Elfen Lied

Just by looking at the synopsis, Elfen Lied seems like an average anime that mixed nudity and gore together. But as you watch the first episode, you'll know that this series will be interesting.

For the story, i think Elfen Lied's story, although the pacing is a bit too fast, is very interesting. And it's very shocking knowing that it can happens in reality, even though not as extreme in the anime.

As for the artwork, Elfen Lied's artwort and animation is good, just good, nothing else.

The soundtrack is so awesome. I guess the background music is one of the things that makes an impact for the ... series, despite being repetitive. The opening music is awesome, and it fits well with the series.

The character is what makes this show so awesome. Every characters is so real. Their acts pretty much inline with their feelings. Although to make the story goes sometimes they do something stupid, which is why it's so real that no one is very perfect at making decisions.

Overall, Elfen Lied is a masterpiece anime that need the avoided "nudity and gore mix" to make it actually a masterpiece.

Elfen Lied is an awesome anime that has a dark and yet sad story behind it. At the start at the anime it is assumed to be disturbing and gory but as I got into it I found out that Lucy was just a lonely girl who was just trying to find happieness. As did Mariko and Nana, trapped and under control. Near the end of the series I got more and more into it and near enough cried, for both sadness and because it all worked out in the end. This anime is a defanatly a re-watcher and one of the best ones out ... there.

Elfen Lied is hands down my second favorite anime. For a single person to fill your soul with such sorrow and pity for every character is simply amazing. I could feel everyone's sorrow. And the story line was simply amazing. This is definetly a must see. But is obviously not for the faint of hard. If you don't like gore, this is obviously not your kind of anime. But you know what screw that. Bear with it and feel the emotions of teh storyline. I hope it's worth it. It was truely a very moving anime. I've rewatched it probably 20 times and I know ... basically everything about it. That just makes it easier to understand. You may need to watch it a couple times to understand the whole feeling behind it. Because it is one of those animes where you rewatch it and you're like... ohhh..... I didn't know that. But once you know what;s going on, it will be one of the best animes you've ever seen. Please give it a chance. I hope you like it and feel teh same way about it. Just as I do.

A great show. It's both amazing and terrible at the same time. Generic plot-line and character development, but the music is amazing, the animation and the risks it takes are also worth it. It's really addicting and you care for the characters, even though most of them are annoying.

The music is very well done here. Setting a calm tone for the show. I like the small variations they use of the intro theme for every episode. Its done subtly well and adds a lot to the context, where the lack of character development, the annoying plot line ... conveniences - the music fills in a lot for those areas that normally make an anime great or any story great.

The dub and sub both are terrible with voice actors. Kuota and Yuka are okay and tolerable, but the likes of Nana and Mayu are so gosh dang terrible. I just hate their voices. Any sane, rational person would.

Now for the good quality in voice acting. Lucy. Overall she's a strong character. Probably the show's best. Everything about her couldn't of been done better. But holy god is Nyu annoying. But I might add annoyingly cute.

And Bando is one fucking funny bitch of a person. More of a diclonius himself in the way he acts towards human in apathetic sadistic way. Which really works well for his character type. Wish he was more of an intricate part of the show. But when he's on - he steals the show with his honest remarks.

The show is a social commentary on social alienation, prejudice and the tackles the issue of vulgarity being a natural process in nature and even art. I commend it for that.



The rest of the show is cheesy. But too cute cheesy.

What can i say, this show is one of a kind.

Elfen Lied, an amalgamation of despair, love, redemption, discrimination, and hope. The tale of a Diclonius named Lucy, the prejudice she received, the inherent sorrow to follow. This work of art questions humanity in one of the most thought provoking ways, by looking at the dark side of humanity. That's the preface of the review, so lets just jump in!

Lucy, being a conceptual masterpiece, has two personas full of juxtaposition, due to head trauma. As a Diclonius, we are told she sees human's as prey and will murder them. But is that really the case? I question whether it is actually because of the inhumane ... treatment of her in her youth (applicable to all Diclonius), in fact, I would argue that is actually the case. Reiterated many times throughout the series, Elfen Lied shows just how low human's can go, as well as how high the Diclonius can reach. This stark contrast only magnifies the themes of the show.

Superficially, Elfen Lied is a deconstruction of many anime tropes and doesn't necessarily use this to its advantage. Kouta's character acts as a love interest and a source of hope for Lucy. I think it would be fair to say, a bland harem having character like him, is a perfect foil for Lucy, embodying traits such as forgiveness and understanding, while representing something else entirely for Lucy. The story starts off with a rather convenient meeting between Nyuu and Kouta.

Technically the anime doesn't excel, not to say it looks terrible. The soundtrack is beautiful and fitting, just go listen to Lillium. To conclude, Elfen Lied is a masterful work of art touching on the lows of humanity, yet still filled with hope. I'm feeling a strong 10/10 on this one.

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Elfen Lied Forever

Elfen Lied starts off strong, but by the end of the first episode, you're already wondering about what weird fetishes the author's got going on. Gradually, the story becomes more and more disturbing, reaching a point where it almost feels like a parody. However, it only gets worse. And the worse it gets, the more it hooks you in. Suddenly, the roles flip, and now, the worse it technically gets, the more awesome it becomes. It's so weird and stupid, yet so unapologetic about it, that you develop a compulsory need to see how it all unfolds. Instead of just being bad, it's, in fact, ... so insanely bad that it loops back around into being insanely good again. Elfen Lied is unforgettable anime and I wholeheartedly recommend it if niche 2000's seinen is your thing. 10/10

Story

I’m actually going to make the case here that the story would be entertaining even without the ultra-violence. Elfen Lied has a relatively interesting tale involving apocalypse, split personality, and evil-men-in-lab-coats performing diabolical experiments. In other words, there isn’t anything that we haven’t seen before, but the elements are mixed in such a way to hold one’s attention well.
When the shock value is added, however, the storyline is elevated from interesting to riveting. Aside from two distinct moments (a recap portion in episode 12, and a fairly weak “bonding” session between Nana and Mayu in an earlier part of the show), I was held to ... the screen from the guiltless bloodbath of the first 5 minutes to the final episode.
The story is somewhat marred by a “read the manga” ending and some unnecessary ecchi moments, but these are minor complaints in the grand scheme of things.


Animation

Whether you love it or hate it, I doubt anyone can really dispute the fact that the gore is exceptionally well animated. In fact, just about every part of the various fight scenes are almost flawless: fluid, quick, and exhilarating. Outside of these scenes, the animation is not quite as impressive but nonetheless appealing. My one complaint would be with the somewhat lackluster character designs. I wouldn’t call them terrible, but they definitely seem generic.

Sound

Elfen Lied has a fantastic opening theme that reappears as background music in the actual show, with favorable results. Voice acting is fairly unmemorable save for the excellent performances of two seiyuu. Yuka is one of Noto Mamiko's first major roles, but here she seems a perfect fit; because of her efforts, what would otherwise be a relatively bland character is made into a likeable one. A similar (but less significant) effect happens with the appealing machismo of Bando’s seiyuu.

Characters

While the characters in the show could have been a lot worse, they’re by no means good. Most of the characters are likeable on a basic level (my favorites were probably the off-kilter, steroid pumping Bando and the surprisingly compelling Nana), and some of them have interesting back-stories thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately, in the end they feel more like caricatures than actual human beings. Given the nature of the show, this might have been unavoidable.

Overall(8/10)-

I hate harem animes with almost no exception. As well as being shamelessly clichéd and artless, most of the plot lines that these animes manage to come up with simply aren’t interesting. The majority of the anime-watching community seem to enjoy brainless, ditzy, high-pitched and disproportionate girls emasculating an already girly protagonist, but the entire idea has never really appealed to me.
I bring this up because, as much as I am loathe to admit it, Elfen Lied is undeniably a harem anime. All of the ingredients are there: the faceless main character, the ample supply of unnecessary female characters, the spacious former hotel… anyone who says otherwise is simply delusional.
…and yet, here I am, defending this title as not only a good anime, but a great one. Despite the pointless panty-shots, despite the random breast fondling, despite the girl-barges-into-room-with-hero-in-compromising-situation scenes, I was glued to the screen for pretty much the entirety of the series. This isn’t just something I’d recommend; I thinkElfen Lied is one of the best shows of 2004.
What makes this show excellent are not the harem elements; when all is said and done, the ecchi part of the show merely provides a basic skeleton for the creators to build upon. What they add is one of the bolder moves that Ive seen recently in anime. While most series nowadays are invisibly affected by some time-tested boundaries, Elfen Liedsmashes just about every rule on what is considered acceptable within the realm of entertainment.
The obvious example that many people have already brought up would be the gratuitous violence. Trust me, these people are NOT exaggerating; of the numerous animes that I’ve seen, this one takes the prize for most gore. However, what many people are failing to note is that the most disturbing parts of the show don’t really have anything to do with blood and guts. How many animes have you seen that involved animal torture? Child molestation? The total loss of conscience? These subjects have been touched upon before, but never with the intensity and prowess thatElfen Lied manages to achieve.
In the end, the most criticism that this anime receives will be derived from the fact that the anime uses raw shock value to help bolster a relatively shallow plot. What they’ll fail to mention, however, is that this is not really a bad thing. When all is said and done, the unblinkingly savage nature works; Elfen Lied is absolutely fascinating in its sheer viciousness, and the ecchi part of the show only helps to contrast this brutality. If you’re worried about others accusing you of having “bad taste” in anime, then by all means skip this show. However, if all you want in anime is an engrossing, balls to the wall rollercoaster ride of betrayal, cruelty and fanaticism, then there arent a lot of titles that Id recommend over this.

Have you seen many psychological horror animes that truly scare the living wits out of you, not ones that are just mindless bloodbaths, but rather that has a story or plot to go along with it? This is what Elfen lied is, a psychological thriller/horror show that takes the word “scary” to a whole other meaning. As seen in the first two minutes of the show are proven to be a hacky and bloody mess of heads and limbs. Overtime, however, the show grows more on a plot and becomes rather enjoyable rather than just a mindless bloodbath.

**Blood and gore - two factors that you ... need to prepare yourself when entering this anime. Cruelty and nudity - two accessories that are always present in this anime. If any of these things disgust or disinterest you, then reading this review is next to useless.**

Elfen lied is about a mutant species of humans called Diclonius who want to live in the human world. The only issue is, aside from the fact they have horns (stubs), these Diclonius are out there to try and kill their own kind, and therefore cannot live peacefully with each other. This show is going to show you the life of Lucy, and how she is treated differently for being a Diclonii.

The artwork used in this anime was not amazing. The main concern that I had was how “bright” the colors were. The colors were like very pleasing and friendly, unlike how a horror anime should be visualized. Preferable, darker, more eerie colors would have suited the atmosphere of this anime more appropriately. Because this anime is known for its mass amounts of blood and gore, looking at the color of the blood, it was too bright a red. With horror animes, something that is very important is the mood, or atmosphere in which it takes place, and just overall at the beginning. They managed to make the blood color match the atmosphere of being bright and welcoming, but rather they should have used a darker red blood alongside a darker atmosphere.

The opening theme for this anime was brilliant. The slow pace and high “a cappella” voice just brought out the creepiness that was to be expected in this anime. The ending theme for this anime is a different story. It is way to “active” of a song for this type of anime. The ending song is just way to light-hearted and too fast paced unlike the opening theme. For the ending theme they should have done something equally as creepy as the opening theme in order to keep the right mood throughout the anime.

There are two main characters that whom are very important in this anime. First one is Lucy [also known as Nyu], and the second one is Kouta (he allows Lucy to stay with him). Lucy is a very interesting characters because of her multiple personalities. Most of the time her personality is that of Nyu, which is very childlike, playful, friendly, but not of her age. Then there is her real personality; this is when she is Lucy. Lucy is a very mature woman who shows hatred and no empathy towards humans because of how she was treated in the past. Kouta is just seen as the ordinary character who has a heart made of gold. Kouta was always kind to everyone, even Lucy, regardless of her differences. Just as a side-note, Lucy and Kouta went way back, when they used to go to school together. Kouta was one of the few people who respected and treated Lucy as an equal. The thing that I really enjoyed about how they Lucy was her multiple personalities. Just that alone made a single, amazing character that was truly remarkable to watch throughout the show. A not as important character is Yuka, this is Kouta's cousin [ just for reference later on in this review].

I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in watching a show full of blood and gore. You are most likely reading this and have read the disclaimer above, so I do not need to say much more about that. What I really liked about this anime was not just the mass amounts of blood and gore, but the story that followed. By creating a mutant human being, and showing how hard of a life she has/had is what truly made this such a wonderful anime to watch.
**Small Spoiler**The most memorable scene that I could remember that is not blood and gore related was in the first episode. This was when Nyu broke the seashell that meant everything to Kouta, because it was the last thing that his sister left with him. What really made that scene amazing was when Yuka explained to him how he should not have such sad memories of his sister, and Nyu possible broke the shell because she saw how it made him sad. The only thing that I disliked about this anime was the colors as I said above. Other than that, I would highly recommend watching this anime.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review, if you have any suggestions of what i should add please feel free to message me. If you want to talk about any other animes or want me to do more review please feel free to message me or friend request me.

Elfen lied tells the story of Lucy, a female diclonious (a mutant human with special powers, like telekinetic invisible arms that can slice and dice everything in their path) that escapes from a facility. She goes onward killing all humans that dare to face her. Once she leaves the station, a sniper hits her in the head. Although he didn’t kill her, she becomes amnesiac and a second personality takes the hold of her. She strands on the shore when a couple of cousins find her and take her home. Seeing that she can only speak the word “Nyuu”, that is the name they put ... this fairly beautiful women with two cat ears and a baby personality.

Elfen lied may seem, at a first glance, another good reason to fill our screens with more than one too many tones of red. We got the sociopath beautiful women-like mutant with special powers that wipes the floor with every single human that she meets, for the joy of the brainless watcher. But, if you further your interest past the first ten “gorish” minutes and really pay attention to the characters you will know how this series can conjugate extreme violence and superb characters. The violence that spews from everywhere slows down and that is where the focus lays over the characters.

The tension is a constant whether it is from the multiple possible violent outcomes, or the emotional outtake that rises whenever as possible. And it’s even better if you can join them both. To use a common metaphor, Nyuu is like a sleeping volcano that you really don’t want to wake up (even in Kohta or Yuka don’t know this) and once you do there is no way to escape. Or is it? You can, as the show progresses, understand more thoroughly the relationship that Nyuu creates and the bond that she makes with Kohta and Yuka. As matter of fact, she bonds more with Kohta (I wonder).

As the series goes on you start to look at the house and see Nyuu less as a ticking bomb and more of an adorable big baby; a part of the family if you will. Altough dark secrets lie under all of their past, their present is one to all and they take advantage of it and live by it, one day at the time. To largely understand this you really must see this series and pay more attention to the characters that aren’t as shallow as they may first appear.

The story, rather plain in it's all, leaves too many holes to explain and if there is hope of a second series coming I am the one to have it. It moves it's course without much to give or take. Right from the first episodes, if you put as much as 10 seconds to thought, you will see what will be the outcome of this story (with a small exception here and there).

Technically speaking, the art is good, not something that you remember for the rest of your life but still makes for an enjoyable experience. The art is rather cute, but still kind of plain. You have all the the typical anime details (really big eyes for example) and the scenery is well portrayed and pleasent to look at. The violent scenes are well done with very attention to details (if you know what I mean…). All in all it’s a fluid animation. The sound plays a good part in this. I really enjoyed the voice actors jobs (I watched the subbed version), where they transmit a whole lot of feeling to their representation and the OST is remarkable (that opening scene is just perfect).

In the end if you are expecting a Violence Jack or something, don’t this show has a lot more class than that rubbish. The doses of violence are just right and the characters make up for the whole thing. Watch it. Now. I really mean it.

Story: Elfen Lied definitely provides a very intense and outstanding storyline that dives into the very depths of humanity and touches greatly upon romance. I think the idea was phenomenal and perfectly executed.

Art: There isn't much to say about the art in this anime. Nothing amazing really stands out, but nothing horrible does either. All in all, you have average animation here.

Sound: This is what made the anime for me. The music is amazing and fits the scene extremely well. Also, the opening theme song 'Lilium' is extremely catchy.

Character: The character development in Elfen Lied is very well done. Most characters are dissected throughout the ... 13 episodes, which provides you with a very good understanding of each and everyone of them.

Enjoyment: Although this is an opinion based category, I have to say the enjoyment level for this anime is extremely high. I enjoyed every single episode of Elfen Lied and I'm sure you will to. You have gory violence, mixed with nudity, and even wrapped up with mushy romance. There is plenty offered with this anime.

Overall: Overall, I give this anime a 10. It is just that good, and I believe everyone should watch it at least once. The ending is excellent, and is very touching but also leaves you with a lot of loose ends. If you do not like loose ends, I think you will be disappointed at the end of this anime but that should not persuade you to not watch it.

Just a side note: Elfen Lied is also quite short and in my opinion should have had 1-2 more episodes to tie up some loose ends at the end.

Elfen Lied was my first anime series, and it certainly was a memorable one. I wasn't really used to watching gory shows so this was all new to me.

Story: What really engaged me into the series was the amazing storyline. It's sad and clever. It talks about some sort of mutated humans called Diclonius, which can kill humans really fast, and are being investigating at laboratories. One of those Diclonius escapes, loosing her memory and being found by two normal teenagers, Kouta and Yuka. They let the Diclonius living with them, without knowing how dangerous it can be. The story later on developes pretty well ... and gives some sad backstories on some characters.
10/10

Art: The art is really amazing. Every character and place are drawn really well, and places are really detailed.
9/10

Sound: The sound it's great for showing feelings that are happening or things like that. Also, some people may not agree but I love the opening.
9/10

Character: The characters in this series are all amazing. They all have some sad backstory to tell, some surprise us, some are in love, some betray their friends, etc. The variety of different personalities and backstories is just amazing for an anime this short.
10/10

Enjoyment: This series is what got me into anime, so logically, I enjoyed it a lot. I just watched all the episodes one after another, and even when the ending was in my opinion beautiful, I still wanted more after finishing this series and I wish it had been longer, so I enjoyed it a lot.
10/10

Overall: This series is almost flawless and definitely worth waching. Beware though, if you deslike gory series, this may not be for you.
10/10

From the startling first few minutes of its pilot episode, it is clear that Elfen Lied is not something for the faint of heart. This is easily one of the most visually visceral anime series you will find. It is also one of the most emotionally devastating and downright shocking; it masterfully controls its tone and the viewers emotions. This all adds up to an intense horror experience, and an incredibly emotional one to boot. However, for all its effective pathos, Elfen Lied is surprisingly hallow, and far less well written than it may seem at first.

The plot revolves around Lucy, a Diclonious. Diclonious are ... an evolved but violent species, thought to eventually bring an end to mankind. However, there are few of them and they are imprisoned in a secret facility by those who know of their existence. That is until Lucy escapes, killing anyone in her path. During her escape, she is shot in the head; subsequently splitting her personality, and causing her to fall into the ocean. When she washes up on shore, she is found by college student Kohta and his cousin, Yuka, as a helpless girl unable of speach other than saying "nyu". Kohta and Yuka take her in not knowing what danger they just invited into their lives. The organization that keeps track of Diclonious have sent hit-men to find and kill Lucy. Worse yet, Lucy's murderous personality has not been buried very deep.

The first thing that you will notice about this series is its strong technical merits, in all its gory intensity. As far as character designs and backgrounds go, Elfen Lied's are nothing unique, but are polished and excellently animated none the less. Worth pointing out is the change in facial expressions as Lucy's personalities switch; Nyu looks so cute and innocence, while her true personality exudes menace. Of course, the intense violence is the main draw of Elfen Lied's visuals, and it delivers there. There are countless scenes of decapitation, dismemberment , and otherwise people being torn to pieces; all are shown in gruesome detail. Actually, it may be a bit to over the top for its own good. This show could have simply been a splatterfest instead of a substantial horror if not for its use of sound. Sound is instrumental in controlling the mood, and Elfen Lied's use of it is masterful. As a result, every scene is hauntingly effective, and you can go from tear ridden to terrified by the power of sound alone. On top of that, Elfen Lied has a magnificent soundtrack that ranges from heart rending to bone chilling.

Obviously, the extreme content of the series visuals provide much of the shock factor, but at its core Elfen Lied has a great horror premise. The fact that Kohta and Yuka have no idea of that they have just decided to take in a monster is horrifying. They always feel close to death with the possibility of Lucy's violent personality emerging. Then, of course, there are the hit-men looking for Lucy, most notably the sadistic Bando. Later, other Diclonious are sent after Lucy. Really, as far as its horror elements go, Elfen Lied's premise is gold.

The Diclonious themselves are probably the best thing about Elfen Lied. As terrifying as they are (most of them at least), they are actually very sympathetic figures. It is very well possible they became the violent monsters they are because of the cruelty of humans. This is revealed through flash-backs to Lucy's childhood, in which she was the target of merciless bullying; the inhumane treatment of the Diclonious in their imprisonment. The fact that Nana, the Diclonious who received the most kindness, is benign compared to the others, seems confirms this. This makes the Diclonious more than mindless killers, maybe even makes them relatable, and really brings into question who the real monsters are.

So, you might be wondering, where does this anime go wrong? Well, for starters, with the exception of the Diclonious most of the characters here are bland. Kohta is just like any other male anime lead, except for his tragic past. Yuka is a typical supporting anime girl, with an infatuation with Kohta which only purpose is to gain the viewers' sympathy. Mayu is the token little girl character, but with a tragic past. Are you starting to see a pattern here? This is plain bad characterization and just about all Elfen Lied's characters suffer from it. They are either there to appeal to the viewers emotionally with devastatingly sad back stories or spout exposition; most of which has little consequence on the overall plot. The only exception to this (besides the Diclonious, of course) is Kurama, the chief of the facility where the Diclonious were held; mainly because of his father-daughter relationship with Nana.

The reason why the characters are so weak is because, despite being emotionally engaging, Elfen Lied is hardly an example of great storytelling. The only reason why viewers feel for the characters is because the situations they are in are so depressing it forces the emotion on the viewers. Elfen Lied is so focused on making an emotional impact that its plot suffers. There are so many loose ends by the shows conclusion that some will doubtlessly find it less than satisfying, despite all the powerful emotional climaxes. These are similar to the problems that fellow gore-fest Gantz runs into, however, Elfen Lied at least has the Diclonious to fall back on; which ultimately prove to be the shows saving grace.

For all its shortcomings, Elfen Lied certainly does enough to merit a watch. It is an effective horror and emotional roller-coaster, supported by striking visuals and astounding sound. While much of the emotion is a bit forced, the Diclonious are genuinely sympathetic, and their story is likely to effect a good portion of its viewership. Still, this is nowhere near the profound masterpiece it is hyped up to be.

Summary: A bloody, incredibly intense tragedy that isn’t for everyone

Who should watch it: People who want a thrilling show, people who don’t mind gore/nudity/rape, people who like dark animes.

Who shouldn’t: Anyone who felt really uncomfortable during the first five minutes. People who hate fanservice.

Story- 10

Fantastic story. The pacing is good; there are plenty of dramatic moments; events flow logically, etc. Lots of shows have those attributes. What separates Elfen Lied is the intensity.

Elfen Lied is extraordinarily graphic. Blood splatters everywhere, children are raped, animals are brutally beaten to death—essentially this is not the best show for young children to watch. ... Many people hate Elfen Lied because it is so relentlessly dark. But all those elements add an insanity that is simply not present in other shows. The knowledge that anything can happen makes every scene thrilling and unexpected. As a counter-example, I found fights in Bleach boring because the watcher knows that none of the protagonists are going to die. In Elfen Lied there are no such rules, and the reader is drawn in to see what will happen next.

When I first watched Elfen Lied I was so engrossed that I only stopped watching when I realized that it was 2:30 in the morning and I hadn’t done my homework. The show is that gripping.

Art- 7

Art is serviceable but nothing special. Character design looks good although there is a lot of largely unnecessary fanservice. The OP is very well done, with scenes done in the style of Gustav Klimt. The rest of the art is mediocre. Characters look ok but not great. At least they change their clothes (one of my biggest pet peeves is characters always wearing the same clothes. Just silly.)

Some of the directing is really well done. The shot of Lucy walking through the opening out of her cell in the opening episode with her shadow growing behind her is really well done. Other directing choices work well too.

That said, at times the animation seems to suffer from lapses; for example characters occasionally have huge open wounds but aren’t bleeding, and then when they are cut to again they are in a pool of static blood. Speaking of blood, the blood in Elfen Lied looks really fake, which in a show like this is actually a substantially problem.

Basically you’ll never notice the art in Elfen Lied, and that’s just fine.

Sound- 8

Elfen Lied’s soundtrack is very good, but unfortunately quite limited. The OP, “Lilium” is my second favorite OP of all time, and played throughout the show, providing sensational background music. That is pretty much all the music there is to the show, but ambient sounds essentially make up the difference. Elfen Lied brilliantly uses creaks, bangs, whirrs, and other “background” noises to set the tone as music would. There are a couple legitimate musical tracks, and while they’re pretty good, none of them really stand out.

The problem is, the soundtrack is really limited. “Lilium” dominates the soundtrack, and rightfully so, but it gets old after a while. In the last episode, I believe it is played four separate times. That’s ridiculous.

Voice acting is again, good but not great. It works fine though.

Characters- 9

Elfen Lied does not have incredibly complex or nuanced characters. While none of them are at all dull, apart from Lucy none are particularly complex either. Even the key character of Khota is largely a blank.

Fortunately, the characters are incredibly sympathetic, which is a huge plus. You care about these guys, and really want them to survive till the end of the show. None of the characters act totally illogically or lapse into long, unrealistic soliloquies. They seem like real people even though they don’t act like them, which anchors the wild show in some semblance of reality.

The characters are vital to the show, and make it even more intense. These aren’t random people getting hurt (although a lot of extras kick the bucket too). These are very likable characters that the viewer empathizes with going through really rough experiences. I delayed watching the final episode for almost a week because I knew some characters I liked were going to die and didn’t want to see it happen.

Conclusion:

Elfen Lied seems to be a bit of a “love it or hate it show”. Some say its exploration of themes such as redemption and forgiveness is brilliant and the show is a masterpiece. Others contend that it is just violent fanservicy pulp.

First of all, what’s wrong with pulp? Anyone who holds the latter view of the show and liked Gurren Lagann is a raging hypocrite. Second of all, why do people watch so many shows they hate?

If you are uncomfortable with the first five minutes of the show, STOP WATCHING. I don’t understand people who persevere to the end and then rant about how graphic it is. Why would they watch a show they knew they would hate from the very first episode?

On the other end of the spectrum, I don’t buy the idea that Elfen Lied is some sort of philosophical masterpiece. While it’s certainly far smarter than shounen, Elfen Lied is not about philosophy or deep thought. It’s more like a roller coaster—thrilling, dramatic, heart-stopping, and ultimately tremendously enjoyable.

I really believe this anime was one of the best done animes I have seen. The story is addicting leaving you on cliffhangers so you simply have to continue watching. The story was weaved in a masterful way so that you were only given some information at a time until it all came together in the last episode. It's true some elements were easy to guess, as most things are, but that didn't take away from you wanting to see it actually happen.

The last few episodes had some flashback to them to add drama, which I felt they could overall due without. Kouta and Yuka, ... were also extremely slow to realize a lot of things which was annoying, but over all I enjoyed the feel of this anime.

The atmosphere was dark from the moment the OT started to the end of the last episode. The sickening feeling you get when people who are killed simply explode into a bloody mass did not ever go away from me. I found an odd satisfaction in some deaths, while others horrified me. However, it did maintain an element of calm about it as well, like a methodical determination to achieve it's goal.

The characters were all very fun to watch, especially the dicoulous, because you never quite knew how they would react to the sometimes over zealous human emotion. Truly an interesting anime to watch.

Its not very often that you come across such a great work of art. Elfen Lied is with out a doubt the only anime or manga that I would consider perfect. Elfen Lied is a masterpiece of adult themes. It is full of blood, gore, nudity, ecchi. But the biggest and most important thing is Elfen Lied has IT.

What is IT? I don't know. But whatever IT is. Elfen Lied has it. From the very first second of the very first episode. You are drawn in. It becomes so addicting after such a short time that ... you won't be able to look away. Elfen Lied is like crack for anime lovers. LOL. I joke of course. but it is not far from the truth. once you watch this it will change your perspective on the entire anime universe.

The storyline of Elfen Lied is amazing. It is the most suspenseful thing I have ever watched or read. It has the kind of story line that makes sure you are on the edge of your seat the whole time. It can be so shocking at times that you are like WHOA!!! where did that come from.

It's not only suspense but also comedy. There are several hilarious parts. Usually involving sexual humor. It could have a little more humor than it does but the parts that are funny. Are really funny.

Gushing Blood! Decapitations! Limbs Flying Everywhere! Hearts! Heads! Butts! Guts! and Human Shields! Does that sound interesting to you? Because those are the kinds of things you will find in Elfen Lied.

If you can handle a little Lolicon. Then the nudity parts can be very arousing. There isn't a lot of ecchi but it is there usually mixed in with the comedic parts. If you ask me there isn't any thing hotter than a 19 year old red head who doesn't seem to know how to wear clothes. There is some Lolicon. Meaning naked girls of a very young age. And it even hints to child molestation in one episode. But what I say is. As long as you don't get turned on by it. Its all good.

I will go ahead and say it even though I think you already get the idea. This is obviously not a show for children. With all the insanely graphic things going on in this show. I wouldn't let anyone under 16 watch this. Thats just a warning.

In closing I just want to say that this is the most amazing creation I have ever witnessed. The perfect Adult anime/manga. You really can not go wrong with this show. It is so moving, so emotional. It just literally has everything. so go watch this show right now!

I am glad i could help
EchoEagle 3

Drama and Violence, two things that should be kept apart, but do so well together especially when it comes to weaving them into an almost art-like form.

Elfen Lied, gives the audience a truly tragic and unique romance that is definitely not for the faint of heart.

The Story revolves around the lost souls of the Diclonius searching for a purpose. From time to time the scenes drift from two main settings which gives the audience the perspective of seeing the hell of seclusion versus the paradise of life. This duality is one of the main themes of the story; good versus evil within the individual.

That ... being all said, the story does a captivating job with surprises and twists which ultimately lead to a dramatic and nearly tearful conclusion. Although it doesn't capture my eye in terms of originality, it does an incredible job of devising it's own way to let the audience forgive such horrible violence...

The Art may come to surprise many viewers as it definitely frees itself from censorship to an "extent" which gives the anime it's art-like form. The viewer is not spared from constant blood and gore, but in terms of character detail, it is nearly perfect as it gives the familiar "innocence-gone-wrong" aura. In terms of the mild nudity, this anime really shouldn't be considered an ecchi-type, because it provides the anime with a unique style that sheds purity for art. (You'll see what I mean during the beginning song.)

The Sound is extremely well done in this anime which add (once again) to it's artistic form. The theme song is basically the heart and soul of the main heroine Lucy and of the entire anime itself. As for the sound effects, the anime again spares no expense for that "bloody" gush we all love. The voices aren't half bad either and seem to fit the characters nicely.

The Characters play a slight harem in this anime, but it isn't really what this anime is. Each individual has their own separate role in the story which greatly enhances it's way out of a harem essence. As the episodes progress, the characters gradually shift from dark and heartless to warm and loving which is a result of the clever character revelations in the story.

Overall, I pretty much enjoyed this anime as it was really close to hitting a 10, but some parts in the story were left unresolved unfortunately.

However, I highly recommend this anime to viewers who enjoy a fascinating drama and can withstand a little mutilation here and there.

I have to admit when I first watched Elfen Lied, I dropped it after watching the first 10 minutes of the episode. The violence and bloodshed threw me off guard as I am used to more laid back anime. But then I read that is was really popular and wanted to go ahead and finish it and see what it was all about. Of course the violence, bloodshed, and nudity was still in it but the story was so strong and I was very interested in what the outcome of this show would be.

Story 10: The story gets a 10 because it is the main ... reason this anime is so good. Other than all the blood, nudity, and violence (which I think is a main point in the anime being so good), you have a story about this main diclonius (Lucy/Nyuu) who breaks free and is not only having a battle with her good/evil side but with other humans and diclonius. The main focus of the whole story is her basically because she has an impact on most of the situations and characters.

Art 7: I like the are but it is a little laid back. Not much happening in the background art (moving trees..etc) but it was good.

Sound 9: Music was great and sound was too. Nothing too boring for my tastes.

Character 10: I think I like all the characters. Some were annoying including Nyuu (Lucy when not evil). But they all have some sort of connection which makes this story what it is and they are enjoyable.

Enjoyment 10: I really enjoyed Elfen Lied throughout the whole serious. At times it had me curious and that is how I like it rather than it being so predictable which kills my enjoyment sometimes.

Overall Elfen Lied gets a 9. It would have gotten a 10 if it wasn't for the ending (which is good but not good enough for me).

Well,Elfen Lied is definitly one of the deepest,and disturbing anime i've ever seen. For me,personaly it's masterpiece, but many people find it "sick" or too violent. Violence in Elfen Lied,is an important thing for the whole story and if you don't like blood,and riped bodies,all over place than this anime isn't for you. However,beside violence and nudity Elfen Lied has a great story and is very thriling. Also,the music is outstanding. This anime,well known as bloody one is also an romantic story,but focusing on many other aspects of life as child abusing,human cruelty and fear of unknown. Well,in the end let me just say one ... more thing : Watch it!

Well well, Elfen Lied.

I was hesitant about watching this show because of how dark and inhumane it was played out to be. Quite honestly, I was afraid of losing a bit of my humanity. That may seem like a hyperbole, but when you watch the show, you begin to realize that it is totally plausible.

This is a dark show. A show about death, suffering, abuse and fear. A show about how quick to judge we humans are, and how we discriminate against others who are different. A show about how dark the world is, how twisted some people ... living here really are, and how sometimes, there is nothing you can do about it. But for all things dark in this world, there is light. Just as you think it may finally end, that you have tried your best, that there is nothing for you to do, you find it. A spark of hope in the distance, a reason to keep on fighting, to keep living. This is Elfen Lied.

I'm sure you all know how the show begins. We have an island facility that is apparently keeping something locked away. That "thing" is Lucy. A Diclonious, a horned evolution of a human believed to be a god. What's with all of the security? It's just one person, right? Wrong. When some jerk decides to drop his pen we realize just how dangerous this creature is. Enter the most controversial 10 minutes of an anime you will probably ever see. If you haven't already heard of this blood-soaked romp through the facility, I won't ruin it for you. Merry Christmas, go enjoy the most badass and horrifying first ten minutes of an anime you may ever see. After this, Lucy is knocked into the ocean when two young'uns stumble upon her. Thus begins the story!

The story in Elfen Lied is awesome. You may not realize it if you rush through the series, but when I was laying in bed or sitting at school thinking about it, I realized just how good the story is. It's complex, interesting and has a lot of plot twists. It's a hybrid of different genres, but I suppose if you really had to narrow it down, I would say it's a romance. A romance with a smart story, action, drama and badassery. The way you slowly learn more about who Lucy is, why she is the way she is and how she relates to the other characters, is quite brilliant. You don't just learn about Lucy, you get the pleasure of witnessing the other characters' dark pasts as well! Wooo!! I will warn you about Mayu's though. All of the characters pasts are dark and fairly disturbing in their own way, but Mayu's past is pretty touchy. But that's because it happens in reality, and it will whack some people like a brick.

The art in Elfen Lied is pretty good. In fact, I really liked the artwork in Elfen Lied. It suits the show very well. At first glance, you may be wondering why they chose to go with the big eyed cuteness typical of anime, but as soon as you see someone snap, you realize why. It's creepy. They look so cute and innocent at one moment, only to realize that smile is no normal smile. It gives a very ominous feeling to the show and it's quite good. Combined with the violence of the show, it gave me chills numerous times... The character designs are good and the scenery is good as well. I suppose this is the time that I'll tell you how much nudity is in this show. There is alot. Regardless of the age of the characters, if they're female, you'll probably see them naked. But this isn't tastelessly thrown in for the sake of girls being naked. In fact, this can add to the creepiness factor, too. And is usually integral to the story. When you learn more about the Diclonious you will also learn why they are usually kept naked. That doesn't mean there isn't any fanservice (hey Nyuu), but there isn't a ridiculous amount, and it shouldn't bother you. Also, blood. This show likes it alot. I don't mind, I like it too. But this show actually doesn't suffer from that silly anime disease. You know, where humans are balloons filled with unimaginable amounts of blood. This show handles the gore and blood fairly realistically, and it's admirable. I could just be crazy, but I think it does a good job.

Now then, the sound. It's awesome. Sometimes they will play music when it would be better without, but that's not bad. The music in Elfen Lied is amazing! You will hear the main theme, "Lilium", quite a bit. It's actually a big part of the story. But when you hear it, it always stuns you. It's a beautiful song, and it made me cry, no sob, after I listened to the full version twice in a row. They have a more ominous male version that they will use throughout the show that really makes any moment it's played, awesome. It can make it happier, or it can make it sad. But you'll always love when you hear it. Unless it makes you cry. The voice acting is good, sometimes it can be iffy, but usually it's really good. The characters all feel like their voices belong to THEM. The sounds of necks being broken, people being chopped, screams, gunshots, the ocean, stuff being smashed. They did a really good job with the sound.

Characters! The characters are where the show shines. There are alot of characters. Some are jerks, and some are cool guys. But the brilliance of this show is that you may actually... LIKE the jerks. The prime example of this is Kurama. I won't spoil anything for you but you will like him and hate him. How? Because this show really knows how to handle the characters. He'll admit to doing something so evil and then do something really heroic and blow your mind. Then there's NaNa. NaNa is a cute, good girl who has been through some though times, who I instantly liked. But the show isn't afraid to mess around with it's characters, and then... -sad face-
The characters pasts are all fleshed out and interesting. The majority of them, if not all of them are painful to watch, but they always keep you by the collar of your shirt, and you can't look away! Well, I'm sure you could, but you know what I mean. They did a really good job making you feel for the characters. If they're sad, you'll be sad. If they're happy, you're relieved.

I love this show. It made me happy, it made me laugh, it made me sad, it made me cry. It scared me, gave me the chills, made me angry and disgusted me. And I loved every minute of it. This is a powerful show. Don't expect to sneak by unscathed, it will leave it's mark on you. I recommend this to anyone who likes action, romance, awesome characters, drama and story. And badassery. I'm sorry about using that word so much but really. There are so many different ways to describe this show that i think I can fit that in there. You don't mind, do you? I mean, this show even made wheelchairs badass. How? Oh, you'll be surprised.

This show gets a 10 from me, and I'm sure if you're reading this, you are interested in watching it. So if you haven't seen it, go watch it! But do realize, this show is not for everyone, and it will make you quite sad sometimes. The majority of the show has a feeling of dread about it, which you will feel. But don't let that stop you! It's worth it! Brace yourself for the emotionally trying, violent and dark Elfen Lied and please, do enjoy.

I was originally going to give this series an eight, because of some of the more blatant flaws in its plot, but any anime that can reduce me to sobs by the penultimate episode deserves at least a nine.

I won't bother explaining the plot, because if you're reading this you probably already know the gist of it. I will instead highlight a few of the plot elements that I thought were particularly inventive/touching.

It seems to me that Kouta is not so much a full-fledged character as he is a vessel for his sexual desire. Indeed, several major plot elements are influenced at least ... marginally by the influence of his libido. For example, Lucy's rage is quenched only because Kouta showed her forgiveness. Would his response be the same if Lucy wasn't a supermodel? Impossible to say, but I love how the plot is moved by the serendipitous, arbitrary qualities of emotion and desire. In this way, Elfen Lied shares much with the Alien franchise; just as, in a series of freak accidents motivated only by chance, the simple freighter crew-woman Ripley is inexorably tied to the grotesque Xenomorph race, so Kouta is enveloped in a bizarre government project as the result of his emotions and libido.

In this series were a few majorly tear-jerking moments that rank among my favorite in television and cinema. A line of dialogue that has been received quite favorably is Lucy's "Kouta, you were but a passing dream I could barely see in this hell." I was profoundly touched to hear that. It has the same staying power as some of the greatest lines in cinema, up there with "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown," and "No, I am your father."

Additionally, as has been mentioned by other reviewers, "Lillium" is a hell of a theme song, even though it's a bit overused within the series itself. And the opening animation is a little pretentious and silly, a mish-mash of Latin and Germanic themes as it is.

As aforementioned, Elfen Lied has a few pretty blatant plot holes. It's, sadly, not very convincing that Lucy became murderous because of being bullied as a child; the gravity of the response doesn't match that of the stimulus. If she was institutionalized because of the school incident, that would make more sense, but such a distinction isn't made in the anime proper. Also, the ecchi and male wish-fulfillment elements are rather pronounced, and could be distracting to someone not entirely convinced of the story.

I enjoyed Elfen Lied immensely and was willing to overlook some of its obvious flaws. The show is a hell of a tear-jerker.