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I really enjoyed volume 1 of Elfen Lied. It was familiar yet original as it managed to combine childish and mature genres successfully to produce a startling anime with a gripping storyline. The unforgiving violence of the first volume made it clear that this was sci-fi which showed what would really happen if human experiments went too far - we would not end up with a naïve young woman, but rather a relentless killer. Volume 1 of Elfen Lied essentially followed the bloodbath that was the main character Nyu's escape from the facility that imprisoned her, only for her to seemingly lose her mind and become a very ditzy teenager that can only say her own name. She is then taken in by the friendly Kohta and Yuka who take her in, unaware of the danger that they are putting themselves in as Nyu often unwillingly reverts back to her real self and killing everything in sight. Volume 1 ended after Nyu had seen off a vicious assassin, hordes of soldiers and a girl with similar abilities to herself. One of the abilities seen many times in volume 1 is the use of psychic 'hands' which can maim human flesh with ease and several people in seconds. By the end of volume 1 a side-story involving a homeless girl moving in with the odd trio that is Nyu, Kohta and Yuka, contrasting the chaos of the first volume nicely with humanity. Volume 1 had gripped me in every aspect of it's story so I was eagerly awaiting volume 2 to see where the series would go next. |
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Volume 2 carries on exactly where volume 1 left off but also delves much further into the background of the main characters, which develops Elfen Lied into a much more gripping then volume 1. The violence is still present but relaxed to make way for the background stories, which makes for more interesting viewing then the various psychopathic killings which plagued volume 1. The episodes on volume 2 manage to answer enough of the questions posed by the first volume but still leave enough mystery to keep you gagging for volume 3. |
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Volume 2 though still has the power to shock and,
unlike volume 1, can achieve this through the non-violent moments.
The opening episode contains a scene which many believe goes too far
(myself included), but the graphic nature of the scene does allow
the series to feel the pain of the character quickly and
sufficiently enough so it can keep the story moving. This is
the essence of Elfen Lied after all and this shock tactic
occurs throughout volume 2, but thankfully never allows the show to
become predictable. This is because the show never always goes
the way cliché may dictate and can build
up an entire story or character, only to remove in one quick scene
which disposes of the red herring. On other occasions the show
may build up an entire story and then run with it, but because of
past red herrings you are never quite sure what is going to happen
next - that is the genius of Elfen Lied. |
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Volume 2 of Elfen Lied also contains a
greater mix of comedy, action and drama then the previous volume, a
mix which a found welcome as volume 1 could be too bleak in places.
Where as volume 1 was more of an experience to watch, volume 2 is
more entertaining due to the comic moments and much more thrilling
action. Where as this volume 2 could have deteriorated after a
successful opening volume, instead it takes the series much further
and leaves you wanting more by ending on a real cliffhanger. |
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Although I was greatly impressed by Elfen
Lied's ability to mix my favourite genres into a show which
successfully combined them into one of the best anime releases so
far this year, it has to be said that this will not be everyone's
cup of tea. It is likely that many will find the show's
obsession to shock the viewer cheap rather then necessary, and the
obsession to confuse the viewer annoying rather then clever.
Elfen Lied is primarily a sci-fi after all, so it is
inevitable that it would eventually turn more towards heavy
narrative (rather then the action that opened the series), but this
does not stop it from being a great series.
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