Chuck's thoughts on Elfen Lied?

[Yukaphile]

Given how many anime fans are requesting anime, and that Nanoha has popped up just now, I think it's inevitable that Elfen Lied will get its turn, along with many other cornerstone anime. I'm curious how Dragon Ball Z will be requested, whether as the remastered dubs or Kai, but that's neither here nor there.

I really wonder what Chuck would think of Elfen Lied. I mean, ignoring the experiments, they cage up teenage, adolescent, and prepubescent girls naked in cold cells hung from chains, and in Nana's case, left bloodied for who knows how long... EGADS. I've always felt containment was necessary for children born that way, sadly. Developing psychic powers at three years old, most kids would lash out angrily in a temper tantrum. And power is NOT a toy. That said, the lengths they go to are not, torture and even sexual abuse. Like with poor Number 28... I also find the facility's claims dubious, how they have an "instinct" to wipe out humanity. I think that's their jealousy and fear talking, and it is more likely to conclude they are all hearing subconscious impulses from Lucy and her own psychological issues from her past abuses, given they were spawned off her vectors and her DNA template. Anyway, Chuck has a soft spot for children, so unless he's been numbed by anime in general, I think this would really horrify him - at least as far as fiction goes, cuz it ain't real, lol.

[J!!]

Everything I've ever heard or seen suggests that this is a profoundly unpleasant show to watch.

Has poor Chuck not suffered enough for you people?

[Admiral X]

Please don't. I honestly don't think he'd like it any better than Kannazuki No Miko.

[Madner Kami]

Please don't. I honestly don't think he'd like it any better than Kannazuki No Miko.

That's putting it mildly. I'd consider it Chuck-breaking.

[Mecha82]

Yup, if Kanazuki no Miko brought that reaction from Chuck then Elfen Lied would surely break him mentally.

[Yukaphile]

I do think it's inevitable. I mean, I never thought he'd EVER review Nanoha, lol. I do agree he's suffered enough. That said, I do love all the characters, so I can emphasize greatly with their pain. But... yeah, I'm sure this would be like Chuck staring at Cthulhu.

[Formless One]

It is in no way inevitable. In fact I think it will never happen. Chuck specifically says on the donations page that he reserves the right to veto gory movies if he feels the blood and guts are too over the top or gratuitous; its safe to assume that rule applies to Anime as well. And even though he did review Zardoz, its safe to assume that if something has too much nudity in it as well for him to make a safe for work review of it, then he would probably opt to veto in that case as well. In comparison, the only thing in Nanoha that has to be edited out of his reviews is the transformation sequences because they unintentionally crossed a line into creepiness due to the character's age. Cultural differences and all that. The rest of the content is no more inappropriate for his show than Madoka was, so its actually no surprise someone decided to request it.

Elfen Lied has a nice story IMO, but just like a slasher film, you can't remove the bloody moments or even some of the nudity and still get a sensible review of the experience. Just the opening of the first episode alone shows this: you have this unstoppable monster that can tear people limb from limb and isn't afraid of bullets... but to emphasize that they are doing this with the power of their mind, they are completely naked, save for a mask that hides their face. They have nothing to hide, and if they were any other person they would be extremely vulnerable, as they later appear to to the main character in the latter half of the episode. And that is without even mentioning the juxtaposition of sexual beauty and violence that is occurring, or the way the mask both saves the character's life, yet dehumanizes her until after it has been removed. And that's fully half the episode, at least. There is no way Chuck can review that and keep it work safe and family friendly.

[Yukaphile]

Well, awesome then. I'm amazed Nanoha made it through, cuz it's very much, um... lots of shots of naked prepubescent girls, lol. I think Yu Yu Hakusho is safe then. It's not too gory, but there's also no sexualization past a few moments, and they're all tame, mostly speaking.

[RobbyB1982]

It's hardly inevitable. There's way more anime out there actually up Chuck's alley, and I'd much rather see someone request the rest of Bebop or the Evangelion TV series or more Full Metal or Gundam or the rest of Robotech instead. Cleaner shows much more in his wheelhouse, that he's already started.

No one sane is going to request Dragonball either. It's too long and too fight heavy for it to every really suit Chuck's production schedule, nor does it suit his strengths as a reviewer.

[Yukaphile]

Yeah, even Dragon Ball Kai is... yowza. That said, I had tried a few years ago.