Elfen Lied: A thorough analysis of the shocking story and profound themes

Elfen Lied - The Cry of the Abyss and the Trail of Love

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 25, 2004 - October 17, 2004
AT-X July 25, 2004 - October 17, 2004 (1st - 13th time)

■Broadcasting station

Broadcast: AT-X, tvk, Television Saitama, Chiba Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

・Original work by Lynn Okamoto

■ Director

・Director: Mamoru Kobe

■ Production

Planning cooperation: Weekly Young Jump editorial department Produced by: GENCO
・Produced by ARMS
・Production: VAP, GENCO

■Works

©Rin Okamoto/Shueisha, VAP, GENCO

■ Story

Diclonius are human mutants... They have horns growing from their heads and special abilities and hands that could be called a sixth sense. These mutants, who have the potential to wipe out humanity, are isolated and studied in national facilities because of their dangerous abilities.

However, due to an accidental accident, Lucy, a Diclonius girl, breaks free from her restraints, kills the guards, and escapes from the laboratory. However, she loses her memory in the process. Having lost her memories and past, Lucy washes up on the beach in Yuigahama, Kamakura, where she meets Kota and Yuka, who give her the name "Nyuu" and she ends up living in Kaede House, where Kota lives.

■Explanation

This highly entertaining anime is packed with a variety of elements, including the anger and sadness, violence and loveliness of those who have something that others do not have, sci-fi suspense, violence, romantic comedy, eroticism, and more.

*Quoted from the AT-X official website

■Cast

・Kouta/Chihiro Suzuki ・Lucy, Nyu/Sanae Kobayashi ・Yuka/Mamiko Noto ・Mayu/Emiko Hagiwara ・Nana/Yuki Matsuoka ・Kurama/Osamu Hosoi ・Bando/Jouji Nakata

■ Main staff

・Original work: Lynn Okamoto (Shueisha/Serialized in Weekly Young Jump)
・Director / Mamoru Kobe・Series composition, scriptwriter / Takao Yoshioka・Character design, chief animation director / Seiji Kishimoto・Mecha design / Hiroyuki Taiga・Art setting / Tomoyuki Aoki・Art director / Sei Ito・Color design / Ryodai Nakata・Director of photography / Hisao Shirai・Editor / Takeshi Seyama・Sound director / Katsunori Shimizu・Music / Koba Konishi, Yukio Kondo・Producers / Manabu Tamura, Kazuaki Morijiri, Osamu Etaka・Animation production / ARMS・Produced by / Genco・Copyright / VAP, Genco

■ Main Characters

Kota came to Kamakura relying on his relatives to attend university. During that time, he found Lucy (Nyu) washed up on Yuigahama Beach and took her to Kaede-so to live with him.

・Lucy (new)
A Diclonius girl who was isolated in a laboratory due to an accidental accident.

Yuka is from Kamakura. She is Kouta's cousin and will be attending the same university from spring. She will be living with him in Kaede-so under the pretext of keeping an eye on Kouta to make sure he doesn't do anything naughty to Nyu.

・A Diclonius who was used as an experimental subject at the Nana Laboratory and is called a Zilperit because he has no reproductive function. He is called "Number 7" and continues to undergo cruel experiments. He loves Kurama as if he were a father, as he is a savior from his harsh life.

■Subtitle

・First Encounter BEGEGNUNG
・2nd round/Sweeping VERNICHTUNG
・3rd/Chest IM INNERSTEN
・4th/Contact AUFEINANDERTREFFEN
・5th/Falling Palm EMPFANG
・6th/Sincerity HERZENSWÄRME
・7th/Meeting ZUFÄLLIGE BEGEGNUNG
・The 8th/Beginning BEGINN
9th session: Reminiscences of SCHÖNE ERINNERUNG
・No. 10/Infant SÄUGLING
・No. 11/Confusion VERMISCHUNG
・12th/Mud TAUMELN
・13th/Unreturnable ERLEUCHTUNG

■ Related works

・Elfen Lied OVA
・Elfen Lied terrestrial broadcast version

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・LILIUM
・Song by Kumiko Noma

・ED1
・Be your girl
・Song: Chieko Kawabe

Elfen Lied - The Cry of the Abyss and the Trail of Love

Elfen Lied, which aired in 2004, is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by Lynn Okamoto, and has attracted many viewers with its shocking content and profound themes. This anime skillfully combines various elements such as sci-fi suspense, violence, romantic comedy, and eroticism, leaving a strong impression on viewers. Below we will introduce a detailed review and recommendation of Elfen Lied.

Story and Themes

The story of "Elfen Lied" centers around human mutants known as Diclonius. Diclonius are beings with horns on their heads and special abilities that have the potential to wipe out humanity, so they are isolated and studied in national facilities. However, due to an accident, a Diclonius girl named Lucy escapes from the laboratory and washes up on the beach in Yui, Kamakura, with no memory of it. There, she meets Kouta and Yuka, who give her the name "Nyuu," and she begins living in their Kaede House.

The themes of this work are wide-ranging, including coexistence between humans and other species, discrimination and prejudice, and the contrast between love and violence. Although Lucy suffers from the fear and loneliness brought about by her existence, she regains her humanity through her interactions with Kouta and Yuka. However, her past and the threat posed by the existence of Diclonius cast a dark shadow over the entire story. These themes provoke deep emotions and reflection in the viewer, greatly enhancing the appeal of the work.

Characters and acting

Each character in "Elfen Lied" is unique and enriches the story. The main character, Kouta, is a kind young man who meets Lucy (Nyu) and tries to accept her existence, and Suzuki Chihiro's voice acting brings out the best in the character. Kobayashi Sanae, who plays Lucy (Nyu), skillfully expresses Lucy's coldness and Nyu's innocence, leaving a strong impression on viewers. Noto Mamiko, who plays Yuka, also brings out the charm of her character by exquisitely portraying her love for Kouta and her jealousy towards Lucy.

Also, don't miss the performance of Yuki Matsuoka, who plays Nana. Nana is a Diclonius who has been subjected to harsh experiments in a laboratory, and Yuki Matsuoka expresses her tragic background and her dependence on Kurama with great emotion. The performances of these characters are an important element in adding depth to the story.

Visuals and Music

The visual beauty of Elfen Lied is the product of the production by ARMS, and the depiction of the Diclonius' special ability, "Vecters," is particularly visually impactful. The technical skills of character designer and chief animation director Kishimoto Seiji shine through, with the characters' expressions and movements carefully drawn down to the smallest detail. The work of art directors Aoki Tomoyuki and Ito Sei also deserves praise, with the realistic reproduction of the Kamakura scenery and the dark atmosphere of the research facility.

Musically, the soundtrack by Konishi Koba and Kondo Yukio adds to the atmosphere of the story. The opening theme "LILIUM" in particular, coupled with Noma Kumiko's beautiful singing voice, is a symbol of the theme of the work. The ending theme "be your girl" also highlights Kawabe Chieko's vocal talent, making it a song that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Elfen Lied" has attracted many viewers with its shocking content and profound themes, and is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy science fiction, horror, and violence. The story unfolds unpredictably, and has the power to draw viewers in until the very end. Additionally, the character growth and changes in relationships are also not to be missed, making it a work that will leave you deeply moved and inspire you to think after watching it.

However, since it contains many violent and erotic scenes, viewers who are uncomfortable with such content should be careful. Also, there are some differences between the original manga and the anime, so fans of the original manga are recommended to watch it with an understanding of these points.

Related works include an OVA version and a terrestrial broadcast version, each depicting the world of "Elfen Lied" from a different perspective. The OVA version in particular includes episodes that were not depicted in the anime version, making it a must-see for fans.

"Elfen Lied" is a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers, and its profound themes and diverse elements make it appealing enough to make you want to watch it again and again. It is a work that viewers who like science fiction, horror, and violence should definitely watch at least once.