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NoktorNoL's Elfen Lied Tv Review

Elfen Lied tv Review

The Diclonius, a mutated homo sapien that is said to be selected by God and will eventually become the destruction of mankind, possesses two horns in their heads, and has a "sixth sense" which gives it telekinetic abilities. Due to this dangerous power, they have been captured and isolated in laboratories by the government. Lucy, a young and psychotic Diclonius, manages to break free of her confines and brutally murder most of the guards in the laboratory, only to get shot in the head as she makes her escape. She survives and manages to drift along to a beach, where two teenagers named Kouta and Yuka discovers her. Having lost her memories, she was named after the only thing that she can now say, "Nyuu," and the two allow her to stay at Kouta's home. However, it appears that the evil "Lucy" is not dead just yet...

Story & Characters

The diclonius are genetically different species from humans, but they are the next step in the evolution of human beings. One diclonius appeared as a result of a genetic mutation, and she is able to mutate parents so that their children also become diclonius. The diclonius are essentially taking over the human species, and there is a department which has a goal to stop the spread of diclonius. The diclonius have a certain ability, called the vector, which is like a sixth sense. This vector is basically a telekinetic ability to lift objects with "hands", but these hands can also be used as weapons because they have the ability to cut. The diclonius are held in a research laboratory but in the beginning of the series one of them escapes from the facility. As she is escaping she is shot but she jumps into the ocean and washes up on a beach where she meets Kouta. The story highlights the pursuit of Lucy, the escaped diclonius, and Kouta and several other characters. You learn the history of the diclonius, and many other twists along the way. It is a gripping love story, surprisingly graphic, and ultimately extremely gripping. You can easily watch all 13 episodes back to back without a break.

Rating: 10

Art

The animation is in very high quality and is extremely clear. The graphic nature of the anime itself allows the producers to draw extremely gory scenes, but these scenes are done very well and in such a way that the picture is directly conveyed to the watcher. The faces are drawn in extreme detail as well. The background in many scenes are given good detail as well because it gives the impression of the mood of the scene excellently. There is basically nothing bad to say about the art of the scene itself. However, sometimes it seems like the artists got lazy and did not decide to draw the full background, because in some places there are simply shadows instead of an actual background, but this does not take away from the presentation whatsoever.

Rating: 9

Sound

Extremely beautiful soundtrack and great opening theme, which recurs throughout the series. The opening theme song is in Latin, which is quite a significant change from the normality of anime these days. The Latin theme song is excellent as well, and presents the mood of the series directly and openly. It also makes the watcher fall in love with the anime right from the start, because the song is so wonderful. Besides the song itself, the actual art behind the music is quite beautiful. The mood of the series is presented in this art as well.

Rating: 10

Presentation

You simply cannot stop watching this series until you have finished the storyline. While some of the scenes are somewhat humourous, many are quite emotionally stimulating. You experience levels of grief and sorrow, as well as extreme happiness, some disgust (as the goriness of the series would imply) and many other emotions. The music absolutely enhances the entire experience, as the choices of soundtrack are amazing. The very idea of the anime itself is quite original. The philosophies are also extremely gripping, and very thought-stimulating. Furthermore, the end of the series leaves room for thought, and there will almost certainly be an extension of the series if not another sequel series altogether. Highly recommend you watch this series, and I highly recommend you watch it with the sound turned up and with a mindset that is ready to think and to fall in love with the characters and the anime itself. It is a gripping love story, surprisingly graphic, and ultimately extremely gripping. You can easily watch all 13 episodes back to back without a break.

Rating: 10

Final Verdict

9.8333 (excellent)

Reviewed by NoktorNoL, Dec 24, 2004

Comments

  1. LiquidNight Dec 25, 2004

    I agree completly with this review, Elfen Lied has gone down as one of my favorite new series,
    the ending makes you think theres more to come though (or I'm just way too hopeful)

  2. Pod Jan 01, 2005

    I actually don't really like this series much at all. All the characters are extremely two-dimensional, and feel like empty shells to a particularly annoying degree. Kouta and his cousin are prime examples of soulless anime-dummies, that you constantly wish would be killed off, instead of the poor guards doing their job.
    The rest are pitiful anime cliche characters, like Lucy, who's only original feat is that she is in fact two pitiful anime cliche characters; a dark moody girl-you-don't-mess-with and an infantile grab-me-all-over airhead, who communicates in single syllable words. The only person acting somewhat human is hardly seen. You don't feel for anyone in this series.

    To make matters worse, everything happening feels like it's only happening to satisfy some sick little Japanese subculture demographic. A good example is the character Anna getting her arms and legs torn off, but living on with detachable artificial limbs. Great stuff for amputation fetishists. There is also the utterly irrelevant side story being told of a little girl being abused by her mother's new lover. I know an old guy who'll be drooling tonight.

    While everything is nicely drawn, and better animated than most anime these days, the series does an appalling job at graphic violence. People pop open and jam comes out. The violence in early Peter Jackson movies feels more painful to the viewer than this blood ordeal. Furthermore, there is a tendency to show naked girls, often in suggestive positions, but of course never with any details whatsoever added to their lower regions.
    In all, the series is just not very explicit, though it tries heartily, and has no proper use for being it anyway. The lovely pictures during the opening are mostly rip-offs of classic art pieces, edited to include Lucy and some freaky blue guy.

    The appraised soundtrack is actually just variations of the same melody, over and over again, like in cheap sit-coms. It's a good song the first time you hear it, especially with the Latin lyrics it sports in the opening, but you'll be wishing to pound the teeth of Kouta and Lucy deep into their throats, when they hum it continuously for an entire episode during some particularly boring flashbacks.
    The song during the credits is a complete piece of crap.

    The only thing vaguely interesting about this series is pondering the meaning of a grandfather clock that Lucy has a hang of tinkering with during her "infantile" periods. It makes sense later on in the series, trust me.
    Sadly, it's just not reason enough to watch this miserable waste of animation talent for the five hours of your life it will consume, unless you are below 13 years of age, so you won't mind the tedious babbling, or belong to one of the earlier mentioned target demographics.

    Pod

    P.S. What am I thinking? I should post my own review!

  3. DarkSephiroth Feb 08, 2005

    This anime was incredible. Everything about it was magnificent. I really enjoyed this anime and would have given it all 10's. I haven't seen such a beautiful anime since DN Angel. The story, characters, art, and sound were all so good. I sort of feel sad that there were only 13 episodes but it had a really good ending and everything was just perfect. This is definitely one of the best animes I have ever watched and definitely one of my favorites.

  4. moonlight-shawdow Jun 19, 2005

    I agree I just got the show today and I love the opening and ending but I don't know much about the show so glad to see the review and lucy is awsome XD still I like ur review.Also Pod hate to say this but man u suck.2-D chara. LOL hell I don't care what they look like but this show rocks hell!!!XDBut still it ur opinion so don't exactly matter to me(Sowwy if it was off subject^.^)

  5. PuffAngel Jun 03, 2006

    What?! Man i cannot believe there are only 13 episodes! Obviously this is a great anime, not caring if there's some nudity or blood or whatever. As lond as it has a good storyline, good music and good art, im watchin' it. :D

  6. rukasu44 Nov 12, 2010

    Even in 13 episodes, we can see that's an anime that makes you cry. Thanks

  7. mbeckley Apr 27, 2011

    Definitely deserves a 10. I enjoyed everything in this anime... It was powerful in every way.. Very nice job on your review.. :)

  8. YHE Jan 20, 2014

    Yeah agreed I rated it high too. I am very interested in this anime since I watch the first episode to the last. The blood the fight and the mixed emotions is good. The 13 episodes is worth watching..

  9. UberDog Mar 23, 2015

    As it could need more details to things, but I can't argue much against this review, good job.

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