Elfen Lied

Title: Elfen Lied
Distributor: Arms
Genre(s): psychological, horror, drama, violence
Age Rating: R (extreme violence and mature scenes)

Episodes: 13 + OVA
Aired: July 25, 2004 - October 17, 2004
Official Site: at http://www.a-rms.co.jp/index.html

Authors Rating: 8/10










Elfen Lied's focus is the blood and gore. There is no doubt about that! The 'Diclonius', an alternate human race, provide most of our blood and gore. The rest of the blood shed is by means of a meagre military response. The Diclonius visually look similar to humans in every respect apart from two small horns protruding from their head. Lucy, our main character, is indeed one of these beings. Our anti-heroine escapes a maximum security government facility, leaving much destruction in her wake. She, like other Diclonius, is triggered into violent states, instigating the ensuing carnage. When angered she makes use of her 'vectors' - a number of invisible, extendible arms - these give her unimaginable strength. She is found naked and bloody, washed up on a beach after her ordeal. Kouta and Yuka take her in and aid her recovery, as Lucy seems to have developed severe amnesia and forgotten everything, right down to her name. The couple name her Nyuu and our story begins.



The plot is weak in places. There are minor twists and individuals suffer memory loss of significant events - often crucial to the storyline - recovered later in the anime. However, this is expected from the initial episode and continues throughout. The violence is consistent the entire anime. This could raise much discussion however I think that describing the violence is very morbid in every sense. It is safer to say the creators of the show certainly paid attention to detail when it came to death.




Nudity is very prevalent in this anime. I did not find it to be tasteless, such as in 'Gantz.' There were no violent fantasies, or uncouth happenings. There was just the female form for all to bear witness. It fits very well with the story. The scene after Lucy has escaped the research facility and how she is found is executed well. After all, why would an experimental subject require clothing? It is not as if this anime was written to be rated 12+. After reading many other reviews and seeing the complaints from these 'reviewers' I would simply refer them to the first 'Ghost in the Shell' movie - some of the greatest animation of it's time - and ask their opinion again? If it is meant to represent something then I see no reason to condemn it. Vulnerability is shown visually in this manner, as is Lucy. Beautiful but deadly.


The backdrops in this anime are fantastic. They are well drawn and demonstrate the artists attention to detail. You will not find any shoddy repetition reels here. A wide pallet of vivid colours is used not only in backdrops, but character design also.


The character design is - as many have said - very generic. I am not a fan of the children's badly proportioned eyes, nor the different drawing style for child and adult. It lacks consistency. All the Diclonius are female and have vibrant pink hair. This is never fully explained in the anime. I would assume it's primary role is for easy viewer identification of species - but where is the interest in that? I would have suggested the horns were enough. They were of heavy focus throughout. 



The development of the main characters is satisfying to watch. Nothing amazingly special. Yet the gore more than makes up for it. Lots of action - which is has a real energy and flow to it - with interesting flashbacks. Side characters have much less development - as to be expected - however a little more depth or side archs in extended episodes would have been appealing. 





Despite the mediocrity surrounding many aspects of the anime it is compelling to watch. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. The violent nature of the show grows on the viewer. Shock value becoming dark humour. Upon reflection it provoked a feeling of uneasiness that I found the violent tearing of humans amusing. The anime kept me wanting more throughout the series. At only 13 episodes there is never a dull moment. No time is wasted with the stereotypical 'filler' episodes - which is always preferable. An absolute must see for all those with a darker side.

GANTZ

Title: GANTZ
Distributor: GONZO
Genre(s): supernatural, spirit, death, alien, violence
Age Rating: R (extreme violence and mature scenes)

Episodes: 26
Aired: April 12, 2004 - June 26, 2004
Official Site: at http://www.gonzo.co.jp/index.html

Authors Rating: 8.5/10

Gantz starts out as violent as it ends up. Childhood friends Kei and Katou are waiting for a subway and see a drunken man on the tracks. Katou is the good guy and tries to save him, and Kei attempts to help, but their bravery costs them their lives. Kei’s decapitated head flying through the air is a harbinger for the violence to come. The two "awaken" in a room filled with strangers and a large black sphere known as Gantz who, unbeknownst to them, will soon send them on harrowing missions to kill strange aliens; missions which carry a notable reward, and a high chance of dying in very nasty ways. The duo is joined by a very large breasted naked woman, a dog who can’t keep its face out of her crotch, and a company of others. And thus, the violence begins. 

Gantz is a tense, emotion wringing story with a lot of blood and a side portion of... well... all manner of rude things. Unless you are very tolerant of hardship, gore and mature scenes then this anime is not for you. Parents won't want their children to watch these episodes until they are 18... actually EVER. Lets put it that way. Mid-teens will love watching the show when and will miraculously be totally unharmed with the exception of being exposed to a couple of interesting ideas. 

These ideas are as follows (certainly not comprehensive);

1) What happens after you die? Heaven or Hell? ... Nothing? Or it could be something else entirely that no one has considered?


2) Young men tend to be more up for it than have common sense. 


3) Materialist idea of 'you' or 'I'. It appears that almost all of the characters in the show are 'captured' at the time of their death and recorded and transported to Gantz. This either implies that the soul is recordable and re-creatable or that the soul is unnecessary in the recreation of a person. 


4) The weaponry is immensely original. Kei Kurono is certainly the most interesting character in the series. He can be annoying to listen too, is obsessed with the female form and is fully self-indulged, but I think that merely makes him a relatively accurate depiction of a teenage male. One of the key points in this very gore filled series is that violence is real and although the activities in the Gantz games are certainly violent, you can not escape it, even in a place that should be safe like home. This is demonstrated by Kato's little brother being beaten by their Aunt that is taking care of them because their parents are dead. The effects of violence at home, rather than violence in the Gantz activities are what appear to motivate Katou in to incredible rages. Katou, who is the most reasoning character in the series. Kato, who is unable to kill in order to survive or even protect his friends - is driven by the violence at home and school to beat people without remorse and to a pulp.

The character design is beautiful as are the back-drops, some of the best I have seen. However, character development leaves a little to be desired. There is a feeling of shallowness to all but one, Kei's childhood friend who dies with him, Katou. None of the other characters are given much, if any depth or history which leaves an overall 'empty' feeling to the show. 

The voice acting is superb, as one would expect with such a line-up, in both English and Japanese. I feel that the cast have done a superb job, given the lack of portrayed on-screen emotion from the characters themselves. 

As for the music it is a colourful choice. Japanese rap, if you will. I have to admit, it's a nit cliche, yet fun to listen too and great to attempt to jam along too! 

Overall Gantz has many pitfalls and is lacking in a conclusive ending, character depth and tangible story, amongst many other things. However, it is right up there with my most memorable anime's of all time! The scenes and settings, the graphic content and the brilliant animation just impress this one on to your cortex and force it down in to the long-term memory. A definite must see for all who are not squeamish.