akira_2108 Review of Hellsing Ultimate

Hellsing Ultimate (2006–2012)

Exceptional improvement on the TV series and possibly the most satisfying anime out there. It Delivers!

[9/10 · 16 September 2006]

In a nutshell, this OVA series, of which there are currently 2 volumes out of a possible 10 as it is based on the fantastic Manga, delivers. I would give the TV series which was 13 episodes long, came out in 2001 and strayed from the Manga half-way through, 2 out of 10. As far as quality in visuals, voice actors, animation, and satisfaction is concerned, it was droppings that needs flushing. The music was all that was good about it. Kohta Hirano has made a truly sensational improvement in the new OVA which has left me drooling for more. I have only seen the Japanese dub with English subtitles but I have to say that no other anime has ever held my attention and made me feel such euphoria as this one. The visuals are exponentially enhanced giving a sketchy, even cheesy animation with beautiful noir scenes of gore and elegance surpassing Elfen Lied. This OVA is also infinitely more fast paced than the TV series. In the first OVA, Ceras Victoria becomes a servant vampire to the awesome True Vampire Alucard who is the most powerful weapon of the Hellsing Organisation headed by Integral Wingates Fairbrookes Hellsing who's secret job is to keep the dark secrets in the underpants of society in the dark where they belong. And it happens quickly. In the TV series Ceras who was far cuter rather than deadly becomes and accepts being a vampire more swiftly and is almost instantly put into service and honing her skills, even nearly being killed early on by the dangerous and vile Catholic Warrior Priest Father Alexander Anderson. The characters are also far more beautifully designed and their animation is superior and generally quicker and more to the point if you know what I mean. There is a lot of stretching of the heads and such typical of Anime found frequently in Anime like Full Metal Alchemist though even more of it mostly with Ceras. In the TV series there as a lot of dragging with unnecessary scenes and pauses. Alucard's sadistic and powerful yet loyal personality are vastly improved and he looks more bad-ass and dangerous. The scene where Integral explains to the overconfident, disillusioned vampire slayer Father Anderson just a little bit of what Alucard is was absolutely phenomenal. Integral herself is vastly improved with her being more active and less manly. She actually looks beautiful in the OVA rather than androgynous and plain in the TV series. The combat scenes are to die for. They are extremely fluid and have a real vampire fair to them. In the 2nd volume where the two Valentine vampire brothers infiltrate Hellsing and cause aggravation which also happens in the TV series, their fighting scenes are jaw dropping. Where Luke Valentine meets his demise at the hands of Alucard's dogs of doom under Cromwell Level 1 effect, I felt a carnal thrill I had never even came close to feeling in the TV series. And when Ceras is being attacked - attacked being a euphemism as this OVA has implications of rape and mutilations a lot - and she turns to her vampire side and tears the ghouls to shreds like wet tissue paper and looks far fiercer than in the TV series. The story is true to the Manga and I will not spoil it for you. If you are new to Hellsing, do not buy the TV series if you want my advice. Buy the OVA as it is truly what Hellsing is all about and it is one of the most satisfying horror Anime out there and shows what amazing things the Japanese can do with out culture as well as their own. This is certainly in my top five anime of all time.