Synopsis

Junpei, Ritsuko, and Airi suddenly find themselves summoned to the world of elves. Celcia, the elder of elves, is the only one who can perform the spell to send them back. Unfortunately, the spell went wrong and five separate spell fragments were scattered across the land where they have attached themselves to other elves. Now the only way for our heroes to return home is to strip every elf in the land until they find all the fragments!

Review

On the surface, Those Who Hunt Elves might seem like an off-the-wall comedy series with little or no real point. There?s a good reason for that, because that?s exactly what it is. With a plot that revolves around characters from modern day Japan stripping elves in a fantasy world, it?s really no surprise, though, is it?

The story itself is extremely straightforward, and is repeatedly emphasized episode after episode. Stranded in an alternate dimension, our heroes have no choice but to inspect the bodies of elves to find the spell fragments needed to send them back to their world. With that being the central focus of almost every episode, things can become quite mundane and repetitive. As a result, this series seems that it would be most enjoyable viewed only an episode or two at a time, as they are all so similar.

Fortunately, the antics of the characters and the zany people and situations they encounter provide plenty of comedic material, which is, of course, the lifeblood of the show. The humor I found to be somewhere between Excel Saga and Orphen 2, with some of the bits being clever and witty and others being over the top. Most of it seemed to be trying too hard, although with possessed tanks and mustached dogs it?s hard not to be funny. In fact, the first several episodes were quite funny, but after that it seemed that the same routines were repeated in various different combinations. That?s not to say that the show is not funny or enjoyable, but the repetition can become tiresome after several episodes.

The cast is about as unusual as the storyline, with the main characters consisting of Airi, a Hollywood actress; Junpei, a hot-headed karate expert; Ritsuko, a military weapon-toting teenager; and Celcia, the excitable elf sorcereress who inadvertently summoned the others. As likeable as the characters are, they don?t show much development during the series other than Celcia, who comes to understand and appreciate the ?other-worlders.? I found Ritsuko to be the most enjoyable character, and I loved her unorthodox affection for high-tech weaponry. Her companion Mihke, a T-14 tank possessed by a cat spirit, is rather lively as well for an inanimate object.

The series is divided into two seasons, I & II, with the first being the superior of the two. The second half feels like a forced continuation, with the same story in different locations. While neither was extremely compelling, the end of the first season contained at least a few dramatic elements to keep viewers interested.

The animation and sound are both of average quality, with neither being particularly noteworthy. The character designs are nicely done, however, and the soundtrack does have its moments. For such a light-hearted comedy, this series contains quite a bit of offensive language, however, which was totally unnecessary and varied greatly from episode to episode.

From a bird?s eye view, the series really is not very attractive. To call the plot simplistic would be charitable. The beauty of the show lies in the individual episodes, which range from mildly funny and boring to hilarious. The ludicrous scenarios enacted in this fantasy world are beyond outlandish, and this is where much of the humor originates. For instance, there is an episode in which Junpei is in desperate need of toilet paper. The group journeys on and just happens to find that an irresistibly cute breed of bear that actually excrete their waste in the form of toilet paper, on rolls no less! This sort of convenient coincidence is commonplace in this world and is a source of constant amusement.

Conclusion

For those who enjoy oddball comedies, Those Who Hunt Elves should be viewed as a prime example. Everyone else will enjoy the comedic onslaught for the mindless fun that it is. There aren?t any revelations to be had, but it?s a fun ride for those who don?t mind a little silliness.

-Review by Reptile (26 Jul, 2006)

Audio:	Good voiceovers average soundtrack
Video:	Good animation
Plot:	Basically a vehicle for the comedy routines
Style:	Nice character designs and hodgepodge environment
Characters:	Likably zany cast of troublemakers
Violence:	Mild
Language:	Heavy
Nudity:	Mild but frequent
Genre:	Comedy
Episodes:	24
Rating:	3.5 of 5
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