Hellsing Ultimate

[Nathander]

I just want to talk a bit about the new adaptation of the manga Hellsing, presented as an OVA series. Being a big fan of the manga, and having been a big fan of the original anime series (though the manga would quickly overshadow it in my preference, as the anime pails in comparison to it craftwise), I was pumped when I heard there was a new series being made to make up for the initial series.

Needless to say, the new series is excellent.

The animation is utterly fantastic and stylized, and far more similar to the style of Kouta Hirano (the original writer and artist of the manga) then the previous series. It has, thankfully, retained the original voice cast from the first TV series, as the voice actors are perfect for the roles. I could not imagine anyone else other than Crispin Freeman as Alucard, and was glad to see he and the others from the initial series returned.

The personalities of the characters are also much more fleshed out, sticking to the initial character concepts created by Hirano instead of the fairly one dimensional models (and many of them incorrect interpretations) presented in the TV series. The OVA also incorporates Hirano's dark sense of humor into the story, which was absent during the initial anime, which attempted to be completely serious whereas Hirano alternated beautifully between the dark and serious and the humorous and camp.

There is, however, one thing I must admit this series lacks that the TV series did have, and that's a good soundtrack. The OVA soundtrack is, unfortunately, fairly dull and unremarkable (with the exception of the pieces performed by the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra for the closing credits of each OVA), whereas the TV soundtrack was incredibly memorable and helped set the mood of the series, as well as standing well on it's own. I would highly recommend buying both discs (the first known as Raid, and the other as Ruin) even if you haven't seen the series, as they're magnificent.

Ultimately, I'd say it's a great series for anyone who enjoys darker oriented anime, has read the original manga, or has seen the TV series and wants to see what was ultimately cut out of the original series. Definantely a purchase for older audiences. The first two OVAs have been released in America, with the third intended to have its release by the end of October.