The show is a psychological sci-fi that features Lucy, a girl who can literally tear people apart with psychic hands/tendril things. Not the usual happy go lucky content often found in anime: prepare for some serious violence and pretty much unchecked graphic content if you plan on watching this. There was also quite a bit of nudity for what I'm usually comfortable watching, so if you wanted to see this in a public place you have hence been warned...
The strongest part of Elfen Lied is its characters. The show is a dark foray into the mind and struggles of five high school age kids who are living in world in which authority lies to them and corrupt researchers stop at nothing to get what they want, in this case Lucy. Because Lucy has an additional split personality called Nyu, a meek and almost pet-like child who can only say her name, she constantly is in danger even with her powers because Nyu has no idea that she is in fact a murder happy mutant in her off hours. The way the series uses and develops it's story is exceptional, and I felt like I was on the edge of my seat most of the time.
Elfen Lied's theme of hope was what took me by such surprise. Each of the characters essentially goes on a quest for belonging in the face of their original families either being killed or abandoning them. For being a series with so much graphic content and some pretty dark concepts in general, the outlook of Kouta and his somewhat-harem-but-not-really-harem adopted family is ultimately positive. I'm glad the show had it's bright spots of hope (there is a lot of comedy and goofy awkward situations sprinkled in to ease the tension), and I was pleasantly surprised that the show did not take the "no such thing as a happy ending" approach I was worried it would take. The point of living through all the terrible things the characters go through is not to hate the world, but to love each other and live their lives out despite their various tragic circumstances.
Overall I was glad I watched. Powerful stuff, though definitely not for those of us who love lighthearted anime or are fragile of stomach...
Story: 9 {Overall solid psychological thriller}
Art: 7 {Average detail but nice use of CGI when needed}
Sound: 8 {Visceral sound effects, decent but not outstanding music}
Characters: 10 {Great development of the cast, everyone mattered}
Overall: 9 {Solid anime, gore/nudity still a bit too much for me}
