Well i'll explain it to you how i've explained it to all my friends:
First off if you have a weak stomach, Don't Watch, it's blood and guts Galore with enough violence and gore to make hell feel like a nice picnic spot. I really don't think any anime can ever match up to this one in terms of violence, at least neither i or ANY of my friends (most of whom have watched a lot more anime than i have) have found an anime that rivals Elfen Lied.
side note that has nothing to do with the review---
IRON STOMACH CHALLENGE: my friend came up with this and so far he's the only one out of four to accomplish it, try to eat pasta , like spaghetti with chunky red sauce and some meat (if a vegatarian: provide a substitute)
Anyways, Second thing is if you don't like sad anime's, Don't Watch, Basically the point of this anime is to make you feel depressed as shit, and ashamed to be a human (you think Diclonus children chopping people up is sad, wait till you see the sick pieces of scum that torture them) this show brings out some of the darkest sides to human nature, including moral dilema of whether a child can be evil (beating a puppy to death with a vase for amusement T.T).
So if you've read everything above you're probably thinking WHO THE HELL WOULD WTCH THIS SHOW!!! well i would and i would rewatch it and recommend it to everybody who think they wouldn't puke during the show. This show is dark and gritty and if you even get the slightest bit emotionally attached to the characters you will cry. This anime has so many great beautiful things about it.
Story- I Loved the story, there is a lot of suspense and it keeps you wanting more at the end of each episode, to the point where it's 4 in the morning and you need to get up in 2 hours for school but your too busy glued to your screen that you don't care. There were times when the plot was a bit predictable but even then your praying that it doesn;t turn out how you know it will.
Art- i'll be breif, i can't judge this since art style doesn't matter much to me in anime, idc if it's genaric or original just as long as it looks crisp and Elfen Lied does that.
Sound- Beautiful, the Opening is one of the most memorable and beautiful songs i have ever heard, and the fact that they took some old scriptures and made the lyrics in latin just increases that jaw dropping wow factor. only downside is that it's the only song they really use, they have several variations of it, but still in the end they just used one song for the OP and all the background music. (Although on a personal note i didn't really mind it at all)
Characters- you come to really like the characters, at least most of them. The main guy, Kouta, is a likable enough guy and you really get attached when you learn about his past a bit more. Yuka is a believable girl, she's not one of those fanservice, 1 dimensional, shallow characters, she's got a realistic personality and deals with problems like a real person would. Lucy or Nyuu would be the most interesting character of them all, without giving too much away let's just say that you might feel a bit of sympathy for a serial killer once you learned the things people have done to them personally. This is what makes the characters good the fact that this show helps you see the viewpoint of a coldblooded killer and on a certain level agree with them. Nana just is poor girl who didn't deserve the cruel fate she was dealt but does her best to be happy. Mayu, i feel a bit of empathy but the show didn't really make me care for her as much as the other main cast.
Overall- An amazing anime that i recommend to anyone who isn't horrified after reading this review, actually even then at least give it a shot. I don't like sad horror shows but this show was just too amazing and i love it. You will cry for these characters that have to suffer so much, you will be astounded by an amazing plot and be hypnotized with it's beautiful Melody.
Now just watch it, if you took the time to read this then i ask that you just give it a shot, this anime may not be for everyone, but for those that it is, it will touch your heart ^_^
