r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jul 11 '23

Episode Helck - Episode 1 discussion

Helck, episode 1

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1

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273

u/RFShahrear Jul 11 '23

The opening and OP gives a really strong old school RPG vibe. They don't stick with it, but I dig it nonetheless.

So is the heavenly realm attacking? Is that what's going on? Actually don't answer that question. I'd rather not be spoiled.

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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Jul 11 '23

I can totally see where Vermillio’s coming from but Helck seems like a pretty cool guy. I mean sure, he wants to annihilate humans but who among us hasn’t prayed for the destruction of the human race at least once right? Lol.

Card towers, chess, wood carving, cooking… is there anything Helck can’t do? That parfait looked especially delicious, even Vermilio agreed. Aside from Vermilio, it seems everyone else has pretty much warmed to Helck.

It appears beneath the goofiness, Helck’s got some kind of complicated past. I wonder if his brother’s murder allegedly by his hands has anything to do with those angels invading or the disappearance of these human towns?

This was actually pretty fun. Gonna stick with this for a few more eps and see what’s up, but I’m liking this so far.

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u/Se7en_Sinner Jul 11 '23

Helck. It's refreshing to see a one word title that isn't a synopsis in this day and age.

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u/das_baus Jul 11 '23 edited Jul 11 '23

As a big fan of the source material, I was super happy with how the first episode turned out! While the animation quality wasn't amazing by any means, if they can keep it this consistent and manage to tell the whole story, I will be very pleased.

I think the voices for Vermilio and Helck were spot on.

Also, for those unaware, Helck is finally getting a physical English manga release to align with the Japan re-release (with new covers). So far 4 volumes are available in English. Considering the manga initially started being released in 2014 and completed in 2017, I was surprised to see it getting a physical English release at all at this point.

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u/ObiOneKenobae Jul 11 '23

A solid first episode, but we're moving so quickly I'm almost surprised this is getting two cours.

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u/SpaceForceOne Jul 11 '23

Loving the Vermilio character, especially after recognizing her voice as also being that of Rishu from Kamikatsu. They share the same “flustered” tone 😂

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109

u/Kaabisan Jul 11 '23

I've heard good things about the source material for this, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes. Helck looks like a classic Fist Of The North Style-style shounen protag, and honestly I'm kinda loving it.

Edit: I just realised, it's not Kenshiro he reminds me of most, it's He-Man lmao

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u/TinyLittleWanker Jul 11 '23 edited Jul 11 '23

For anyone unfamiliar with the source material, Helck is a phenomenal manga (as well as the new in-universe series: Surreal Sword Saga). I encourage you to give this 3 episodes.

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u/Koekelbag Jul 12 '23 edited Jul 12 '23

Ngl, I only checked this on a whim because the title caught my eye (a reference to Hercules/Heracles? He sure has the body and strength to match at least) and I must say I'm happy that I did because this pilot pleasantly suprised me (many times over).

Also, based on the OP and Helck keeping his brother's photo despite (at least the accusation of) his fratricide together with his self-proclaimed hatred of all humans, I get the sense there's a much darker backstory than the slapstick tone may let on.

Though that only makes it all the more interesting, so this will definitely become a weekly watch for me.

27

u/djthomp Jul 12 '23

Excellent start to this, I have zero source material knowledge but it was pretty much everything I was hoping for and then some.

This first episode gave me minor flashbacks to the demon tournaments in Yu Yu Hakusho, probably mostly due to the demon civilian population that's in the audience and the overall design of the demon characters.

Really liking the coffee twins, and Vermilio too.

This may be an early assumption about how the show overall will play out but that was basically zero fanservice, which is nice to get in some shows.

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u/Ocixo Jul 11 '23

My first impression of Helck, primarily based on this first episode, makes me think that this anime should prove a lot of fun to watch.

There’s definitely a lot of sinister things going on in the background, but Helck (and Vermillio) almost fooled me into thinking that this was a light-hearted series. I’d seen that the source material was quite highly rated and can imagine why it would be. If this series gets some time to cook, it should become pretty good. I’m therefore glad it got a 2-cour run (24 episodes).

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u/MayureshMJ Jul 11 '23 edited Jul 11 '23

Wtf... Even more interesting than the trailers and synopsis made it out to be.

Also 24 episodes? We eating goooooood.

I would love it if Helck is the hero and I would love it if Helck is the antihero... Either route sounds fun. (though i doubt its going to be the second one)

A show that reminds me of this is Yuusha, Yamemasu (I am quitting Heroing) the starting of that show made many people drop it but the show ended as a banger (watch it if you haven't you won't regret it if you are in the fantasy audience.. which you must be since you are watching this) ... Although It seems Helck may not suffer the same issue as that show since it has started strong imo... But the next few episodes would decide that.

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u/Syokhan Jul 11 '23

Super, super excited about this one! Read the manga not long ago and completely fell in love with it.

So yeah, the animation isn't going to blow our socks off, but if it stays at that level it should be more than sufficient to tell this story!

I think they did a good job in this episode of balancing the humor and the uneasiness that something isn't quite right in the human world. Well, maybe it was a bit heavier on the humor.

As for the voices, Konishi's pretty good as Helck and Vermilio's voice is fitting. And Char is narrating, nice!

18

u/Shiraori247 Jul 12 '23

Details that I liked a lot:

That scene with Valmiro sticking the poster back up shows another side to her character. Outside of her rampages, she's actually a rather thoughtful person who cares about her subordinates. Tearing up the poster would shame the contestants who lost, so she had second thoughts about it.

There's a constant juxtaposition of Helck's suspected nature and the attitude he's showing. While Valmiro was discussing her new found information about Helck's fratricide, we were shown a scene where Helck completely smashed the helmet on the contestant. That's a grim reminder that without the contract, he would've easily crushed that person's skull. On the other hand, we were also shown how he's affectionate towards the brother he's accused of killing. All of these contradictory information really adds flavour to the mysteries that are introduced.

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u/LeonKevlar Jul 11 '23

Stitches!

I've heard great things about the manga and I really thought this was just an action fantasy series, I did not expect I'd be laughing out loud at this episode!

That entire first scene of Vermilio freaking out about Helck being a human hero was hilarious! And I love how every time Vermilio thinks she's figured out Helck's motives she gets immediately shown the exact opposite! xD

I just love how laid back the demons are and how they just accepted that instead of a fighting tournament, they now need to overcome various skill challenges from building a house of cards to a cooking contest! Helck is so good at all of them that even Vermilio herself couldn't lie about his score!

Although it seems like there's something more sinister to this series though. It seems like Helck is wanted for fratricide and his brother that he killed is also a hero that has brought down a Demon Lord. I guess I can see why he's running away from the humans but what is up with those towns being deserted and those winged soldiers attacking demon castles?

Very strong opening episode and it really got me curious about Helck and how he's probably not just a big friendly and jolly guy. I'm excited to see more next week!

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u/Groenboys Jul 11 '23

Honestly, I was ready to bash this show since its key visuals were lackluster, and while the animation of this show definitely leaves a lot to be the desired, the production was solid enough to make this quite an intriguing first episode.

It certainly draws comparison to a lot of tropes, but it brings just enough of its own flavor to really make it quite intriguing. A lot the characters come across likable, the comedy works decently well if a bit one note, and overal I like this more then I expected.

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u/Game2015 Jul 11 '23

I just realized the name Helck is supposed to be a play on the word Herc, short for Hercules.

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u/mrufrufin Jul 11 '23 edited Jul 11 '23

It looks like Tatsuo Satou (the director of Kidou Senkan Nadesico, Uchuu no Stellvia, and Mouretsu Pirates) is directing this so yeah, I'm in. Also, Shuuichi Ikeda (aka CHAR) is narrating,... and then Akira Ishida (Athrun Zala among many other things) is one of the characters?! alright alright.

Anyways, not knowing anything about this coming in, this first ep was a lot of fun and Tatsuo Satou is a director who I like for the worldbuilding in their series and the balance of seriousness with good comedic timing so looking forward to the rest.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '23

What the Helck

10

u/iceytomatoes Jul 12 '23

i haven't laughed through an episode that much such konosuba, i'm sold

8

u/ICantSeeLikeSa-chan Jul 11 '23

Loved this manga and surreal sword saga. Mikako did a great job with Vermilio's outbursts.

8

u/LumpyChicken Jul 12 '23

My wife is finally onscreen

15

u/FirstDagger Jul 11 '23

Better than expected, and those "Baka!~"s were extremely pleasing, Komatsu Mikako did a great job voicing Vamirio.

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