Wikipedia

Excel Saga

Excel Saga(Japanese:エクセル♥サーガ,Hepburn:Ekuseru Sāga)is amangaseries written and illustrated byKōshi Rikudō.It was serialized inYoung King OURsfrom 1996 to 2011, and its individual chapters were collected and published in 27tankōbonvolumes byShōnen Gahōsha.The series follows the attempts of Across, a "secret ideological organization", to conquer the city ofFukuokaas a first step towardsworld domination.The title character of the series,Excel,is a key member of the group who is working towards completing this goal, while the city is being defended by a shadowy government agency led byDr. Kabapu.

Excel Saga
Cover of the first manga volume featuring Excel (center) and Lord Il Palazzo (left)
エクセル♥サーガ
(Ekuseru Sāga)
Genre
Manga
Written byKōshi Rikudō
Published byShōnen Gahosha
English publisher
ImprintYoung King Comics
MagazineYoung King OURs
DemographicSeinen
Original run1996–2011
Volumes27(List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed byShinichi Watanabe
Produced by
  • Shigeru Kitayama
  • Michihisa Abe
  • Yuji Matsukura
Written byJigoku Gumi[a]
Music byToshio Masuda
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTV Tokyo
English network
Original runOctober 7, 1999–March 30, 2000
Episodes26(List of episodes)

The manga was adapted into ananimetelevision series byVictor Entertainment,which was taglinedQuack Experimental Animation(へっぽこ thật nghiệm アニメーション,Heppoko Jikken Animēshon).Directed byShinichi Watanabeand featuring animation fromJ.C.Staff,the series premiered onTV Tokyoin 1999. TV Tokyo only aired twenty-five of the series' twenty-six episodes, with the finale having been intentionally made too violent, obscene and long for broadcast on Japanese TV. As such, it was only included in the DVD release of the series, although it has since been broadcast in other markets.

The series has enjoyed some critical success coupled with respectable sales.

Plot

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Main article:List ofExcel Sagacharacters

Believing the World to be corrupt, the secret organization Across plans to conquer the world. The first step in the plan for world domination is to begin by focusing on one city in order to minimize setbacks. Across consists of the leader of the organization,Il Palazzo,and his young adult officers: the enthusiastic and energetically devotedExceland the soft-spokenHyatt,who is prone to fainting and losing lots of blood at a time. Excel and Hyatt live in an apartment building in the city, along with their pet dogMenchi,who they have deemed their emergency food supply. Excel and Hyatt are later joined by a snobbish but equally clueless rival officer of Across namedElgala.

Living in the neighboring apartment are three guys:Iwata,SumiyoshiandWatanabe,who along with apartment neighbor and co-workerMatsuya,work for the Department of City Security. The Department's leader,Dr. Kabapu,also has a grandiose plan on stopping Across; he has the City Security workers dress inSuper Sentai-like uniforms and sends them on different missions. Supporting Kabapu is an inventorGojo Shioujiwholikes little girls,and hisgynoidRopponmatsu,who later is deployed as two models.

The series follows the daily interactions among the two groups. Il Palazzo would send the girls on their missions but the results are usually a failure with some explosive or catastrophic damage to the city. Kabapu would send the City Security workers on some equally ridiculous assignment which would also go wrong. Eventually Il Palazzo and Kabapu become aware of each other's manipulations and escalate their plans. Excel finds herself being replaced by an impersonator who heads the ILL Corporation. Massive amounts of money is spent on elections and politics. Eventually the members of Across begin making appeals directly to the City's citizens before Il Palazzo publicly declares the existence of Across and its intentions to the public. Hyatt is captured and Excel and Elgala are later held in an immigrant detention center before being rescued by Il Palazzo, who begins the new phase of his plans.

The anime adaptation introduces some original characters: immigrant worker turned wandering spiritPedro;alien mascot-like creatures calledPuchuu;andThe Great Will of the Macrocosm,the last of whom occasionally resets the storyline. The anime directorShinichi Watanabecameos as an afro-wearing guy namedNabeshin,and a caricature of the manga artist also makes appearances.

Production

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The series was created byRikdo Koshiand based on adojinshihe had previously created while in high school namedMunicipal Force Daitenzin(Thị lập chiến đội ダイテンジン,Shiritsu Sentai Daitenjin).Excel Sagawas created as an evolution ofDaitenzinin order to develop the character of Excel, as well as to laugh off the vision of a depressed and pessimistic view of the world.[4][5]Excel Sagais set inFukuoka Cityand the names of characters and organisations are derived from local locations and buildings.[6]

Victor EntertainmentcontactedShōnen Gahōshaabout adaptingExcel Sagainto an anime, and the two companies approached Rikdo.Shinichi Watanabewas chosen as director. Watanabe added his own alter ego, Nabeshin, and expanded several elements. He says that the Great Will in the manga was "conveyed just as words", and he himself developed its appearance, eventually settling on the "swirling, talking cosmos". He also increased Pedro's role in the story from a single frame in the manga. Watanabe says he was pleased with that aspect of his work, noting that "Pedro's situation was considered unsuitable for broadcast in Japan".[7]The anime production staff was given the freedom to do anything they wanted as long as they kept the theme of the series intact, and Rikdo requested they created a separate timeline; this departure from the original work was acknowledged in-story, with each episode opening with a caricature of Rikdo giving "Nabeshin" permission to diverge from the source material, hence the anime's "Quack Experimental" tagline. Rikdo would later become influenced by the anime series due to its quick broadcast in comparison to the monthly schedule of the manga.[4]The anime makes frequent use ofparodyand in-jokes ascomedic devices,with each episode having agenre-based theme. This extends to the animation, with several characters designed in the style of other works, such as those byLeiji Matsumoto.[8]Kotono Mitsuishiwas chosen to play the role of Excel, and Watanabe was impressed with Mitsuishi's rapid delivery of her lines, saying that "she really pushed herself to the limit and beyond". He also says, "at times she was too fast, and there was plenty of time left to match the lip-synch". In such cases, either he would add new material or Mitsuishi wouldad-lib.[7]At first Rikdo felt stunned and uncomfortable at hearing Excel speak, but he called the casting "amazing" and was pleased to hear his favourite voice actors read lines from his work.[4]

Media

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Manga

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See also:List ofExcel Sagachapters

The series began serialisation in Japan in 1996 in the monthly anthologyYoung King OURsand finished in August 2011.[9]The individual chapters began being collected and published intankōbonformat byShōnen Gahōshain April 1997 and volume 27 was released on October 29, 2011.[10][11]A 60-pageone-shotwas publishes inYoung King OURson December 28, 2021, to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary.[12]

Viz MedialicensedExcel Sagafor anEnglish-languagerelease in North America and the first volume was released on August 13, 2003.[13]Initially the series was published on an approximately bimonthly schedule, however the series had caught up with the Japanese release and the publishing schedule for volume 12 onwards was changed as a result.[14]Volume 27 was released on January 14, 2014.[15]The Viz edition includes a section calledOubliette,which consists of a sound effects guide and production and cultural notes.[6]The series is also licensed for regional language releases in France byKabutoand in Italy byDynit.[16][17]

Anime

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See also:List ofExcel Sagaepisodes
Shinichi Watanabe dressed in the style of his 'Nabeshin' character

An anime adaption was produced byJ.C.Staffand directed byShinichi Watanabe.Twenty five episodes were broadcast onTV Tokyobetween October 7, 1999, and March 30, 2000.[18]At the publisher's request, the anime series follows a different storyline from the manga, however Rikdo was pleased with the adaptation.[19]Victor Entertainment produced the music of the series, which was composed and arranged byToshio Masudaand directed by Keiichi Nozaki. Director Shinichi Watanabe wrote the lyrics for the opening and closing themes,. The opening theme which were performed byYumiko KobayashiandMikako Takahashiwho were credited asThe Excel♥Girls.The lyrics for the opening themeLove (Loyalty)(｢ ái ( trung thành tâm )｣,Ai (Chūseishin))were written "on the train, five minutes before the deadline".[7]The closing theme wasMenchi's Bolero of Sorrow(｢メンチの ai sầu のボレロ｣,Menchi no Aishū no Borero)The two themes were released together as a CD single on November 3, 1999.[20]

A twenty-sixth episode,Going Too Far,was deliberately created to be too violent and obscene for broadcast in Japan and was instead included as a DVD bonus. Watanabe commented that it "felt good to go past the limits of a TV series", although he thinks it "is not something that you should do too often".[19]In Japan the series was released on 12 DVDs between March 1, 2000, and January 24, 2001.[21][22]

The series was licensed for an English language release in North America and the United Kingdom byADV Filmsand in Australia and New Zealand byMadman Entertainment.The English adaptation initially starredJessica Calvello,with Larissa Wolcott taking over the role after episode thirteen after Calvello had damaged her voice during production.[23]In North America, ADV released the series on six DVDs between June 11, 2002, and April 8, 2003.[24][25]A complete collection of the series was released on July 6, 2004, asExcel Saga - The Imperfect collectionand re-released in different packaging on August 1, 2006, asExcel Saga - Complete Collection.[26][27]In the UK, the series was first released between May 19, 2003, and March 15, 2004.[28][29]A complete box set was later released asExcel Saga - Complete Box Seton July 2, 2007.[30]The UK license for the series expired in January 2008.[31]The series was broadcast on UK TV channelRapture TVfrom January 2, 2007.[32]

On October 30, 2010, Excel Saga was re-licensed in North America byFunimation,who re-released the complete series to DVD on May 17, 2011.[33]

Soundtracks

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Several albums were released featuring music from the anime. (Excel Saga - Original Soundtrack Experiment 1(エクセル・サーガ ― đại いなるサウンドトラック thật nghiệm 1)) was released on January 1, 2000.[34]The album was later released in North America on August 9, 2005.[35]This was followed in Japan by (Excel Saga - Original Soundtrack Experiment 2(エクセル・サーガ ― đại いなるサウンドトラック thật nghiệm 2 おまけ thốn chỉ め hải hiệp)) on March 23, 2000.[36]A North American release followed on November 1, 2005.[35]

Reception

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Since its August 2003 release in North America, the manga has been among the 50 top-selling graphic novels on three occasions.[37][38][39]

The English-language reviews of theExcel Sagaanime were broadly positive and enthusiastic. Mike Crandol ofAnime News Networkputs it in the same class asAirplane!,National Lampoon,Tex Avery,andMonty Python,adding that the "combination of character-based humor, outrageous slapstick farce, and a plot that is engaging if only for how weird it is make for a thoroughly enjoyable comedic experience".[8]A contrary opinion is expressed by Joel Pearce from DVD Verdict, who says the series is "occasionally clever and funny," but that "much of it is gratingly obnoxious".[40]Many reviewers express displeasure with middle and later episodes, saying they were "more of the same," that they had stale humor, that they were tiresome, or even painfully unfunny.[40][41][42]Episodes fourteen through sixteen, starring the Ropponmatsus, bear the brunt of this criticism, but several reviewers consider episode seventeen,Animation USA,to be one of the best.[40][42][43][44]

Reviewers also agree that the series suffers from too much filler in its later episodes, with Crandol describing the show as spinning its wheels.[45]Yegulalp reserves his harshest words for the unairedGoing Too Far,calling it "pure, idiotic, wretched excess." He goes on to say that the episode has "the feeling of trying to deliberately enrage the audience by resorting to the only tactics left: genuinely offensive subject matter." Joel Cunningham at Digitally Obsessed disagrees, saying that the episode succeeds just in time, "with one of the series' funnier sight gags".[46]

The series generally receives high marks for technical aspects. Cunningham feels the animation is flat-out gorgeous, but Crandol considers it merely above average. In the latter's opinion, its quality wanes as the series progresses and increasingly relies onsuper-deformingthe characters for comedic effect.[42][47]ADV's release earned praise for the quality of the video transfer and the DVD extras (particularly the Vid-Notes).[8][46]Reviewers especially appreciated the English voice acting: Crandol calls it brilliant, and several note that Calvello and Wolcott were each able to captureMitsuishi'sExcel.[8][42][44]Pearce, in contrast, found the English cast to be pretty bad and its Excel to be "dental drill shrill".[40]

Akadot's reviewer of the manga writes that "some of the strange events go on a little too long and do not have the impact that they do animated," but that Rikdo'sExcel Sagais "graced with fantastic visuals and a hilarious story," and that the English edition is "a masterpiece of the translator's skill."[48]Barb Lien-Cooper from Comic World News concurs that the manga cannot keep pace with the anime, but she finds Excel herself to be wittier in the manga and that the manga's plots make more sense than the anime's.[49]A reviewer of the French edition also praises Rikdo's work, noting that it is an "...easy read without problems of clarity".[50]

Notes

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  1. ^A penname used by writers Yousuke Kuroda and Hideyuki Kurata in collaboration.

References

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  1. ^Thordsen, Sean (February 23, 2013)."The Law of Anime Part III: Defending Yourself".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 14,2018.
  2. ^"The Official Website for Excel Saga".Viz Media.Archivedfrom the original on September 14, 2018.RetrievedOctober 28,2017.
  3. ^Oppliger, John."Ask John: What are the Best Anime Comedies of the Past 20 Years?".AnimeNation.Archived fromthe originalon October 12, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 6,2020.1999's Excel Saga is a masterpiece of non-stop parody and surreal gags.
  4. ^abc"Interview with Rikdo Koshi".Excel Saga DVD Volume 5.ADV Films.
  5. ^Tei, Andrew (July 4, 2003)."Anime Expo - Press Panel with Koushi Rikudo".Mania.com.Archived fromthe originalon December 11, 2013.
  6. ^abKoshi, Rikdo(2003).Excel Saga vol.2.Viz media.p.202.ISBN1-56931-989-8.
  7. ^abcUnattributed (November 2002). "Interview with Excel Saga director Shinichi Watanabe".Newtype USA.1(1): 84–8.
  8. ^abcdCrandol, Mike (June 17, 2002)."Review -Excel SagaDVD 1 ".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2005.RetrievedDecember 8,2009.
  9. ^Yue, Xueying (July 4, 2011)."Excel Saga Manga Approaches Its Finale After 15 Years".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2021.RetrievedApril 7,2022.
  10. ^エクセル・サーガ 1 (ヤングキングコミックス) (コミック).ASIN478591565X.
  11. ^エクセル・サーガ 27 (ヤングキングコミックス) (コミック).ASIN4785937254.
  12. ^Pineda, Rafael (December 6, 2021)."Excel Saga Manga Gets 25th Anniversary 1-Shot Chapter".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on November 5, 2023.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
  13. ^"Viz LLC 2003 Press Releases".Archived fromthe originalon July 9, 2003.
  14. ^Carl Gustav horn (March 15, 2005).Excel Saga.Vol. 11.Viz Media.p. 213.ISBN1-59116-722-1.
  15. ^"North American Anime Manga Releases January 12–18".August 5, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on January 15, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 16,2014.
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  19. ^abShinichi Watanabe.Excel Saga Volume 3 - Interview with Shinichi Watanabe(DVD).ADV Films.
  20. ^"Ái ( trung thành tâm ) [Single]".Amazon.co.jp.Archivedfrom the original on July 21, 2012.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
  21. ^"へっぽこ thật nghiệm アニメーション エクセル・サーガ その1 [DVD]".Amazon.co.jp. March 2000.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2011.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
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  23. ^"Nan Desu Kan 6".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on July 26, 2009.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
  24. ^Beveridge, Chris (May 27, 2002)."Excel Saga Vol. #1".Mania.com. Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2015.RetrievedDecember 29,2008.
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  31. ^"ADV Films UK Switches from US-Run Office to UK Partner".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 2,2010.
  32. ^ADV Films (December 18, 2006)."Excel & Hyatt Crash Rapture Tv in January 2007!"(Press release). London. Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2015.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
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  34. ^"エクセル・サーガ ― đại いなるサウンドトラック thật nghiệm 1".Amazon.co.jp.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2011.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
  35. ^ab"Excel Saga, Vol. 1 [SOUNDTRACK]".Amazon.RetrievedJanuary 2,2010.
  36. ^"エクセル・サーガ ― đại いなるサウンドトラック thật nghiệm 2・おまけ thốn chỉ め hải hiệp [Soundtrack]".Amazon.co.jp.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2011.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
  37. ^"Top 50 Graphic Novels Actual--October 2003".ICv2.com.Archivedfrom the original on June 11, 2011.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
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  39. ^"Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--February 2004".ICv2.com.Archivedfrom the original on May 15, 2013.RetrievedDecember 28,2009.
  40. ^abcdPearce, Joel (September 9, 2004)."Review -Excel Saga: Imperfect Collection".DVD Verdict. Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2006.RetrievedJune 20,2006.
  41. ^Cunningham, Joel (February 24, 2003)."Excel Saga#5:Secrets and Lies(2000) ".Digitally Obsessed.Archivedfrom the original on February 9, 2006.RetrievedJune 3,2006.
  42. ^abcdCrandol, Mike (January 14, 2001)."Review -Excel SagaDVD 4 ".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2004.RetrievedJune 1,2006.
  43. ^Arnold, Adam (February 2003)."Animefringe Reviews:Excel SagaVol.4:Doing Whatever It Takes".Animefringe.Archivedfrom the original on May 6, 2006.RetrievedJune 12,2006.
  44. ^abCunningham, Joel (January 13, 2001)."Excel Saga#4:Doing Whatever It Takes(2000) ".Digitally Obsessed.Archivedfrom the original on October 9, 2006.RetrievedJune 12,2006.
  45. ^Crandol, Mike (March 10, 2003)."Review -Excel SagaDVD 5 ".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2005.RetrievedJune 1,2006.
  46. ^abCunningham, Joel (April 8, 2003)."Excel Saga#6:Going Way Too Far(2000) ".Digitally Obsessed.Archivedfrom the original on February 9, 2006.RetrievedJune 3,2006.
  47. ^Cunningham, Joel (January 14, 2001)."Excel Saga#1:The Weirdness Begins(1999) ".Digitally Obsessed.Archivedfrom the original on July 15, 2003.RetrievedJune 6,2003.
  48. ^"Excel Saga".Akadot. September 16, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon April 4, 2004.RetrievedJune 3,2006.
  49. ^Lien-Cooper, Barb."Excel Saga Volume 3".Comic World News.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2004.RetrievedJune 29,2003.
  50. ^Full quotation(in French):"En ce qui concerne la mise en page, celle-ci est particulièrement dynamique avec un enchaînement impressionnant de cases les unes sur les autres et qui laissent, malgré le nombre, une lecture facile et sans problèm de clarté.""Critique deExcel Saga".SciFi-Universe.Archivedfrom the original on January 1, 2007.RetrievedJune 8,2006.
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