Movies - Hellsing

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Hellsing is an anime and manga series by Kouta Hirano. The manga series began in 1997, and is still being published monthly in Young King Ours magazine, in Japan. A 13 episode TV series was produced by Studio GONZO in 2001, and a new OVA series is planned that will cover the original story of the manga. The anime series was broadcasted on Fuji Television in Japan from October 10 2001 to January 16 2002 and in the US on Starz!'s Encore Action channel from October 4 2003 to December 27 2003. As of December, 2005, the TV series has been broadcasted since August of the same year on Animax Latinoamerica; the Latin-American branch of the satellite TV network owned by Sony Corp. which offer programing consisting exclusively of Anime works. The OVA series is being produced by Geneon Entertainment, Inc. and the animation studio Satelight. The first few episodes of the TV series were screened at the "The Future of the Toons" (anime) showcase at 2005 Future Film Festival in Italy (some of the other anime screened: FLCL, Wolf's Rain, and RahXephon). The English version of the manga is published by Dark Horse, the French version by Editions Tonkam, the German version by Planet Manga, the Spanish one by Norma, and the Polish one by J.P. Fantastica.

Hirano is also working on a prequel to Hellsing, entitled Hellsing: The Dawn. It is published at irregular intervals in special editions of Young King Ours. The Dawn is set in September of 1944, in the midst of World War II. The story features Walter (then only 14 years old) and Alucard fighting Millennium in Warsaw, Poland. Because of its popularity, the importance of the story in relation to Hellsing, and the fact that some scenes from The Dawn were present in the OVA trailer, it is possible that The Dawn will be animated as part of the new OVA series. This is supported also by the appearance of Alucard, as he appears in The Dawn, at the end of the credits in the first episode. However, there has been no mention of The Dawn making an appearance in the OVA by either the creators or Hirano, so it remains to be seen.

"Hellsing I OVA DIGEST FOR FLEAKS", which is a 30 minute-long sample version of Hellsing OVA I, aired on TV Kanagawa stations at 2:45 AM on January 22 2006. The first episode of the Hellsing OVA was released on DVD in Japan on February 10 2006. The episode is 50 minutes long.

Overview

Based on the 1997 manga by Kouta Hirano, the Hellsing anime series (composed of 13 episodes) is unique in that it takes much of itself from late 19th century and early 20th century Western fiction. It includes themes primarily from H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu works and Bram Stoker's Dracula
, creatively rolled together with some fast-paced anime action sequences. Studio GONZO drew the series intensely stylized: characters are well-detailed with beautiful, smooth animation, and there is an extensive soundtrack, scored by Yasushi Ishii, which handily mixes rock, blues and jazz with experimental elements.

The main characters are part of the Hellsing organization, which may have been inspired by the Lovecraftian Miskatonic University's Wilmarth Foundation, an organization formed for fighting demons and the undead. Cthulhu Mythos fans will appreciate the parallels. In addition, the name Hellsing is derived from Abraham Van Helsing, and it has been indicated that the series takes place in the same continuity as the novel Dracula.

Additionally, the series is different from many other anime/manga in that it focuses more on close-quarter combat using exotic guns, similar to the style of heroic bloodshed, with lots of jumping and diving.

The manga is vastly different from the anime in the themes presented and the atmosphere employed. There is little limit to the atrocities characters can commit in the story ranging from rape, mutilation, torture and cannibalism yet at the same time it delves heavily into strength of character, kindness and heroism. The artwork is unique and highly detailed; it is also almost always quite bloody, featuring gore and dismemberment in a manner which, while grotesque, is often amusing. Hirano mostly works with thick outlines, highly detailed tone-work and inking; he also makes use of heavy shading, with large areas obscured by shadow. While initially this appears as a shortcut to drawing detail, it is mainly used as an effect to add drama or tension to a scene: in this manner, it is often accompanied by highly detailed artwork and usually focuses on the face; only in rare circumstances does Hirano actually seem to use it (in conjunction with the fact that most characters wear dark clothing) to skip any detail. Another unique feature is the use of 10 chapters per volume past Vol. 6, when the normal amount is 6 or 7-- each chapter is unusually short, being only 10 or more pages long; this could be a lack of motivation on the part of Hirano or an attempt to produce more detailed artwork over each chapter.

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Movies - Hellsing

Overview

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