Elfen Lied
| Company type | Manga series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga, Anime |
| Founded | June 6, 2002 |
| Founder | Lynn Okamoto |
| Defunct | August 25, 2005 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Manga, anime television series, OVA |
| Parent | Shueisha (manga publisher) |
is a Japanese manga created by Lynn Okamoto, which was serialized in the seinen magazine Weekly Young Jump published by Shueisha from June 2002 until August 2005. The series comprises 107 chapters compiled into twelve volumes. Its narrative centers on the interactions between humans and the Diclonii, a mutant race characterized by horns and telekinetic "vectors" that enable them to manipulate objects. The plot primarily follows Lucy, a young Diclonius who, after being rejected by humanity, embarks on a quest for vengeance.
The title is inspired by the German poem "Elfenlied" ("song of the fairies"), featured within the story. Elfen Lied delves into themes including discrimination, alienation, identity, prejudice, revenge, abuse, jealousy, remorse, and the essence of humanity. The series is distinguished by its explicit violence and emotionally intense, provocative content.
A 13-episode anime adaptation produced by studio Arms was broadcast on AT-X from July to October 2004. Since this anime aired prior to the manga's conclusion, its storyline and ending diverge considerably from the source material. In North America, the manga is licensed by Dark Horse Comics, while the anime's distribution rights are held by ADV Films in North America and Madman Entertainment in Australia.
Plot and characters
Set in Kamakura and Kanagawa, Elfen Lied revolves around the "Diclonius," a mutated species resembling humans but distinguished by horn-like appendages on their heads, telekinetic invisible limbs known as "vectors," and distinct hair colors. The protagonist, Lucy, initially confined within a coastal research facility, escapes after wreaking havoc but suffers injuries that awaken a childlike secondary persona named Nyu.
Lucy is subsequently found by Kouta and his cousin Yuka, both university students, who become involved in violent confrontations involving a Special Assault Team and other Diclonii attempting to recapture her.
Diclonius
The narrative focuses on Diclonii—beings similar to humans but identified by two horn-like protrusions on their skulls. Their abilities include invisible "vectors" that can grasp, sever, or penetrate objects within a limited range that varies between individuals. Additionally, Diclonii possess the ability to detect one another.
A key element of the story is the violent nature exhibited by some Diclonii—certain individuals aim to eradicate humans and assert dominance over the world. The cause of this hostility remains ambiguous: it might be inherent or stem from mistreatment by humans.
When a Diclonius vector comes into contact with a human male, it transmits the "vector virus," resulting in offspring born as Diclonii called "Silpelits." These Silpelits are sterile females who mature rapidly. Only Lucy, known as the "queen," has the ability to reproduce naturally. An early event involving Kurama led to Mariko's birth as a Diclonius and triggered sterilization protocols designed to prevent additional cases.
Anime
In adapting Elfen Lied into an anime series, director Mamoru Kanbe was suggested by series composer Takao Yoshioka, who felt Kanbe’s directing style matched the ongoing manga well. Although initially hesitant, Kanbe became intrigued after reading the material.
With the manga still unfinished during production, the creative team condensed the storyline into thirteen episodes, omitting several details that Kanbe believed could have enhanced emotional resonance. Kanbe interpreted Elfen Lied as fundamentally a "love story," intending to provoke strong emotional responses while using violence as a counterpoint throughout the series. The selection of Kamakura as the setting—initially unexpected—was ultimately embraced for its serene yet unsettling atmosphere, offering a contemplative environment that enriched themes related to memory and emotional connections.
Style and themes
Director Mamoru Kanbe aimed for the anime to delve into the divisions among humans and how interpersonal treatment shapes behaviors, as seen in Lucy's character. The narrative tackles issues of prejudice, juxtaposing empathy with retribution, particularly through Lucy’s vendetta tied to her history with Kohta. Broader motifs such as genocide and species preservation underscore humanity's inclination toward segregation and conflict.
The series is notable for its vivid depiction of bloodshed, intense violence, and psychological distress, emphasizing the Diclonius' humanity in contrast to human cruelty. Examples include routine assaults, brutal experiments, and murders—such as Lucy’s retaliation for the death of her puppy at the hands of bullies. Additionally, the show contains scenes with female nudity and strong language, especially pronounced in the English-language version.
Combining grim subject matter with elements of romance and humor, the series manages to balance its graphic nature with emotional resonance. It has drawn comparisons to works like Chobits, 3×3 Eyes, and Gunslinger Girl. The opening sequences incorporate visual motifs reminiscent of Gustav Klimt’s paintings, enriching the anime’s artistic aesthetic.
Cultural references
Both the opening and closing animations showcase stylized illustrations of principal characters inspired by Gustav Klimt’s masterpieces such as The Kiss and Adele Bloch-Bauer I, mirroring their poses, color palettes, and ornamental designs. Promotional materials and the series itself feature a distinctive hand gesture attributed to El Greco, characterized by fingers extended with the middle and ring fingers joined. The song Elfenlied ("Elf Song"), credited to composer Hugo Wolf, appears within the manga and is adapted from a poem by Eduard Mörike. In the manga narrative, the Diclonius are confined within the Lebensborn Cave, an allusion to the Lebensborn Nazi eugenics initiative.
Manga
Created by Lynn Okamoto, Elfen Lied was serialized in Shueisha's seinen publication Weekly Young Jump from June 6, 2002, through August 25, 2005. Shueisha later compiled its 107 chapters into twelve volumes issued between October 18, 2002, and November 18, 2005.
For North American audiences, Dark Horse Comics secured licensing rights for an English translation. They released a four-volume omnibus edition spanning from May 22, 2019, until September 9, 2020.
Anime
The anime adaptation consists of thirteen episodes directed by Mamoru Kanbe, produced by Genco and VAP, with animation by Arms. Creator Lynn Okamoto made a guest appearance in episode twelve. The series was broadcast on TV Tokyo's AT-X channel from July 25 to October 17, 2004, followed by a rerun in 2005. A 24-minute original video animation (OVA), set during episode eleven’s timeline, was issued on April 21, 2005.
The opening theme "Lilium," performed by opera vocalist Kumiko Noma, features Latin lyrics derived from biblical scripture including passages from Psalms and the Epistle of James. The closing theme is "Be Your Girl" by Chieko Kawabe.
- Home media and distribution
On December 19, 2012, a Blu-ray edition was released in Japan.
In the United States, ADV Films acquired distribution rights in 2004 and issued DVDs in 2005; it became one of their top-selling and most controversial titles that year. ADV announced U.S. rights for the OVA at Anime Boston 2006; however, earlier box sets and complete collections did not include it. After ADV’s asset division, Elfen Lied remained under their control and continued printing. A Blu-ray collection featuring the OVA was launched on September 3, 2013, through ADV in partnership with Section23 Films—marking ADV’s sole Blu-ray release.
Madman Entertainment obtained licensing for distribution in Australia.
In the United Kingdom, despite stringent OFCOM censorship rules, the uncut series aired on Propeller TV (Sky) via Anime Network. The Anime Network offers on-demand streaming with English, German, and French audio tracks. The ADV DVD collection carries a TV-MA SV rating; Canadian classification is rated 14A.
Adult Swim considered broadcasting Elfen Lied due to programming director Kim Manning’s interest but ultimately passed because required extensive edits imposed by Broadcast Standards would have undermined the show’s original content integrity.
Reception
The initial English omnibus edition of Elfen Lied earned an 8 out of 10 rating from Anime UK News, which applauded its intricate narrative and deeper character development compared to the anime version, although it consistently criticized Okamoto's artwork. Comic Buzz awarded it a 9 out of 10, emphasizing the artwork's emotional range and drawing parallels to Neon Genesis Evangelion and Junji Ito’s creations. Rai from TheOASG rated it 3 out of 5, expressing dissatisfaction with the art style and fan service elements, ultimately preferring the anime adaptation.
Reviews for the anime ranged from mixed to favorable. Reviewers such as Tasha Robinson from Sci Fi Weekly and Theron Martin at Anime News Network praised its plot, production values, animation quality, and color palette. Conversely, Dominic Laeno of THEM Anime Reviews took issue with its graphic nudity and violence. Martin acknowledged "below-average voice performances" in both the Japanese and English versions but still granted them an "A−." He characterized the series as "a horror work of notable distinction," despite its abrupt conclusion and unresolved storylines. Laeno described it as "an authentically enjoyable experience," while Stig Høgset from THEM Anime Reviews referred to it as "a uniquely compelling show" featuring both merits and flaws.
On June 12, 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture officially prohibited Elfen Lied along with 38 other anime and manga titles within China.
Legacy
Matt and Ross Duffer have acknowledged Elfen Lied as a creative influence on their 2016 Netflix series Stranger Things, labeling it an "ultraviolent E.T." and revealing that the character Eleven was inspired by this anime. They also cited the 1988 anime film Akira as an inspiration for Elfen Lied.
The opening theme of the anime, "Lilium," which features Latin lyrics derived from biblical texts, has been performed by choirs internationally, including groups in Ukraine, Sweden, Brazil, and Chile.