Rumor has it that somewhere on the Internet there is a website accessible only at midnight -- the Hotline to Hell -- where people can ask the Hell Girl to take revenge on people who have wronged them. However, when one person is cursed, two graves are dug, for if the Hell Girl fulfils your request, you too will be consigned to the pit of Hell when you die. Would you untie the red ribbon and sell your soul to the Hell Girl for vengeance?
Description: shinsengumi
Story & Characters
Foreword: This is a review for the first season of Jigoku Shoujo only.
Do you have a grudge against someone? Do you hate them enough to want to send them to Hell? If your feelings of hatred
towards that person is strong enough, then at midnight, you can access a webpage called Jigoku Tsushin (Hell
Correspondence) and enter that person's name to have Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl) take your revenge for you. Most
people believe it's just a rumour, but Jigoku Shoujo really exists. If you click the send button on the webpage,
Enma Ai would appear before you and give you a straw doll with a red string around its neck. She would tell you that if
you really want to take revenge, you may pull the red string, and your enemy would be ferried straight to Hell. However,
you have to pay a price for sending someone to Hell: two graves are dug when you send someone to Hell; after you die,
your soul would fall into the pits of Hell.
That is the premise of the series, and what most of the episodes revolve around. At the beginning, the episodes are
stand-alone, with its own characters (ie character you'd never see again), and there's not much continuity
between them. Each one follows a set template: the client and the target are introduced, their situation explained, the
client gets fed up with the target and accesses Jigoku Tsushin, Enma Ai appears and explains how to take revenge, the
client hesitates to pull the string because she doesn't want to go to Hell as well, so she waits, the target does
something horrible which forces the client to go through with the revenge, and the target gets sent to Hell (but not
before being show some strange visions).
Each story is interesting enough on its own; you sympathize with the person who calls on Jigoku Shoujo, and it's
quite satisfying watching those who deserve it go to Hell, but with 5 or 6 episodes in a row with so much of the
repeating elements, it can become repetitive and boring.
Starting at episode 7, the story gets a bit more of a continuing plot. Two recurring characters are introduced: Shibata
Hajime and his daughter Tsugumi. These two characters become interested in Jigoku Shoujo because Hajime disagrees with
Jigoku Tsushin's services, and they attempt to stop her while finding out more about her. Though even with the
continuing plot, most of the episodes still follow that same template.
Characters
Enma Ai, aka Jigoku Shoujo, appears like a little girl even though she's not human. She lives in a house always
basked in twilight with her Grandmother (who probably isn't human either). When she's not carrying out her
job, she plays alone in the house. She is quiet and is seems emotionless, watching the foolishness of humans from the
side and not intervening with their decisions, because she is not there to carry out justice. She has three magical
straw dolls who morph into humans to help with her job: Ichimoku Ren, Wanyudou (who is derived from a youkai in Japanese
mythology of the same name), and Hone-Onna (who is
also from Japanese mythology of the same name.
These three servants are very loyal to Ai and seem to care about her a lot. Ai's past and why she is doing this job
is slowly revealed through the series.
Shibata Hajime is a freelance journalist. When he heard rumours of Jigoku Shoujo, he became interested and started
investigating her. As he investigates her, he comes to disagree with Ai's actions (taking people to Hell for
revenge) and tries to stop her. He is pretty easy-going, perhaps irresponsible even, as his daughter calls him a
childish on one occasion. He is very dedicated to his job, perhaps too dedicated, as he spends days away in his
investigations. But he does care a lot about his daughter.
Shibata Tsugumi is just an ordinary girl at first. But for some reason, she starts having visions, and is able to see
what Ai sees. At first Tsugumi disagrees with her father that they should stop Ai. But as the series goes on and they
see people get sent to Hell for less justified reasons, Tsugumi starts to wonder about whether it really is a good thing
or not. She's pretty fond of her father, calling him "Hajime-chan".
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Overall, stories and characters are not bad, but needs more variety. I don't mind episodic series, as long as not
every episode is almost the same.
Rating: 6
Art
The art style of this series is softer and more reaslistic than many anime series. The chins are softer and hair colours
for all the characters are natural-coloured, fitting with the setting of current-day Japan. The eyes are drawn in a more
realistic style, with them being almond-shaped, though Tsugumi's eyes get unnaturally large sometimes. There is a
big emphasis on eyes it seems, as there are many close-up shots of the eye. The expressions are not exaggerated, but are
still distinct enough.
Ai's character design stands out the most as it should, with her long, straight, black hair and her bright red
eyes, which makes her gaze even more eerie. She usually wears a black and white sailor uniform (perhaps to blend in) and
looks just like a middle-school girl. When she's sending someone to Hell, she dons a traditional black kimono with
flower patterns.
The animation was average, not too bad, but not outstanding either. I do like the illusions being shown to those about
to be sent to Hell though, even if it's rather creepy for some.
One complaint I do have is the use of recycled footage. Since the episodes follow a pattern, the parts that don't
change unfortunately don't change the footage either. It is kind of annoying to see the same scene again and again
over 20+ episodes.
The background scenery and details on the surroundings are pretty well-done. I liked the nature shots and the sunset
skies.
The art is good if it wasn't for the recycled footage...
Rating: 6
Sound
Music
The opening song Sakasama no Chou by SNoW has a nice beat and a pop-ish feeling.
It's a nice song on its own, and sort of fits the series. The ending Karinui by Mamiko Noto, which is slow and sober, which matches the theme of the series more. But the song
itself is more or less average.
The background music has a traditional Japanese feel to it, and it fits Ai's image pretty well. The music fits the
mood, but nothing really stands out. As with the repetitive footage, the same background music is played through the
repeating parts. I suppose it give it more structure, but again, makes it too repetitive.
Voice
The one voice that stands out would be Mamiko Noto as Enma Ai. I love the quiet yet somehow commanding tone that she
has, coupled with a slight creepiness that makes her even more enigmatic; I especially like the chant she give right
before sending someone to Hell, there seems to be an almost mocking tone to it. Even though Ai seems emotionless most of
the time, she doesn't sound flat. And when her emotions are revealed, the emotions are clearly conveyed.
The other voices are pretty well-done, though doesn't stand out too much. Tsugumi's voice is pretty good, as
the girl is the opposite of Ai and expresses her emotions, and her emotions are carried through with the voice.
Rating: 8
Presentation
The premise of the series is pretty neat and interesting. Each story takes a look at human nature, the injustices that
exist in today's society, and our desire to take revenge even though it can't bring back what's already
lost. Many people rely on Jigoku Tsushin and Jigoku Shoujo as a way out of their problems, even though in many instances
the problem could be resolved by talking it over or by other means without having to condemn your soul to Hell. The
crimes of the victims going to Hell varies, some deserve it more than others (and I admit it's very satisfying to
see those who have it coming get their due). Whether Jigoku Shoujo is right or not in what she's doing is up to the
viewer to decide. But one thing is clear: she's not there to carry out justice, nor can she refuse a request based
on her feelings.
I think overall I did enjoy the series. I do like the individual stories on its own, even though many could be cut since
they don't contribute to the central plot. The structure could have been diversified a little bit to keep it from
being tedious, especially in beginning; I saw episode one and could guess pretty much what happens in the next few
episodes. I also would have liked to see what happens once people go to Hell, or what happens to the souls who have sent
people to Hell, does having their soul eternally wander through Hell make them regret what they've done?
This series could be cut down a lot more from being 26 episodes, or at least not as repetitive as it is. However, if
you're interested and patient enough to get through to the end, the end is dramatic enough to be worth it (maybe).
Rating: 5
Final Verdict
6.0000 (average)
Reviewed by MapleRose, Apr 16, 2008
