Naga the Serpent was originally planned to be featured only in one "Slayers" story ("Naga's Challenge"), but a very positive response from readers turned her into the franchise's major recurring character. In 2000, she won the "Best of "Dragon Magazine"" popular vote in two categories, including first place for the best supporting role in the magazine's history. Writing in 1999, Dave Halverson called Lina and Naga "two of anime 's brightest stars in both Japan and the U.S." as well as "perhaps the best character designs in the anime universe." Naga has continued to be a major factor for the enduring popularity of "Slayers" in Japan.