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Stranded on the alternate world of El Hazard, Makoto, Fujisawa, and Nanami follow Princess Rune and Alielle into situations that allow Rune and Makoto moments of romantic longing--to Nanami's annoyance. But their mini-adventures don't really go anywhere: in episode 10, Makoto rescues the shape-shifting cat Ura from a vulpine monster--whose presence is never explained or resolved. The story grows darker when a legendary floating castle appears over Roshtaria. Makoto inadvertently awakens the demon Ifurita, but she's kidnapped by Jinnai and his Bugrom minions. The legends describe Ifurita as the Ultimate Weapon, but she's naive to the point of sappiness, which hinders Jinnai's plans to use her to conquer El Hazard. Director Katsuhito Akiyama can't find a satisfactory balance between the comedy and the adventure, and the story lurches between the two with little sense of a sustained narrative. Rated 13 Up: risqué humor, violence, alcohol use.--Charles Solomon
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