the english-language reviews of the "excel saga" anime were broadly positive and enthusiastic. mike crandol of anime news network puts it in the same class as "airplane!", "national lampoon", tex avery, and monty python, adding that the "combination of character-based humor, outrageous slapstick farce, and a plot that is engaging if only for how weird it is make for a thoroughly enjoyable comedic experience". a contrary opinion is expressed by joel pearce from dvd verdict, who says the series is "occasionally clever and funny," but that "much of it is gratingly obnoxious". many reviewers express displeasure with middle and later episodes, saying they were "more of the same," that they had stale humor, that they were tiresome, or even painfully unfunny. episodes fourteen through sixteen, starring the ropponmatsus, bear the brunt of this criticism, but several reviewers consider episode seventeen, "animation usa", to be one of the best.