Makoto Mizuhara is a student of Shinonome High School. He's smart and talented, much to the dismay of the school president, the literally evil Katsuhiko Jinnai who considers Makoto as his arch-rival. Nanami Jinnai is Katsuhiko's money interested sister and Makoto's best friend (not to mention girlfriend-would-want-to-be). Masamichi Fujisawa is the cigarette smoking, sake (or other various form of alcohol) drinking history teacher Shinonome High. On one night, fate changed the destiny of those four characters.

Considering Mizuhara as a treat against him, Jinnai lure Makoto to school with the idea of getting rid of him. Suddenly, as Jinnai is about to execute his plans, time seems to freeze for everyone except Makoto. Makoto feels being called by someone and end up in an ancient relic, recently discovered in the basement of the school. There, a beautiful and mysterious woman appears and sends Makoto, along with Nanami, Jinnai and Fujisawa-sensei, to an other world called El-Hazard.

Makoto and Fujisawa-sensei awoken in a weird forest where they encounter and save princess Rune Venus of Roshtaria, from Bugrom soldiers (like the name says, big bugs). As a reward, the new heroes are invited to the palace, where they learn that all El-Hazard is in crisis. Princess Fatora has disappeared and thanks to a huge coincidence… she looks just like Makoto! From that point starts an amazing adventure…

The El-Hazard OVA series is one if the best series I've seen. It is a perfect blend of action, adventure, and humor, hosting a cast of great characters. The artwork is excellent, as the animation, and the soundtrack is interesting. I haven't seen the original version, but the dub is in my opinion excellent. It is a must see!

El-Hazard 2 is the continuity of the first OVA series. Water priestess Miz Mistal as finally managed to "convince" Fujisawa-sensei to marry her. But on the last minute, he flees away. Makoto, along Nanami, Fatora, Alielle and the others priestess, decides to follow an angry Miz in a search of the missing groom. Meanwhile, Jinnai goes after a new ultimate weapon.

I have only seen the first tape but already I can say that this series is inferior to the original. Although it has a catchy opening scene, at first glance you can notice that the artwork lack the quality of the original work. It is inferior in a matter of details, colors and shapes (the haircuts and costumes are really bad compared to the original, or even the TV series). The story itself could have been totally discarded without any impact. It is still interesting however because of it's humorous side. The presence of Fatora is it's greatest value.

The Wanderers is TV series inspired of the original OVA, in the same way a series TV was adapted from Tenchi Muyo. It is basically an all family version of the first story, with minor changes (Princess Fatora doesn't exist, the relation between Ifurita and Makoto is replaced by a relation between a younger Rune Venus and Makoto, Ifurita has become a ditz a la Mihoshi…). Although it less fast paced then the original (some filler episodes here and there), it is still an original story and it does provide a lot of character development, something that was lacking from the Tenchi Muyo TV series. The artwork is good for a TV series (I actually find it better the one of El-Hazard 2). It is interesting, enough for me to buy the last tape I couldn't see yet.

Updated September 13th 1998