While the manga is better in terms of style and story, Hellsing was an awesome anime series. Only having 13 episodes, the anime didn’t really get a chance to go very far into the manga (which is still being produced in Japan). When I bought the Hellsing box set two years ago, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never even heard of it (or read the manga) before, except for a write up in Newtype USA. I like darker anime, and Hellsing looked pretty fricking dark to me.
Watching the series was quite an experience. The character designs were well done, but they’re nowhere near as good as the manga. I loved the color palette (as strange as that may seem). The voice cast was OK. Not ‘great’. Not ‘very good’. Just ‘OK’. I also loved the fact that they didn’t hold back with the gore. Once again though, the anime is not nearly as gory as the manga (four words: Baby-Eating-Vampire-Nazis).
One thing I loathed about the anime series was the whole Seras/Alucard/Integra love triangle innuendo. Some people say that there was no hint of a love triangle (that it was simply affection and duty). But I think differently. That sense of love/affection/duty is missing from the manga – and I’m grateful for it!
I was truly pissed off when the series abruptly ended with episode 13. No explanation and no semblance of wrapping it up – it just ended. Nada. Zip. Zilch for wrap up. I think they either ran outta money or people thought it was too gory.
This series is definitely not for those of you who prefer anime series like Inuyasha (which I’m actually fond of), Gundam, Sailor Moon, or any other series with shiny day-glo teenagers.
Characters/Story
Alucard is the original Vampire. He’s da man in Bram Stoker’s Dracula – just look at his name and figure it out for yourself. He’s now in the service of the Hellsing family (organization), where he disposes of fellow vampires who are running amok in the British countryside. He does so with a large gun and a whole lotta demonic power. Alucard loves a good fight, but he hasn’t had one in decades but won’t find one in the near future either since the vampires he’s been hunting lately are cheap knock-offs. His prey are engineered blood suckers in the service of a ‘mysterious someone’ we never see. I thought it humorous that one of the most powerful forces on earth fought vampires with a gun. Good stuff!
Seras Victoria is a young (not 15) policewoman caught in the crossfire between Alucard and a vampiric priest – literally. Alucard saves Seras by turning her into a vampire and putting her to work under Integra Hellsing, the leader of the Hellsing Organization.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Hellsing is one my favorites of all times. It has so much depth and it suits Alucard so well. It doesn’t even feel like an OST. I play it when I need background music and people always comment on it (in a good way). The second disk is better than the first in my opinion, but they’re both great. So go out and buy it today – you’ll have it just in time for some mood music on Halloween next week!
Conclusion
It truly sucked (ha!) that there were only 13 episodes to the Hellsing anime series – they were all good! Thankfully there aren’t any shitty recap episodes (or the whole disc of recaps like in Wolf’s Rain), so you’re OK if you buy the complete series.
Rating
Hellsing gets 3 outta 4 Hammies!
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