Hell Girl (Jigoku Shoujo) Episode 1 - From the Other Side of Twilight
ED -
So, girl gets bullied. Girl signs up bully to go to Hell. This happens. End of episode.
Several others have already commented extensively on Hell Girl’s first episode. I don’t feel the need to comment on the storyline, as to be honest it’s pretty simplistic.
And this is my main fear for Hell Girl. The show is obviously in capable hands - while I do worry slightly about Hiroshi Watanabe’s consistency, much like Akiyuki Shinbo he knows how to create horror visuals effectively and there are several moments that bear his distinctive touch - the ED sequence in particular (compare it to the ED for tactics and you’ll see what I mean) but also the various shots of sunsets and his choice of colours are very distinctive. I think this show offers him a chance to do something a lot more cinematic than his usual stuff with Studio Deen, and for that Hell Girl could be worth watching.
However, I don’t see where the show can go from here. It just seems a little too much like Requiem from the Darkness (Kousetsu Hyaku Monogatari) for my liking - we have our band of four distinctive demonic entities meting out justice with a price. While this first episode was enjoyable, I can’t see the premise really working for an extended season - an OVA or a film perhaps, but 13 episodes or so? I will tentatively look forward to the next episode to see whether I’m proved wrong, but I’m a little worried about staying power with Hell Girl.
October 6th, 2005 at 6:25 am
Yes! I’m several people! ;)
October 6th, 2005 at 8:27 am
an OVA or a film perhaps, but 13 episodes or so?
It’s scheduled for 26 episodes even ^_^
October 7th, 2005 at 1:13 pm
I wasn’t under the impression that Watanabe Hiroshi was very invovled in this…. Certainly it looks like it has that tactics feel, but then he’s not even the director or anything. The director of the show himself is also apparently not bad…
And the ED wasn’t even done by either of them, but the character designer instead - I like it very much though, especially the spider web bit where they then zoomed out and then it changed to Ai in the same pose in the moonlit water.
October 7th, 2005 at 1:25 pm
Hmm, my bad. Watanabe created the series - he’s credited with “Draft Proposal” - but the director is in fact Takahiro Omoi, who most recently directed Gakuen Alice and Koi Kaze.
The ED still looks a lot like tactics, though :p
October 14th, 2005 at 5:27 am
Have any hell girl in the world?? That would be cool..!!
October 15th, 2005 at 12:05 pm
I just watched it subbed and I understand your fears. Like lamer_de already said it’s announced for 26 episodes. This first one was absolut cool, but 26 with the same scheme - someone’s bullied, wants revenge, offers his own soul - could get boring!
Let’s hope they find a better way!
October 25th, 2005 at 8:02 pm
I get the feeling that they’ll dedicate a few episodes to exemplefying the vengeance process and then move onto some deeper story. Perhaps the inner drama of the quarter, or somebody trying to end their ways?
Perhaps their hosting being cancelled? :P
November 8th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
do you know which teacher did resha have a grudge against? please please please