El-Hazard: The Alternative World Review
異次元の世界エルハザード
Ijigen no Sekai El Hazard

Since the Community Anime Reviews site is all but dead (down as I write this), I’m republishing some of my OG reviews from there. I have corrected obvious spelling errors though. I will add new notes in parenthesis, labeled “ANB  note.”  😅 I won’t count these as part of the “Back to the Vaults” series as I have not rewatched them.

–> Buy El-hazard Alternative World Blu-ray Collection BD Collection on Amazon.com!

Community Anime Review of El-Hazard: The Alternative World

(ANB note: This series was originally reviewed on 10-May-2003.)

I give this a “rent” because of episode 13 (the fan service episode) and the “gotta sex all women I see”, lesbian princess, Fatora. But enough on that…🙄

The story of El-Hazard: The Alternative World continues after the 2nd El Hazard OAV series. Miz has retired and the water priestess job goes to Qawoor who looks suspiciously like a young Ifurita. Makoto is studying the Eye of God part he found which reacts to Qawoor. In the 2nd episode, Qawoor somehow sends them all to another world during her ceremony to take over the job of water priestess.

She, Makoto, and Nanami (and Ura) land at an emperor’s castle. Princess Rune, Fujisawa, Afura Mann, and Miz land on a floating farmland. Shayla, Jinnai, and one of his bugrom land in a bug land while Fatora, Alliele, and her twin brother land nearby. Makoto’s group follows the main storyline and the others are sub-plots which are interesting to a degree. Eventually, everyone sorta meets up.

Thoughts/Review

Conceptually, this is an excellent story. This new land they’ve been teleported to resembles ancient El Hazard. In fact, maybe it was ancient El Hazard. Who knows? And while as a whole I enjoyed this story, there were several short comings. First, there seemed no purpose to the subplot of Shayla-Shayla, Jinnai, and the bugrom being held captive by the bug race on this new world other than some cheap laughs. It would have been interesting if the eggs Shayla caused to hatch might have founded a new bugrom-type society.

Second, Princess Rune is suddenly a domestic on a floating farm? I understand the “grass is greener” idea, but Rune didn’t seem to be the type. And when the secret of the floating farms is revealed, Rune and her farmer rescuer/love-interest are dropped and forgotten. Eh? Having Rune make a comment on the joys of a simple lifestyle would have helped the domestic issue and instead of a fan service episode, why not take the time to show Rune and the farmer together?

Another weak point is the Qawoor-Ifurita connection. First, Qawoor looks like a young Ifurita. Second, she has an unexplained ability to activate the Eye of God technology. Third, it is hinted that there is some deep connection between her and Makoto, but it isn’t explored. And finally, Makoto dreams that Ifurita gives him a message and a warning, then shortly afterward he meets Qawoor.

There are other unanswered questions to be sure, but there were some good things like the romance story between the emperor and the female head of the military.

Bottom line:

The series starts off great and takes its time setting the table. However, once this is done, the show goes into rush mode leaving things unanswered or forgotten. In fact, they finish so quickly that they have the 13th episode to waste on fan service and ecchi content. Still, it is worth a rent, and is certainly better than OAV 2!