Palazzo is the leader of Across and all he does is sit on his throne and bark orders at Excel.
Excel is one of the members of Across and absolutely loves Palazzo. Excel is crazy; in the anime she dies repeatedly in every episode. she speaks so fast you can barely understand her.
Menchi is a Pomeranian dog that Excel keeps locked up in her apartment. Menchi is kind of her pet but most of the time when Excel can't afford food Menchi is her emergency food supply. Menchi also gets some side episodes for herself.
Hyatt is the 2nd Across member there is 3rd but that's in the manga not the anime. Hyatt is a martian princess that fell onto Excel; while in her sleep chamber. Hyatt for some reason gets sick in every episode; throws up blood and dies.
The anime has the same plot as the manga; but in a lot of ways different. The creator of Excel Saga has to approve each episode because there contract says the anime storyline cant be like the manga's. Throughout the series Excel and Hyatt has to try to take over the city in a different genre of anime. There is also the department of city security that's is always trying to stop them making up of; Iwata, Sumiyoshi, Watanabe, Matsuya, Ropponmatsu, and Dr Kabapu.
Since this anime has a different genre in each episode; it has many different things; comedy, sadness, action, drama, fan-service, and some romance.
This anime is definitely a must watch but probably would just rent it.