More than a decade after it's debut, the original Record of Lodoss War OAV series remains the definitive fantasy anime. A perfect cinematic realization of sword-and-sorcery RPGs, Lodoss War was one of the first anime series to really hit it big here in the US, and is still a favorite today not only among anime fans but also devotees of Tolkienesque fantasy who otherwise do not care for animation. Following Lodoss War's success the anime industry has continued to produce no end of series in the fantasy vein, but never again was the distinct magic of sword-and-sorcery tales so accurately captured in animation.

Much like the popular Dragonlance books, Lodoss War was originally a role-playing game which was adapted into a series of novels, which were in turn adapted into the 13-part Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" adaptation that Lodoss War was dethroned as the king of cinematic fantasy, live-action or otherwise. In the animated realm, however, it still holds absolute sway.

The first half of the story is a solid adventure tale that chronicles how an unlikely group of friends are swept into a great war for the island continent of Lodoss. Not merely ing forces for the sake of making an ideal dungeon party, each of the six main players is given their own reasons for ing the quest. Parn and Etoh are ostensibly "sent out to investigate reports of evil", though in truth Parn is kicked out of his home village for starting trouble. Parn's neighbor Slayn is leaving to aid his friend Ghim in his search for a missing girl, and the four travelers set out together. Along the way they pick up elf Deedlit, who is smitten with Parn, and the thief Woodchuck whom Parn rescues from jail and who s the imposing band for safety reasons. The rational way in which each member of the team is introduced negates the cookie-cutter feeling of their group, and though there is little in the way of character development each of their personalities is vividly portrayed.

Things derail a little bit in the second half....at this point the anime goes beyond the then-unfinished Lodoss novels, and without a clear plot outline the story begins to meander. After a few episodes of characters running around but not doing much of anything, Lodoss War gets back on track for a grand finale in the grand fantasy tradition, as Parn regroups his sundered fellowship to rescue Damsel-in-Distress Deedlit and prevent the total annihilation of Lodoss. Mixing in some genuinely moving moments of tragedy, dramatic double-crosses and action scenes aplenty, Lodoss War redeems it's lapses in storytelling and makes for a thoroughly entertaining viewing experience.

Lodoss War owes much of it's success to it's incredible artwork. The animation is extremely limited, but background music are reused throughout the series they successfully evoke the feeling of a fantasy RPG.

The voice acting is fairly mediocre in both the Japanese and English versions. For a group of such exotic characters, the Japanese cast gives a surprisingly run-of-the-mill performance with no standout voices. The same goes for the English cast, excluding mecha anime. Though not without it's faults it is to this day the last word in animated fantasy adventure. With a lasting appeal that extends even beyond the realm of anime fandom, it is a necessary addition to any serious animation library. If you're a Lodoss fan who already bought the previous DVD release, I suggest seeing what you can get for it on eBay.