The Anime Network, the first North American cabel channel dedicated to anime, has announced their acquisition of all 78 half-hour episodes of the "Slayers" anime television series.

Originally aired in Japan from 1995 to 1997, the Slayers series is broken into three seasons: Slayers, Slayers Next and Slayers Try. Based on stories and characters created by Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi, Slayers is about Lina Inverse, a wandering soceress who joins forces with Gourry Gabriev.

Together, they embark on a quest to fight the dark lord Shabranigdo, meeting new allies and enemies along the way.

The Anime Network will begin airing the "Slayers" series in early 2005. You can read the full press release here.