Elfen Lied is a classic. By that, I mean that if you were a nerdy 90’s kid going to high school in the first half of the following decade or so, you were probably aware of a few anime shows by name even if you didn’t watch: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Beebop, Fullmetal Alchemist, and in all likelihood Elfen Lied would be among them.
Though I didn’t really get into anime
until far later, at least in terms of shows rather than films like
Princess Mononoke, that was basically my youth interface. I didn’t
watch them owing to trouble finding copies or catching the right time
slot in the days before streaming (with the exception of FMA –I
watched it and in those days, we really believed its greatness was
the world’s one and only truth) but I knew them by reputation, and
their reputations were all more or less sterling… but to be taken
with a grain of salt seeing as they were generated largely by other
youths. Since really becoming a full fan of the art form as an
adult, I’ve gone back now and then and watched the big names of the
past with fresh eyes, as though to frighten away the ghost of so many
years ago with a little understanding.
Some titles, such as Evangelion, have
largely held up. They were praised then and they deserve praise now.
Others, well… Others are Elfen Lied.
I try to not cuss in these reviews, but
this time I make no promises.
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