What is the proper order for watching the El Hazard series?

Question

The El Hazard series, written by Ryoe Tsukimura and directed by Hiroki Hayashi, consists of two OVA series and two TV anime:

OVA

• El Hazard: The Magnificent World
• El Hazard 2: The Magnificent World

TV Series

• El Hazard: The Wanderers
• El-Hazard: The Alternative World

How are these different productions related? What is the best order for someone to enjoy them?

Answer 1

Chronologically by release, it goes:

1. The first OVA, El Hazard: The Magnificent World (OVA1, 1995)
2. The first TV series, El Hazard: The Wanderers (TV1, 1995)
3. The second OVA, El Hazard 2: The Magnificent World (OVA2, 1997)
4. The second TV series, El-Hazard: The Alternative World (TV2, 1998)

The Wanderers TV series (TV1) is of a seperate continuity (basically a retelling of the OVA series, but aimed at a younger demographic) to the two OVAs (OVA1 + OVA2).

The Alternative World TV series (TV2) is set after the second Magnificent World OVA.

So chronologically by story, it goes:

1. Magnificent World (OVA1) ⇒ 2. Magnificent World (OVA2) ⇒ 3. Alternative World (TV2)

⤜ || ...somewhere completely unrelated... || The Wanderers (TV1) ⤛