Heppoko Jikken Animation Excel♥Saga Review

Overall Rating 7.0 out of 10

I would recommend to all fans of good comedy.

This one is another good comedy show, brought to you by Nabeshin. Despite being much older than Gintama and Nichijou, and had little relevant material to learn and copy from (other than western animation that is), it is almost as fun and the big two of comedy. It's like a trial run of comedy show, not all jokes work well but enough of them do. The formula was later perfected by Gintama.

The main plot is about 'ideological organization' called Across, that tries to conquer the city and Municipal Defence Force that tries to protect that city, because they look at 'narrow' picture instead of a big picture. If a meteorite destroys the world, it's not their problem, but if it destroys the city then it is. That is how real life works.

There are plenty of subplots and other characters that creative and ingenious in their own way, like Great Will of the Macrocosm that looks like a galaxy with arms. She has god-like powers that can bring back entire Earth, accidently destroyed by Excel, but otherwise is a very emotional woman, desperate to find love and with a weakness for badboys. She later gives birth to a baby-will. Pedro who is very unfortunate in a funny way and often says his signature 'nooou'. The guy who was called "that man" by everyone for several episodes as if they do not want to voice his actual name only to later reveal that he calls himself "that man" as well. As well as "this man" and "that man over there" and others. Puchus from space whose only weapon is cuteness and more. 

There is also directors' self-insert character Nabeshin and well as manga author Rukido Kouji, who argue about the direction of the show.

Finally, this show parodies other famous franchises like Speed Racer, Galactic Express 999, Space Pirate Captain Helock, Gundam and more.

Two main heroines are Hyatt, whom everyone likes and who is called this way because you drag someone like her to an actual Hyatt Hotel for some nighttime action and Excel who is just fooling around stupidly, but at least self-aware of her own stupidity. 

It has overreaching plot that connects it all, but most episodes can be readily consumed in standalone fashion. Each episode has some sort of theme that Nabeshin makes Rukido approve at the beginning.

Overall, I can recommend it to fans of Gintama and Nichijou as well as to all who likes comedy (to clarify not romantic comedy, but funny comedy).