(WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS HERE! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)
Hello Escapists,
I have been a long time reader and I have been loving this community over most websites because I feel that this website is the only one that takes it discussion and talks very mature and sophisticated way.
Now, Since I've been a lurker for awhile now, why all the sudden to get involved? Because the very first anime I have ever watched was recommending here. Before I will what it is and why I love it and will cherish it forever, let me give you a bit of a back story on how I feel.
My real name is Zach, I am a 21 year soon-to-be student at SFA. I will always love video games. Ever since I was a kid I remember playing games with my mom all the time. We were poor and my mom had to work 2 dead end jobs to support me but I never ever heard her complain about it. I did not get to see my mom much but when I did we would play my old NES (super mario bros) time and time again until we beat it. Fast forward some years, I'm older and I don't play with my mom as much as I used too but we still do from time to time. So why am I telling you all this? Because its an important to understand why I loved this anime.
My mom got a better job and we lived considerably better for it but this was around the time I turned a teenager and started to think my mom was not cool anymore (cliche'd I know). I still played once and awhile with her but I moved on from games for a bit while I was getting my life togethor. About a year later, one of friends went to japan for a trip and came back with this cool new thing (his words) he discovered and of course we were all excited to see it. He explained to us this anime thing, that it was japan version of our western cartoons, and we all seemed generally excited! So he popped in the tape, and after the first 5 min, I just could not watch anymore. I was just utter repulsed by the over-the-top facial expressions done by the characters, the silly antics of of the characters and the overall tune of the show was just bleeeeh. My friend tried to get me into but I couldn't get past the weird and obnoxious animation. (for the record I could not remember what anime it was)
Fast forward again till about 4 months ago, I was browsing the off-topic discussions when I noticed a thread getting some big replies back. It was showing the trailer to an anime that has already been released and has been done but I saw it and instead of the normal goofy, stupid over-top-cuteness/insanity (lucky star I am looking at you ), was a dark and mature, depressing characters which for some reason really clicked with me. I Google-ed it and found both the anime and manga version. Now I know what manga is but I never understood the appeal of it. To me they seemed like childish, stupid books with pictures instead of actually story lines and character developments. Anyway, I first looked into the anime and as soon as the first episode started, I felt an emotions I never felt for cartoon, animes or ever animation in general....I felt caring and I was disturbed but curious as to why this character was doing this and who she was. As the episodes went on I felt caring for two characters individual, their struggle to be happy and to coop with the problems they posses. Am I generalizing too much? Maybe, but I should reveal what that anime is.
Elfen Lied.
Yes, the over top gore fest and nudity anime. I love this anime and currently am looking for both the manga and anime version to purchase.
Now, why do I love this anime? Shorty answer: Lucy. I love this character. I think it was the English voice actor (and FYI this foice actor nailed this characters mood and drama perfectly) or the way she was animated (not having those stupid anime eyes or stupid anime facials with careless acting) or the theme of her but I feel in love with her. She is a misunderstood soul, who feels alone and neglected. All her life shes been nothing but misery and pain for her. It was not until Kouta came that she felt any differant. I will say more of Lucy but let me let you know how I feel on the other characters.
Kouta: This guy is really fucking stupid sometimes and others he is completely oblivious to glaring feelings being directed at him. He is the main protagonist of this anime and IMO, one lucky son-of-*****. By the end of the anime, he has 4 girls living with him (well only 3 but thats not the points) how the guy gets so many is part of the anime but its still worth mentioning. Now, he is the major plot point for Lucy seeing how the whole story of this is the horrible event that happened in his childhood. He is a nice guy who befriends lucy at almost the perfect time (ya is it really convenient that he just happens to be in the area Kaede is in the day after her dog died?) and takes her on innocent child-like things. BY the end they are both sad because he has already promised to go to the festival with his cousin and feeling like he will hurt Lucy and (in a stupid decision), he tells her his cousin is a boy. Feeling lonely again, lucy heads to the festival alone it hopes of meeting Kouta. Little did she know he lied to her bout the gender of his cousin and in a jealous rage, she surrenders to the Lucy-side of her and kills everyone. This leads to a major plot point I wont discuss but it sets the events in motion.
Before we go on I must express one thing. I don't understand what is with all the 10 year old girls thinking about love and relationships that young. This is a recurring theme in the both the manga and anime but god damn, it really odd that all the ladies in this anime are so man-dependent. Also I know Japanese cultures is different that ours but the implied incest really is weird and I didn't like it. Anyway, back to the characters.
Yuka: I fucking hate this god damn whiny little attention whore. I REALLY wish she was killed off about half way in but unfortunately for me she ends of marring Kouta (gotta settle for second best right Kouta?). Through out the show she does nothing but ***** and moan about not receiving every god damn moment of Kouta's time and attention DESPITE she and him are living togethor. She even complains one time about complaining, I mean come the fuck on, learn to get a freakin hobby that is not man-dependent. To be honest, after the half way point in the scene where they kiss I was just really pissed off and grossed out seeing how it is HER COUSIN! overall shes really useless in the anime.
Nana: Hoy boy this is some fucked up shit right here. Born and raised as a test subject for the arms they posses, she was screwed left and right. I am ok with this character and I know she is essential to the story and to my other favorite character but I could without the expressions and over dramatic shit she does throughout the show. Not much else to say on this character.
Mayu: Now this is an interesting character with a disturbing back-story (having to do with child rape) who I liked and was rooting for. For the non-main characters I dont have much to say on them so if it is short, forgive me.
Nyuu: oh...god... This character...this character right here is the whole fuckin reason why I hate anime. The annoying NYUUU NYUUUU NYUUU NYUUU, the weird perversion she has with the female characters, the whiny voice, the over-the-top facials and animations, the FUCKING NYUUU NYUUU NYUU and last but not least the blatant need for Kouta. This is Kaede's innocent side but jesus christ I wish they would have made her less like a child near the end like they did in the manga.
Bando: This guy is hilarious. I think this character was made to make fun of our western culture seeing how this guy is heartless, sexist freak who has a burning desire to kill people. Now I know his later plot is important but his fight to keep his balls is just too funny.
Now for my second favorite character, Chef Kurama: Many say he is the main antagonist of the anime but I really dont see him in a bad guy light. He not some heartless monster even though he looks like it in the beginning, he has a disturbing and horrific back story which I found to be a very unexpected mature and adult themed. This poor sap has his genes infected without knowing and had to kill his off-spring. Even though later in the show he couldn't not kill her because of his wife's dying wish, You can really related to this guy as a father. In the end I hated how he died but I feel they finished this sub-plot very well in both the anime and manga.
Lucy: Lucy...I love this character. She is cold but she has reason to be. She is lonely. She is disturbed. She is mature and not some wacky-animeish girl, she is almost human is what im trying to say. She has remorse for what she did to Kouta and it drives her insane and she still loves Kouta dispite what doing to him. She is also a bad ass killing machine. The way she murders random grunts and security guards with brutal and gory way its just plain awesome. I loved the OVA back story involving her and Kurama and why she hate humans so much.
There are other characters I neglect to mention but I just wanted you to know how I felt on the main characters.
Now lets discuss the ending. This is the first time I have ever cried so hard over pixilated characters in any form of media. Now once I got over it I watched it again and found the anime version.....shitty. I really hate how Kouta forgave her so quickly even though he still loves her and the little girl from so long ago. And I am sorry but why the fuck did she have to leave without him? It was never fully explained why she needed to move on and I really wished they didn't leave such a bullshit cliff hanger. I loved the tender moment between Kouta and Lucy in those final scenes but it really needs a re-edit..especially with Yuka being gone.
I want to thank you if you read all this and I realized there are a shit ton of plot point problems and stupid story sequences( um HELLO, she got shot with a fucking ANTI-TANK BULLET TO THE BRAIN!) but overall its a very awesome story and if you did not ead it all, here is the TLDR version: I have a man crush on Lucy and this anime is the best yet. Also, I made this post because I feel the Escapist community is the one community that is mature and level headed enough to discuss this without the animefag, pixelfag, etc.
please leave me your thoughts and I have one request of yall. Is there anymore anime like this that is mature in theme and does not falter into normal anime shit halfway through? If so please recommend me some seeing how I have an completely different view on anime now.
Also If by request, I will give my 2 cents on the manga version seeing how I read all 107 chapters.
Hello Escapists,
I have been a long time reader and I have been loving this community over most websites because I feel that this website is the only one that takes it discussion and talks very mature and sophisticated way.
Now, Since I've been a lurker for awhile now, why all the sudden to get involved? Because the very first anime I have ever watched was recommending here. Before I will what it is and why I love it and will cherish it forever, let me give you a bit of a back story on how I feel.
My real name is Zach, I am a 21 year soon-to-be student at SFA. I will always love video games. Ever since I was a kid I remember playing games with my mom all the time. We were poor and my mom had to work 2 dead end jobs to support me but I never ever heard her complain about it. I did not get to see my mom much but when I did we would play my old NES (super mario bros) time and time again until we beat it. Fast forward some years, I'm older and I don't play with my mom as much as I used too but we still do from time to time. So why am I telling you all this? Because its an important to understand why I loved this anime.
My mom got a better job and we lived considerably better for it but this was around the time I turned a teenager and started to think my mom was not cool anymore (cliche'd I know). I still played once and awhile with her but I moved on from games for a bit while I was getting my life togethor. About a year later, one of friends went to japan for a trip and came back with this cool new thing (his words) he discovered and of course we were all excited to see it. He explained to us this anime thing, that it was japan version of our western cartoons, and we all seemed generally excited! So he popped in the tape, and after the first 5 min, I just could not watch anymore. I was just utter repulsed by the over-the-top facial expressions done by the characters, the silly antics of of the characters and the overall tune of the show was just bleeeeh. My friend tried to get me into but I couldn't get past the weird and obnoxious animation. (for the record I could not remember what anime it was)
Fast forward again till about 4 months ago, I was browsing the off-topic discussions when I noticed a thread getting some big replies back. It was showing the trailer to an anime that has already been released and has been done but I saw it and instead of the normal goofy, stupid over-top-cuteness/insanity (lucky star I am looking at you ), was a dark and mature, depressing characters which for some reason really clicked with me. I Google-ed it and found both the anime and manga version. Now I know what manga is but I never understood the appeal of it. To me they seemed like childish, stupid books with pictures instead of actually story lines and character developments. Anyway, I first looked into the anime and as soon as the first episode started, I felt an emotions I never felt for cartoon, animes or ever animation in general....I felt caring and I was disturbed but curious as to why this character was doing this and who she was. As the episodes went on I felt caring for two characters individual, their struggle to be happy and to coop with the problems they posses. Am I generalizing too much? Maybe, but I should reveal what that anime is.
Elfen Lied.
Yes, the over top gore fest and nudity anime. I love this anime and currently am looking for both the manga and anime version to purchase.
Now, why do I love this anime? Shorty answer: Lucy. I love this character. I think it was the English voice actor (and FYI this foice actor nailed this characters mood and drama perfectly) or the way she was animated (not having those stupid anime eyes or stupid anime facials with careless acting) or the theme of her but I feel in love with her. She is a misunderstood soul, who feels alone and neglected. All her life shes been nothing but misery and pain for her. It was not until Kouta came that she felt any differant. I will say more of Lucy but let me let you know how I feel on the other characters.
Kouta: This guy is really fucking stupid sometimes and others he is completely oblivious to glaring feelings being directed at him. He is the main protagonist of this anime and IMO, one lucky son-of-*****. By the end of the anime, he has 4 girls living with him (well only 3 but thats not the points) how the guy gets so many is part of the anime but its still worth mentioning. Now, he is the major plot point for Lucy seeing how the whole story of this is the horrible event that happened in his childhood. He is a nice guy who befriends lucy at almost the perfect time (ya is it really convenient that he just happens to be in the area Kaede is in the day after her dog died?) and takes her on innocent child-like things. BY the end they are both sad because he has already promised to go to the festival with his cousin and feeling like he will hurt Lucy and (in a stupid decision), he tells her his cousin is a boy. Feeling lonely again, lucy heads to the festival alone it hopes of meeting Kouta. Little did she know he lied to her bout the gender of his cousin and in a jealous rage, she surrenders to the Lucy-side of her and kills everyone. This leads to a major plot point I wont discuss but it sets the events in motion.
Before we go on I must express one thing. I don't understand what is with all the 10 year old girls thinking about love and relationships that young. This is a recurring theme in the both the manga and anime but god damn, it really odd that all the ladies in this anime are so man-dependent. Also I know Japanese cultures is different that ours but the implied incest really is weird and I didn't like it. Anyway, back to the characters.
Yuka: I fucking hate this god damn whiny little attention whore. I REALLY wish she was killed off about half way in but unfortunately for me she ends of marring Kouta (gotta settle for second best right Kouta?). Through out the show she does nothing but ***** and moan about not receiving every god damn moment of Kouta's time and attention DESPITE she and him are living togethor. She even complains one time about complaining, I mean come the fuck on, learn to get a freakin hobby that is not man-dependent. To be honest, after the half way point in the scene where they kiss I was just really pissed off and grossed out seeing how it is HER COUSIN! overall shes really useless in the anime.
Nana: Hoy boy this is some fucked up shit right here. Born and raised as a test subject for the arms they posses, she was screwed left and right. I am ok with this character and I know she is essential to the story and to my other favorite character but I could without the expressions and over dramatic shit she does throughout the show. Not much else to say on this character.
Mayu: Now this is an interesting character with a disturbing back-story (having to do with child rape) who I liked and was rooting for. For the non-main characters I dont have much to say on them so if it is short, forgive me.
Nyuu: oh...god... This character...this character right here is the whole fuckin reason why I hate anime. The annoying NYUUU NYUUUU NYUUU NYUUU, the weird perversion she has with the female characters, the whiny voice, the over-the-top facials and animations, the FUCKING NYUUU NYUUU NYUU and last but not least the blatant need for Kouta. This is Kaede's innocent side but jesus christ I wish they would have made her less like a child near the end like they did in the manga.
Bando: This guy is hilarious. I think this character was made to make fun of our western culture seeing how this guy is heartless, sexist freak who has a burning desire to kill people. Now I know his later plot is important but his fight to keep his balls is just too funny.
Now for my second favorite character, Chef Kurama: Many say he is the main antagonist of the anime but I really dont see him in a bad guy light. He not some heartless monster even though he looks like it in the beginning, he has a disturbing and horrific back story which I found to be a very unexpected mature and adult themed. This poor sap has his genes infected without knowing and had to kill his off-spring. Even though later in the show he couldn't not kill her because of his wife's dying wish, You can really related to this guy as a father. In the end I hated how he died but I feel they finished this sub-plot very well in both the anime and manga.
Lucy: Lucy...I love this character. She is cold but she has reason to be. She is lonely. She is disturbed. She is mature and not some wacky-animeish girl, she is almost human is what im trying to say. She has remorse for what she did to Kouta and it drives her insane and she still loves Kouta dispite what doing to him. She is also a bad ass killing machine. The way she murders random grunts and security guards with brutal and gory way its just plain awesome. I loved the OVA back story involving her and Kurama and why she hate humans so much.
There are other characters I neglect to mention but I just wanted you to know how I felt on the main characters.
Now lets discuss the ending. This is the first time I have ever cried so hard over pixilated characters in any form of media. Now once I got over it I watched it again and found the anime version.....shitty. I really hate how Kouta forgave her so quickly even though he still loves her and the little girl from so long ago. And I am sorry but why the fuck did she have to leave without him? It was never fully explained why she needed to move on and I really wished they didn't leave such a bullshit cliff hanger. I loved the tender moment between Kouta and Lucy in those final scenes but it really needs a re-edit..especially with Yuka being gone.
I want to thank you if you read all this and I realized there are a shit ton of plot point problems and stupid story sequences( um HELLO, she got shot with a fucking ANTI-TANK BULLET TO THE BRAIN!) but overall its a very awesome story and if you did not ead it all, here is the TLDR version: I have a man crush on Lucy and this anime is the best yet. Also, I made this post because I feel the Escapist community is the one community that is mature and level headed enough to discuss this without the animefag, pixelfag, etc.
please leave me your thoughts and I have one request of yall. Is there anymore anime like this that is mature in theme and does not falter into normal anime shit halfway through? If so please recommend me some seeing how I have an completely different view on anime now.
Also If by request, I will give my 2 cents on the manga version seeing how I read all 107 chapters.
