The series is based around the efforts of humanity to quarantine and eradicate the diclonius, a species of mutant humans with horns. It focuses on "Lucy", who escapes her holding facility and is believed to be the first diclonius, and on two teenagers, Kohta and Yuka, whom Lucy encounters in the Japanese city of Kamakura.
Broadcast & publication history
Elfen Lied is licensed for English language releases by ADV Films for North America and by Madman Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand. ADV Films aired the series in the US on IFC from April to June 2007 and in Canada on G4techTV Canada's Anime Current block from May 11 to August 3, 2007. ADV Films UK division aired the English dub of the series in the United Kingdom on Propeller TV as part of Anime Network's launch, uncensored and uncut. ADV released the series across four Region 1 DVD volumes, with the first volume released 17 May 2005. A box set, containing the entire series, was subsequently released 28 November 2006 in both North America and Europe to Region 2 DVD, and in Australia by Madman Entertainment on 4 April 2007. ADV did not include the OVA episode in the box set, instead releasing it as a standalone volume in 2006. The OVA special was created separately from the series, and released on April 21, [2005 in Japan and in 2006 in ADV Films' territories. It was not released with the ADV series box set in 2006, nor was it dubbed into English at that time. On September 3, 2013, Distributor Section23 Films released a Blu-ray and DVD set of the series, which included the never-before released OVA with an English dub. However certain key characters have different voices.
Music used
Two pieces of theme music are used for the series. The opening theme, Lilium, was composed by Yukio Kondo. Its lyrics were arranged by Kayo Konishi. The lyrics are taken from biblical passages in Psalms, the Epistle of James, and the Renaissance hymn Ave mundi spes Maria, in Ecclesiastical Latin. They are arranged in the style of a Gregorian chant. The lyrics also contain the phrases "Kyrie, fons bonitatis" and "Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison", which are a mix of Greek and Latin words, from a passage in an alchemical mass written by Nicholas Melchior in the Theatrum Chemicum. "Lilium" is performed by Kumiko Noma. The ending theme, Be Your Girl, is a pop piece that is in stark contrast to the horror and drama of the series. It is performed by Chieko Kawabe. The majority of the incidental music in the anime series contains variations of "Lilium", including a Tenors Version, a Music Box Version, and a Saint Version.
Episodes
The words "Elfen Lied" are in German, and all episodes have alternate titles in the language. The English translations of the episode names, however, are taken from the Japanese names for the episodes. The German titles do not translate exactly to those of the Japanese titles, except in some cases. The German episode names are included in the titles during the episodes, and "DAS ENDE" is shown in German at the end of the last episode. Translations of the original German titles are given.
TV series
OVA special
Chronologically, the OVA special fits between episodes 10 and 11. Amongst other topics, it explains how Kurama was able to capture Lucy and why she doesn't kill him whenever she encounters him. Episode 10.5 is much more comical and light-hearted than the main series, with far less blood and violence. It does contain the fanservice present in the rest of the series. The lengthy flashbacks to Lucy's past, while not as bloody as in some episodes of the main series, still have a dark and somber tone.
