Hell girl! With an intriguing name like that, how can’t you at least wonder what it’s about. More or less some girl who takes requests for revenge. Vengeance is aweso. Now, the method of contracting out of said vengeance is questionably ‘right’. In not all of the oh-shit-pull-red-string cases is the vengeance really that deserved. ‘cases’ range from questionably remotely plausible, to “holy shit, how did satan himself not come up and give you a hug that snaps your spine in half and drags your torso to the underworld”.
That aside. Aside from the first eight episodes that set the tone and really, really ingrain how Enma Ai works, the storyline is ongoing with heavy ’story’ lines on top of the ‘episodic’ content you normally see in western television (i.e. CSI; Prelude, murder, finding clues, capture, grilling, conclusion. An example of boring episodic content. House M.D., is an example of good episodic content with underlying story). It’s not until episode eight that you’re introduced to the “protagonists” of the series. With a relatively conclusive ending, lack of ridiculous plot holes, and effective and detailed priamry character histories (Read: Reasons for acting crazy), I have to admit it’s a pretty good anime all in all. I’m not sure why one of the characters is a flaming chariot wheel, I wouldn’t volunteer for that job, personally.
A lot of recycled animation and shortcuts, but engaging story definitely makes up for the pitfalls. Worth giving it a try.
We’ll see how the second season rolls.
+ Judge Dredd, Japan Edition
+ Enma Ai/goodtastic characters
+ Angry, psychotic, burn-your-villages, Enma Ai
+ A real storyline
- Episodes 2-7
- Why can’t Enma Ai have deadly claws or spines that grow out of her back, instead of shooting energy balls
