an anime franchise by the anime studio AIC, and more specifically Hiroki Hayashi of Tenchi Muyo! fame. There is also a manga adaptation, which is published in English by Viz Communications. The anime is licensed in English by Geneon.
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Synopsis
The series began as a seven episode OVA series entitled, El-Hazard: The Magnificent World. It was popular enough to be remade into a twenty-six episode TV series, The Wanderers, set in an alternate timeline. A second four episode OAV series, El-Hazard: The Magnificent World 2 and another thirteen episode TV series, El-Hazard: The Alternative World, are continuations of the original OVA timeline.
The story focuses on four people from our world (High school students Makoto Mizuhara, Katsuhiko and Nanami Jinnai, and History teacher Masamichi Fujisawa) who are mysteriously transported to the fantastical world of El-Hazard, which is threatened with a massive war between the human nations on one side and the insectoid Bugrom tribe on the other. To add further complexity, the quartet's transportation has a side effect, in that each of them gains a unique special ability. For instance, Katsuhiko gains the power to commuicate with the Bugrom, and subsequently uses his power to become the Bugrom's military leader. The hard-drinking, chain-smoking Fujisawa, on the other hand, gains superhuman strength and athletic ability, but only when he's sober.
The central conflict in El-Hazard: The Magnificent World focuses on Makoto, who along with Nanami, Mr. Fujisawa and human residents of El-Hazard fight against Katsuhiko's conquest, but other, more sinister machinations lie below the surface. The Wanderers is a simplified version of the original OAV storyline, stretched to twenty-six episodes and eliminates or alters several of the OAV's major characters. El-Hazard: The Magnificent World 2 sees Makoto and the others continuing on in their lives in El-Hazard, when Mr. Fujisawa suddenly runs off, having gotten cold feet the night before his wedding. El-Hazard: The Alternative World follows up with the actual wedding, but the cast is then thrust into another world for a second time; the militant world of Creteria.
El-Hazard is a "light" series -- while it has a fair amount of character development, the series focuses almost entirely on action/adventure and comedy. Contrast this with, say, Tenchi Muyo!, which has a bit more character development and drama (especially in the later series). Unlike Tenchi Muyo!, however, El-Hazard was much more heavily influenced by western culture in terms of its plot and fantasy world design. At several points, the central protagonist Makoto finds himself forced into impersonating an El-Hazardian princess, ala The Prisoner of Zenda, and the clothing, architecture and human cultures of El-Hazard are all heavily reminicent of stories such as 1001 Arabian Nights.
Characters
see the article at Characters of El-Hazard
The Eye of God
The Eye of God plays a prominent role in both the OAV and The Wanderers. In both continuities, it is the ultimate superweapon, created by an ancient civilization. Its basic design is that of a giant metallic orb that floats in a geosynchronous orbit within the world's atmosphere, and thus is often compared to the Death Star of Star Wars fame.
The Eye of God is a dimensional weapon that sends all it destroys into a vortex leading to an unknown destination. It the first OAV series, its use in ancient times is responsible for pulling the Phantom Tribe from their own world into El-Hazard.
In the OAV continuity, the Eye of God first needed to be unsealed by the Muldoon priestesses before it could be operated via the Stairway to the Sky, a tall metal tower that almost reaches the height of the Eye's orbit. Two female members of the royal house were required in order to activate the weapon, but the Phantom Tribe attempted to get around this barrier by creating a machine that would require the use of only one. The Phantom Tribe also sabotage the Eye, causing it to go out of control when the Princesses Rune Venus and Fatora use it to destroy the Bugrom. It's stopped by Ifurita, who synchronizes with the device and is ultimately lost in time and space for ten thousand years as a result.
In The Wanderers, the Eye is controlled from within rather than from the Stairway to the Sky, and the character Ifurita acts as a key to controlling the weapon. Jinnai attempts to use Ifurita to control the Eye, but once connected, Ifurita's true purpose as the Demon God is revealed, and she attempts to destroy El-Hazard. Makoto stops the Eye from going out of control and is temporarily lost, but finds his way back to El-Hazard at the end of the series.
Prominent Locations
This section provides details regarding some of the settings found in El-Hazard. The settings described are taken mainly from their appearances in the original OAV series, El-Hazard: The Magnificent World.
Shinonome High School
The location at which the El-Hazard mythos begins. Although it is a fairly ordinary high school located in the Japanese city of Shinonome, the campus suffers damage from an earthquake prior to the first OAV episode, revealing ancient ruins buried underneath the foundation. The main feature of the ruins is an ornate, pillar-like sarcophagus in which Ifurita sleeps until the time comes for Makoto to awaken her so that she may send him to El-Hazard.
Florestica
The capital of the El-Hazard nation of Roshtaria and the location of the royal palace, where a large portion of the action takes place. The palace serves as the meeting ground for the Alliance council, headed by Rune Venus and Fatora. Located near the palace is the Stairway to the Sky, the metallic tower structure used to control the Eye of God.
The Holy River of God
A river that divides El-Hazard's main continent in half, with the human tribes of El-Hazard living primarily on one side while the Bugrom live on the other.
Bugrom Homeland
The Bugrom Homeland is an alien, hive-like sprawl where most of the Bugrom live. The centerpiece is a massive mushroom-shaped structure that functions as Queen Diva's palace. Later on in the first OAV series, Katsuhiko constructs a Bugrom fortress of smaller but similar design at Balta Hill on the opposite side of the Holy River, within Roshtarian territory.
Mt. Muldoon
One of El-Hazard's tallest and most treacherous mountains, the home of the three chief priestesses is located at its summit. Most of the mountain's surface is vertical, making it extremely dangerous to climb.
The Holy Fountain of Arliman
An oasis located in the middle of a vast desert, the Fountain of Arliman is widely believed to be a center of holy rituals where priestesses routinely gather for a yearly ceremony. However, in reality, its existence is much closer to that of a spa or a hot springs resort, allowing the priestesses to take much-needed breaks from their duties. Men are typically never allowed within its walls.
Island of the Demon God
A forbidden island which only the three priestesses of Mt. Muldoon know the exact location of. In ancient times, Ifurita was laid to rest here in an underground labyrinth in the hopes that her powers would never be wielded again. However, Katsuhiko tricks the priestesses into leading him to the island so that he can awaken the legendary Demon God.
Notes and trivia
- After the phenomenal success of Tenchi Muyo!, AIC wanted to repeat its success. It created El Hazard, which proved that AIC could reliably create popular anime.
- It is rumored that the Japanese director and other members of the production staff consider the English dub produced by Geneon (then known as Pioneer Animation) to actually be superior to the original Japanese language version.
- In the English dub, Katsuhiko names a group of Bugrom Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, Gummo and Margaret. Most of these are, of course, references to the Marx brothers.
- Fujisawa makes a cameo appearance in the Tenchi Muyo! spin-off Tenchi in Tokyo.es:El Hazard
Categories: Anime | Manga