Comments on: Elfen Lied Review http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/ "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness." - C.S.Lewis Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:03:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Theowne http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40876 Theowne Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:43:03 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-40876 Kiba, I appreciate that you didn't use the same rude tone the other commenters here have. But I think I am essentially repeating myself at that point. It is naturally true that there is such a thing as powerful, emotional, and legitimate use of explicit content to drive home a message. At the same time, there is no one on Earth who believes that every use of explicit material in media is an honest effort to communicate a message. Often times it is mere shock value. Each of us has our own standard, and Elfen Lied does not meet my standard. I find its use of nudity and violence to be shallow and typical of anime tropes, emphasized by the fairly pedestrian way it carries out the story and the numerous cliches and nonsensical parts of it. This does not mean that you or the other fans of the show have to agree with me. This is, after all, my personal review page, and the only guarantee I provide is that readers who tend to like my other reviews will probably agree with me. No more, no less. If you actually strongly believe Elfen Lied explores its themes in a deep or satisfying way, the fact that I personally disagree with you should not be such an issue. Kiba, I appreciate that you didn’t use the same rude tone the other commenters here have. But I think I am essentially repeating myself at that point.

It is naturally true that there is such a thing as powerful, emotional, and legitimate use of explicit content to drive home a message. At the same time, there is no one on Earth who believes that every use of explicit material in media is an honest effort to communicate a message. Often times it is mere shock value.

Each of us has our own standard, and Elfen Lied does not meet my standard. I find its use of nudity and violence to be shallow and typical of anime tropes, emphasized by the fairly pedestrian way it carries out the story and the numerous cliches and nonsensical parts of it. This does not mean that you or the other fans of the show have to agree with me. This is, after all, my personal review page, and the only guarantee I provide is that readers who tend to like my other reviews will probably agree with me. No more, no less. If you actually strongly believe Elfen Lied explores its themes in a deep or satisfying way, the fact that I personally disagree with you should not be such an issue.

]]> By: Kiba http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40868 Kiba Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:47:50 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-40868 First off , I am a girl. Second, if you have ever watched many serious war movies or history movies, you can see ties between twisted innocence and nudity and depravity. Lucy grows up in a world were she is given no clothes, little food, no love, and tortured constantly. She is tested and trained to kill. What's the point of clothes when she has been naked for years and tortured by men? She doesn't understand society! She doesn't understand modesty, or love, shE knows betrayal and pain and is psychologically imbalanced. The point of the nudity when she is Nyu is to express her childishness. Her other side is stil like a little kid. When I was 5 I didn't understand being naked was wrong. I took my clothes off when I was too hot or when I wanted to play in water. Nyu doesn't understand. And as Lucy she just doesn't care. She is a rebel and she knows her life is short lived. They tortured her naked and she will destroy them not with respect as a human fights a human but like the animal they trained her to be. What more has she known in life? The music, the art, the atmosphere, the characters... They compare and contrast with each other in a surreal way. The point this gets across abou the world isn't that it's evil, but that it's good that evil has scarred. Just as Lucy herself started as a cute little girl, just as all the girls that are cute and innocent pink hair and all... The whole point of this is to show what happens to innocence in such a broken world, and it also shows how even in the brokenness people can live. People can heal. People can make friends with their worst enenmies and find peace and love and learn to live First off , I am a girl. Second, if you have ever watched many serious war movies or history movies, you can see ties between twisted innocence and nudity and depravity. Lucy grows up in a world were she is given no clothes, little food, no love, and tortured constantly. She is tested and trained to kill. What’s the point of clothes when she has been naked for years and tortured by men? She doesn’t understand society! She doesn’t understand modesty, or love, shE knows betrayal and pain and is psychologically imbalanced. The point of the nudity when she is Nyu is to express her childishness. Her other side is stil like a little kid. When I was 5 I didn’t understand being naked was wrong. I took my clothes off when I was too hot or when I wanted to play in water. Nyu doesn’t understand. And as Lucy she just doesn’t care. She is a rebel and she knows her life is short lived. They tortured her naked and she will destroy them not with respect as a human fights a human but like the animal they trained her to be. What more has she known in life? The music, the art, the atmosphere, the characters… They compare and contrast with each other in a surreal way. The point this gets across abou the world isn’t that it’s evil, but that it’s good that evil has scarred. Just as Lucy herself started as a cute little girl, just as all the girls that are cute and innocent pink hair and all… The whole point of this is to show what happens to innocence in such a broken world, and it also shows how even in the brokenness people can live. People can heal. People can make friends with their worst enenmies and find peace and love and learn to live

]]> By: Theowne http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40822 Theowne Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:18:06 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-40822 Anti-Flag, it's quite simple. I do not consider Elfen Lied's relatively simplistic plot to have the level of sophistication that you do, and I do not give it the level of respect that you do. Your argument, that Elfen Lied's violence is in honest service of its story, does not affect me, as I find the story execution and characters rather weak - apart from a promising premise and a few effective scenes. And similarly, I do not believe in a deeper reason why Elfen Lied's female cast is almost entirely composed of adorably-drawn pink-haired girls except to appeal to young male viewers. Nor do I believe in a deeper reason as to why the mute female lead "accidentally" removes her clothes at common intervals in the first few episodes. These are all tools to attract a certain kind of fanbase used by many anime, and Elfen Lied is no better, except that the premise has a lot more potential than the usual fare. It is unfortunate that this premise is squandered with such a degree of "fanservice". That is how I feel about this series. Anti-Flag, it’s quite simple. I do not consider Elfen Lied’s relatively simplistic plot to have the level of sophistication that you do, and I do not give it the level of respect that you do. Your argument, that Elfen Lied’s violence is in honest service of its story, does not affect me, as I find the story execution and characters rather weak – apart from a promising premise and a few effective scenes.

And similarly, I do not believe in a deeper reason why Elfen Lied’s female cast is almost entirely composed of adorably-drawn pink-haired girls except to appeal to young male viewers. Nor do I believe in a deeper reason as to why the mute female lead “accidentally” removes her clothes at common intervals in the first few episodes. These are all tools to attract a certain kind of fanbase used by many anime, and Elfen Lied is no better, except that the premise has a lot more potential than the usual fare. It is unfortunate that this premise is squandered with such a degree of “fanservice”. That is how I feel about this series.

]]> By: Anti-Flag http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-40811 Anti-Flag Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:47:03 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-40811 All of you miss the point of the nudity and gore. THE SHOW IS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS BRUTALITY. By exposing the disgusting reality of violence and hatred exposed in the show it makes the importance of goodness that much more important. If the nature of the way Lucy killed people was not that violent in nature, wouldn't have reduced the conflicting nature of the whole evil/good duality that's the center piece of the show? I'm sick of censorship and beating around the Bush. I know this might sound unrelated but in the Sandusky case, the coacing assisstant that actually walked in on him anally raping a 10 year old boy he left and complained to his boss 3 days later saying that he was "horsing around" in the shower with the kid. This squeamish held towards reality, like those who don't like Elfen Lied, exposes the person for not being open and understanding of the brutal reality associated with biological life. Elfen Lied is violent because the world is violent. If you think a cartoon is disgustingly violent I can think of a LOT worse, truly exploitative violence in anime. Violence Jack Genocyber Ninja Resurrection Golgo 13 Wicked City Come on now, if you don't see the art in brutality, then what about Francisco De Goya's gory, "exploitative" piece El Tris De Mayo? Same point he's making. So what's the difference if the content is the same? You just want to sound intellectual and condescending, which is why you had to start out by defending yourself because you know you're just being a prick. If something can truly affect you emotionally, that is true art. Not a bunch of paint flicks on canvas. All of you miss the point of the nudity and gore.

THE SHOW IS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS BRUTALITY. By exposing the disgusting reality of violence and hatred exposed in the show it makes the importance of goodness that much more important. If the nature of the way Lucy killed people was not that violent in nature, wouldn’t have reduced the conflicting nature of the whole evil/good duality that’s the center piece of the show?

I’m sick of censorship and beating around the Bush. I know this might sound unrelated but in the Sandusky case, the coacing assisstant that actually walked in on him anally raping a 10 year old boy he left and complained to his boss 3 days later saying that he was “horsing around” in the shower with the kid. This squeamish held towards reality, like those who don’t like Elfen Lied, exposes the person for not being open and understanding of the brutal reality associated with biological life. Elfen Lied is violent because the world is violent. If you think a cartoon is disgustingly violent I can think of a LOT worse, truly exploitative violence in anime.

Violence Jack
Genocyber
Ninja Resurrection
Golgo 13
Wicked City

Come on now, if you don’t see the art in brutality, then what about Francisco De Goya’s gory, “exploitative” piece El Tris De Mayo? Same point he’s making. So what’s the difference if the content is the same? You just want to sound intellectual and condescending, which is why you had to start out by defending yourself because you know you’re just being a prick.

If something can truly affect you emotionally, that is true art. Not a bunch of paint flicks on canvas.

]]> By: Theowne http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12138 Theowne Sun, 03 Apr 2011 01:06:51 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-12138 2chemical - allow me to present a slightly kinder reply than the one you have give to me - Now, If subversion of audience assumptions about "evil" in Elfen Lied was "new" and "interesting" to you - that's fine. Unfortunately, some of us, who have read plenty of books and watched plenty of films in our lifetimes, have seen it done already, usually presented in a far more compelling manner. Elfen Lied, on the other hand, takes those ideas and gives a shallow version - stuffed with shock elements to draw an audience, so it doesn't impress us. It's your right to like it, but we don't have to agree. 2chemical – allow me to present a slightly kinder reply than the one you have give to me – Now, If subversion of audience assumptions about “evil” in Elfen Lied was “new” and “interesting” to you – that’s fine. Unfortunately, some of us, who have read plenty of books and watched plenty of films in our lifetimes, have seen it done already, usually presented in a far more compelling manner. Elfen Lied, on the other hand, takes those ideas and gives a shallow version – stuffed with shock elements to draw an audience, so it doesn’t impress us. It’s your right to like it, but we don’t have to agree.

]]> By: 2chemical http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12137 2chemical Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:49:01 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-12137 A lot of the reviews for the anime series Elfen Lied on the Internet would have you believe that the series is nothing but senseless violence and nudity just for the sake of creating shock value, but that is not the case. Elfen Lied is an excellent anime series about the darker, and often inhumane and inhuman, side of humanity. Elfen lied is a short anime series (only 13 episodes) about a race of mutants, called diclonius, who’s entire existence is seemingly to kill humans and destroy mankind. The plot centers around Lucy, a diclonius who escapes from a research facility and develops a split personality (named Nyu) as a result of being shot in the head as she made her escape. I’m going to try to keep this review spoiler-free. If you only read the reviews and don’t bother to watch past the first episode, you may think that Elfen Lied is simply an excuse to show mass amounts of violence and female nudity, but the plot does go a lot deeper than that. There are reasons as to why Lucy is as violent as she is, beyond the simple fact that she was born a diclonius. As the series progresses, you have to wonder if it is really the diclonius’ who are monsters, or if the real monsters are the humans. The horrible things that Lucy had endured in her past play a greater role into what she has become than any natural diclonius instincts. The series offers great commentary on how childhood experiences and trauma shape the person we become. A lot of the reviews for the anime series Elfen Lied on the Internet would have you believe that the series is nothing but senseless violence and nudity just for the sake of creating shock value, but that is not the case. Elfen Lied is an excellent anime series about the darker, and often inhumane and inhuman, side of humanity.

Elfen lied is a short anime series (only 13 episodes) about a race of mutants, called diclonius, who’s entire existence is seemingly to kill humans and destroy mankind. The plot centers around Lucy, a diclonius who escapes from a research facility and develops a split personality (named Nyu) as a result of being shot in the head as she made her escape. I’m going to try to keep this review spoiler-free.

If you only read the reviews and don’t bother to watch past the first episode, you may think that Elfen Lied is simply an excuse to show mass amounts of violence and female nudity, but the plot does go a lot deeper than that.

There are reasons as to why Lucy is as violent as she is, beyond the simple fact that she was born a diclonius. As the series progresses, you have to wonder if it is really the diclonius’ who are monsters, or if the real monsters are the humans. The horrible things that Lucy had endured in her past play a greater role into what she has become than any natural diclonius instincts. The series offers great commentary on how childhood experiences and trauma shape the person we become.

]]> By: 2chemical http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12136 2chemical Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:43:26 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-12136 Idiots... It's a beautiful piece of entertainment. Just loved it. Idiots… It’s a beautiful piece of entertainment. Just loved it.

]]> By: Theowne http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-11303 Theowne Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:17:35 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-11303 John, I think what gives anime a bad reputation is when people actually think Elfen Lied treats you like an adult because it throws gore and nudity in your face. John,
I think what gives anime a bad reputation is when people actually think Elfen Lied treats you like an adult because it throws gore and nudity in your face.

]]> By: JOhn http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-6623 JOhn Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:35:51 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-6623 Say Theorwon, ever seen Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend? It's the infamous anime horror/fantasy that spawned the hentai subgenre as it has demon tentacle rape, mutilation, gore abound, sex, masturbation and that sort of thing. Much worse than Elfen Lied, do you want to be more treated like an adult like Pixar does and not like a teenager? Is it stuff like Urotsukidoji that gave anime a bad reputation? Say Theorwon, ever seen Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend? It’s the infamous anime horror/fantasy that spawned the hentai subgenre as it has demon tentacle rape, mutilation, gore abound, sex, masturbation and that sort of thing. Much worse than Elfen Lied, do you want to be more treated like an adult like Pixar does and not like a teenager?

Is it stuff like Urotsukidoji that gave anime a bad reputation?

]]> By: signorRossi http://omohide.com/1395/elfen-lied-review/comment-page-1/#comment-4265 signorRossi Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:03:48 +0000 http://omohide.com/?p=1395#comment-4265 This was interesting to read, I myself dropped Elfen Lied after I watched the first episode a few years ago and never picked it up again and won't do so in the future. Not that I can't stand a fair amount of gore or violence, which leads me to my question: Already thought of doing a review of 'Shigurui', TheOwne? Elfen Lied is peanuts against it regarding the amount and level of violence (I dare say so even having seen only the first ep of Elfen Lied), and I am interested how you and bucket think of that show... This was interesting to read, I myself dropped Elfen Lied after I watched the first episode a few years ago and never picked it up again and won’t do so in the future. Not that I can’t stand a fair amount of gore or violence, which leads me to my question: Already thought of doing a review of ‘Shigurui’, TheOwne? Elfen Lied is peanuts against it regarding the amount and level of violence (I dare say so even having seen only the first ep of Elfen Lied), and I am interested how you and bucket think of that show…

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