Details of 101 Films release of Elfen Lied

[Joshawott]

Wow, that wins the prize for most beautiful packaging for the ugliest, most repugnant show.

Seriously, if there's a show that deserved pinball flippers, it's this one.

Elfen Lied does seem to attract an inordinate amount of hate. Obviously everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and I don't like it to the extent that I think there's nothing wrong with it at all, but I guess I never saw whatever it is others see who find it that objectionable. It seemed to me almost entirely a story about the kindnesses and cruelties people are capable of, especially in relation to strangers - The damage they're able to do to each other when they don't realise (or don't care) the extent of the harm they're doing to someone who then has to suffer the consequences of their actions, contrasted with the help they're willing to offer to people they barely know.

I dunno, I like my morality tales to not have a shot of a pre-teen naked on all fours (on top of other things) if I can entirely get away with it.

Tbh, I thought the use of nudity was a solid symbol for innocence, as well as primal instinct, which both play very well into Lucy, Nyu and the diclonius as a whole.

Nyu pissing on the floor was weird though. I will admit.

 

[Rosencrantz]

I should point out that

a) I was quoting from the press release, and
b) I've yet to see this series, so I'm not aware of how accurate or inaccurate the description was.

Yeah I know that was press release and not you yourself.

All this Goverment jazz is just wrong, it's a private facility and it's them pulling strings to get those 'killers' involved, and I'd highly debate her and her firends unraveling her dark secret. It's more along the lines of them taking her in and getting caught up in the ensuing mess. I'd like to say more but i'd veer into spoilers then.

 

[Peachy]

I personally don't understand the Elfen Lied hate, I really enjoyed it (Though I am a fan of gore so that helped) & the show just happened to be one of the first ones, if not the first I sat through when I started watching Anime. Its a good gateway for people who like the sort of things I like xD

 

[VoxPhantom]

So much negativity, who'd be an anime distributor?

Good on 101 for putting together a really nice looking release. For those griping about the price, Amazon have it at £37 now. Only a quid more than Princess Jellyfish. That doesn't seem too bad to me, given that it isn't just a bog-standard release.

 

[Animefreak17]

@Joshawott

really you? serious

 

[Just Passing Through]

So much negativity, who'd be an anime distributor?

Good on 101 for putting together a really nice looking release. For those griping about the price, Amazon have it at £37 now. Only a quid more than Princess Jellyfish. That doesn't seem too bad to me, given that it isn't just a bog-standard release.

If 'isn't just bog-standard' means 7 year old discs in a fancy box with a poster, then yay for special editions!

 

[Joshawott]

@Joshawott

really you? serious

I'm serious. This doesn't include the OVA - 101 Films said so themselves. The original ADV release was split over 4 discs too, so they're probably using the same masters.

 

[Shiroi Hane]

This. The Place Promised In Our Early Days being cancelled (was a reason ever given?) is certainly not a good omen.

Whether they dropped it and someone else picked it up or they butted heads and came out seeing stars, the fact is someone else has it. I refer you back to Andrew's post on the first page...

 

[HdE]

I'm interested to see how the retail price works out long term. I'd expect it to drop a fair bit as online retailers do their thing... but at £49.99 for a show that already saw a release and enjoys a mixed rep, for me, it's a pass.

Not intending to be negative, disparaging or whatever - just realistic. Chop £30 off that RRP, and I think sales are more likely to happen.

 

[Animefreak17]

@Joshawott

right im angry but im so relieved

im angry at the fact that the OVA isn't with this but im relieved that you told me this, thanks alot Joshawott,

 

[Just Passing Through]

When Manga Ent and MVM release single cour shows at the £24.99 - £29.99 mark, and Kaze do so between £29.99 and £34.99, and that's for new shows, not re-releases, then 101's expectations are a little pie in the sky for Elfen Lied.

Just to add that the US release is currently under £20 at UP1USA

 

[ayase]

I dunno, I like my morality tales to not have a shot of a pre-teen naked on all fours (on top of other things) if I can entirely get away with it.

You're referring to Mayu? That wasn't made in the least bit titillating - It was uncomfortable viewing yes, but frankly the rape of a young girl by her stepfather should make people uncomfortable. If you'd rather not see these things then fair enough, but presenting disturbing themes in a somewhat graphic way doesn't in itself make something bad.

Nyu pissing on the floor was weird though. I will admit.

I think that's an interesting one. It's very easy to write off as fetishism, but it also depicts an aspect of innocence / helplessness which a lot of people find similarly repugnant to the scene above and as a result is often shied away from and not shown. It might not be necessary or tasteful to depict graphic violence, sexual abuse or incontinence but these are all things which do happen to real people in our world.

Might it be worth asking why certain scenes seem to provoke disgust in the way they do? Are people disgusted by what is happening, or because of their own imagined reaction of others watching these scenes who they believe find them pleasing or even arousing, or because of their belief that pandering to these particular viewers was the author's intent? Sometimes I wonder about protestations on the latter grounds being a little "too much" if you get my meaning - not necessarily that they're lying, more that what they're really more scared of is that viewing these things might "turn" them in some way. Personally though, I think if Elfen Lied fetishises anything, it is more the re-discovery of lost innocence than anything else. Oddly enough Conan I think you're right, that does make it (in it's own unconventional way) if not moral in the sense that it bids people be "as little children" then at least hopeful that they can live on and find some semblance of happiness after traumatic events.

 

[Animefreak17]

i still remember that episode what happened to Mayu,

at the end of that episode there was a message saying something about * if you know anyone or want to know more about of what just went on in this episode call************ *

when elfien lied was still on tv

 

[Joshawott]

I dunno, I like my morality tales to not have a shot of a pre-teen naked on all fours (on top of other things) if I can entirely get away with it.

You're referring to Mayu? That wasn't made in the least bit titillating - It was uncomfortable viewing yes, but frankly the rape of a young girl by her stepfather should make people uncomfortable. If you'd rather not see these things then fair enough, but presenting disturbing themes in a somewhat graphic way doesn't in itself make something bad.

Nyu pissing on the floor was weird though. I will admit.

I think that's an interesting one. It's very easy to write off as fetishism, but it also depicts an aspect of innocence / helplessness which a lot of people find similarly repugnant to the scene above and as a result is often shied away from and not shown. It might not be necessary or tasteful to depict graphic violence, sexual abuse or incontinence but these are all things which do happen to real people in our world.

Might it be worth asking why certain scenes seem to provoke disgust in the way they do? Are people disgusted by what is happening, or because of their own imagined reaction of others watching these scenes who they believe find them pleasing or even arousing, or because of their belief that pandering to these particular viewers was the author's intent? Sometimes I wonder about protestations on the latter grounds being a little "too much" if you get my meaning - not necessarily that they're lying, more that what they're really more scared of is that viewing these things might "turn" them in some way. Personally though, I think if Elfen Lied fetishises anything, it is more the re-discovery of lost innocence than anything else. Oddly enough Conan I think you're right, that does make it (in it's own unconventional way) if not moral in the sense that it bids people be "as little children" then at least hopeful that they can live on and find some semblance of happiness after traumatic events.

Makes sense.

i still remember that episode what happened to Mayu,

at the end of that episode there was a message saying something about * if you know anyone or want to know more about of what just went on in this episode call************ *

when elfien lied was still on tv

That message happens every week for soaps. They generally do it so, for example because Mayu was sexually assaulted by her step-father (I think it was? Might have been real father) and it was shown in a fair bit of detail, it might bring up memories for people who went through the same thing, which would be very distressing.

 

[ConanThe3rd]

I dunno, I like my morality tales to not have a shot of a pre-teen naked on all fours (on top of other things) if I can entirely get away with it.

Tbh, I thought the use of nudity was a solid symbol for innocence, as well as primal instinct, which both play very well into Lucy, Nyu and the diclonius as a whole.
Nyu pissing on the floor was weird though. I will admit.

Maybe I should have been a bit more clear. Naked on all fours about to be raped by her paedophile uncle and the only resolution we get is she gets slapped by her mother for what can only be described as "drama" and as far as I'm aware, in order to further the "somehow the physic limb mutants with Wasp mentalities are more human that humanity is" moral of the story, this issue is never resolved. That's what's getting a release in a fortnight whilst place promised is not and could easily be yet another title lost in the mists of licencing ********, the same that has kept FMP Second Raid out our hands for so damn long.

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not entirely thrilled at the prospect.

 

[Joshawott]

I dunno, I like my morality tales to not have a shot of a pre-teen naked on all fours (on top of other things) if I can entirely get away with it.

Tbh, I thought the use of nudity was a solid symbol for innocence, as well as primal instinct, which both play very well into Lucy, Nyu and the diclonius as a whole.
Nyu pissing on the floor was weird though. I will admit.

Maybe I should have been a bit more clear. Naked on all fours about to be raped by her paedophile uncle and the only resolution we get is she gets slapped by her mother for what can only be described as "drama" and as far as I'm aware, in order to further the "somehow the physic limb mutants with Wasp mentalities are more human that humanity is" moral of the story, this issue is never resolved. That's what's getting a release in a fortnight whilst place promised is not and could easily be yet another title lost in the mists of licencing ********, the same that has kept FMP Second Raid out our hands for so damn long.

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not entirely thrilled at the prospect.

Yeah, the Mayu thing wasn't handled very well and frankly, the story wouldn't have been any different if it was left out entirely (hell, the character didn't really contribute to much other than being a friend for Nana).

And ah, it was her uncle? I forgot which relation he was (not like it makes a difference).

 

[Animefreak17]

@Joshawott

im sure it was her stepfather

 

[ConanThe3rd]

I really don't care for the particulars.

 

[ayase]

I dunno, I like my morality tales to not have a shot of a pre-teen naked on all fours (on top of other things) if I can entirely get away with it.

Tbh, I thought the use of nudity was a solid symbol for innocence, as well as primal instinct, which both play very well into Lucy, Nyu and the diclonius as a whole.
Nyu pissing on the floor was weird though. I will admit.

Maybe I should have been a bit more clear. Naked on all fours about to be raped by her paedophile uncle and the only resolution we get is she gets slapped by her mother for what can only be described as "drama" and as far as I'm aware, in order to further the "somehow the physic limb mutants with Wasp mentalities are more human that humanity is" moral of the story, this issue is never resolved.

Yeah, it's not like she goes on to find friends and acceptance away from her abusive family, and chooses to move on and not to take out the terrible things have happened to her on others (or even seek revenge for wrongs done to her) as a contrast to Lucy or anything. What more resolution did you want? If you'd like to have seen her mother and step-father punished and are complaining because the story doesn't turn out the way you would have liked (y'know, sort of like how real life sometimes doesn't) then that's not really a valid criticism of a work of fiction. And did you actually miss my above post, or was it just too much of a chore to respond? I'm not bothered either way, but I'd just like to determine your answer before I attempt to engage in a discussion with you again.

 

[ConanThe3rd]

I would have liked anything to have happened with the parents, really. Nothing happens with or to them, a big fat load of zip.

Hell it would have been one thing if they got savaged by any given Diclonius as a means of going "You might have wanted to deal with these people down the line but tough, they're now slabs of blood soaked meat at the feet of this psychic hand freak. Sucks to be you but the uncaring universe doesn't give one single damn about you and your horrific experiences." but even that does not happen.

For, you see, they were not characters but Plot People. Concepts (In this case Extreme Child abuse and complete abandonment of parenting) that take human form only to become not emotionless alien replicants but unresolved plot threads that crumble into dust upon completion of their horrific task to take over and destroy the medium of storytelling.

And that's before we get to the gratuitous violence, the poorly handled dialogue, the god awful dub, the vocalisation of plot points that sounds like it so desperately wants to begin screaming about how Baoh has a Laser cannon at any given moment and the pissing.