DRAWN & QUARTERED
Graphic Arts As Literature

‘Excel’ is an anime
that defies formula

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By Jason S. Yadao
jyadao@starbulletin.com

Most animated comedy series have settled into a comfortable formula: introduce characters, place in settings that are bound to produce wacky high jinks, perhaps add a dash or two of Very Special Moments in which the characters learn Valuable Life Lessons.

But in the "quack experimental anime" world that is "Excel Saga," one of the latest offerings from ADV Films, no formula is sacred. Not even the way its title character is introduced.

So meet Excel, a girl who just graduated from high school and has been accepted into the secret organization ACROSS. She's singing ACROSS's praises. She's having the best day of her life. She's unwittingly knocking people unconscious as she swings her school bag.

And then she gets hit by a truck and dies.

Total elapsed time in the first episode: 15 seconds.

"Excel," the Great Will of the Macrocosm, a godlike deity, scolds as she brings her back to life. "You must not die the moment the show starts. Life is valuable, but more than that, consider the story line."

With that introduction, the series starts on its merry way. The jokes come so quickly at times that ADV has included "Vid-Notes" as a DVD extra that, when activated, displays notes on some of the more obscure in-jokes in "Pop-Up Video" fashion.

Where "Excel Saga" excels is in how it takes anime stereotypes and tweaks them just enough to provide an endless comic source.

Take Lord Ilpalazzo, the leader of ACROSS. Ilpalazzo is cut from the anime mold of imposing supreme overlords bent on world domination, complete with long, flowing cape, elaborately sculpted throne and secret underground headquarters.

But although he believes the world is ripe for conquest, he'll settle for taking over one city to avoid overtaxing himself, Excel and a third agent, the chronically anemic space princess Hyatt. That's when he's not playing video games, reading fan club magazines or getting frustrated over learning how to play an electric guitar.

Then there's Excel's dog, Menchi. Excel meets Menchi toward the tail end of the first episode, and immediately falls in love with him at first sight. Of course, Excel just happens to be extremely weak with hunger at the time, and her first thought upon seeing the dog is "dog ... equals animal ... equals food."

There is a reason the series' creators named the dog Menchi. "Menchi" translates as "minced meat" in English.

This sets up one of the most unique ending songs ever heard in a series: Menchi mournfully yaps about his fears of being eaten, while a girl in a bubble to the side provides expert translation.

Each of the five episodes on this DVD starts with a disclaimer from Koshi Rikdo (writer of the original comic series on which this series is based) "authorizing" the transformation of the show into a sci-fi epic, a love story or a low-budget movie. In each episode, Excel is sent on some task to help ACROSS achieve its goal of citywide domination, which usually ends up going horribly wrong.

For example, in the first episode, she's assigned to kill a comic book author accused of corrupting readers' minds. She arrives at the house, has a brief struggle with her conscience (complete with Angel Excel and Devil Excel, which ends when Angel pulls out a gun and kills Devil) and slays the author.

One problem.

It's Koshi Rikdo.

Particularly worth mentioning is the voice work of Jessica Calvello, who does an excellent job of channeling the original, high-energy spirit of Japanese voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi's Excel, right down to the high-pitched yelling through large portions of each episode.

But perhaps Calvello did too well -- a recent message from her on an "Excel Saga" Internet mailing list noted that she had to pull out of the project halfway through because she risked permanent damage to her vocal cords. Her replacement has not yet been announced.

One final note: There's quite a bit of comic violence and implied sexual humor -- keep the kids away. It's for their safety (and yours).

The second volume, containing episodes 6 through 9, is due Aug. 27. If it's anything like this first volume, get those reservations in now.

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