Elfen Lied. I remember watching the first half of this episode around three years ago, when I first started "getting more into" anime. At the time, I haven't seen anything as gory as it, so (the wimp that I was) I stopped half way through the first episode, never to watch it again until recently. I have to say, I am GLAD I gave it a second try. At first, I was was afraid to watch it again, but the first episode is probably the most graphic compared to the rest. After watching Claymore, Higurashi...,Hellsing, and other various gory anime, it didn't seem as bad as I thought back then. If you can watch that, you're set for another 12 episodes of "ecchi, horror, comedy, drama, romance, action, science-fiction, and suspense" you name it.
The overall plot was great. What's better than a sadistic girl with split personalities who can mutilate and dismember people without lifting a finger? Well, without lifting an organic finger. But of course, Elfen Lied is much more than that. It really centers on the relationships of Diclonius (basically horned mutated humans with invisible arms that can cut people up) and humans, and revolves around the question: could they live peacefully together? As Lucy (a Diclonius who has had her fill of happy/sad/psychotic times with humans) struggles to find the answer as the story progresses, we are given a partial answer at the end of the anime, due to the somewhat cliffhanger as it veered off from the manga. Although I do recommend reading and finishing the manga (as it covers the pasts of characters and answers many questions the anime does not) I still found the anime ending pretty decent, and was content of the outcome.
The background art was pretty good imo. The animation isn't crappy and the style fits the anime, since it is both sad and gory but can be funny as well.
For sound, I really liked the opening song. When I went to watch the first episode for the second time, the opening song kinda gave me the creeps and almost made me change my mind, but it actually is a great song the really fits the series. I can't really say the same for the ending song; a little too happy imo.
For characters, I think they were great. However, off the top of my head, sometimes it seems that things that happen are immediately forgotten by the characters, until the need arises for the memory to pop up again as a flash back. (I think it was the Professor Kakuzawa situation that kinda annoyed me) but that was something very minor. They do have feelings, and some tragic pasts, so overall they were good. The relationships between them are also in depth as well. If you want to know more about the characters (and the ones left out) I, again, recommend reading the manga.
For enjoyment, well, I really enjoyed this anime. Each episode only left me wanting to watch more, and what's great about this anime is that it's already over! (meaning I was able to watch it in one go!) Even though the plot veered off from the manga, it was still a good ending imo, and this anime isn't one that could be forgotten easily. Again, I am really glad I gave this anime a second chance. If I hadn't, man I'd be missing out on one great anime that dared to mix horror with comedy, violence and gore with cuteness, and death, destruction, and despair with one badass, two-horned, almost-naked-half-the-time, teenage girl that can hug you like crazy are tear you apart.
