The ultra-violent sci-fi anime that inspired Stranger Things is now on Amazon Prime Video
Pa Jonathan Klotz
| Published
in a generation Elven lies was an introduction to the world of anime, mainly because if you can get past the gore, violence, and fanservice in this series, you can get through almost every other mainstream anime series out there. The cute box art and character designs hide a edginess and seriousness that, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged at all. The series’ influence extended beyond the anime world, with the Duffer Brothers naming Killer Lucy as a direct influence on the design Strange things Eleven.
A telekinetic girl meets a naive boy
One day you hear that the telekinetic Lucy, who was so traumatized by her experience at the secret facility where she, along with the other Dicloniuses….Dicloniusi?….a mutant species that has begun to emerge and pose an increasing threat to ordinary people, has been studied for years. Lucy’s escape Elven lies noticeably tougher than Eleven’s Strange things The first season with a lot more blood and more dead bodies used as shields, but each is ultimately saved by a well-meaning young guy who falls in love with a girl who could kill him with the power of her mind.
Elven lies settles down quickly after escaping the lab and soon finds a rhythm that sustains him for 13 episodes. Lucy, who enjoys killing people and takes sadistic glee in doing so, is replaced by another persona, Nu, for most of the show’s runtime. As Nyu, Lucy is kind and innocent and doesn’t want to hurt anyone with her telekinetic powers, which manifest as invisible hands dubbed “Vectors”, although she retains the potential to destroy all of humanity.
This is a remarkable feat Elven lies is able to veer between heartfelt drama, coming-of-age romance, and ultra-violent carnage within a single episode. Some parts haven’t aged well over the years, namely the fan service and the occasional grudge for blood, but others, including the surprisingly deep characterizations of what at first glance looks like a slap-fest, remain relevant today. You just have to get past the gore to find human feelings, even in Diclonius’ inhuman characters.
Elfen Lied is not for everyone
Strange things drawn from many mediums, including 80s classics Akirathe seminal sci-fi anime that redefined the entire entertainment industry, so Elven liesissue of 2004, which served as the blueprint for one of the biggest breakthroughs of the last decade, is a bit surprising. Then again, there’s still nothing quite like the unique blend of anime genres that is a great introduction to animeas well as a very creepy introduction, all at the same time. Needless to say, this is absolutely not for kids, no matter how cute the DVD box art looks.
Elven lies was not my introduction to anime; it was a Toonami block on Cartoon Network a decade earlier, but it was one of the first I watched when I picked up the medium again. By then I was used to the brooding darkness and self-seriousness of mainstream 90s comics, which did a strange mix of harem anime, Berserk-the gore style and overly cute characters that I needed at the time. It also helps that the music, especially Lilyis an absolute blast and every time it’s played you’ll find yourself motivated to keep going for another episode.
Elven lies is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
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