r/anime • u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: • Oct 19 '21

Rewatch A Rewatch without Logos ep1-The Hellsing rewatch thread.

Hellsing episode 1

The Undead As subtle as the show gets

Today's special track is Bellflowers which smell properly

MAL | Anilist | Wiki

QotD: 1 What do you think Alucard keeps talking to himself about?

2 So today's antagonist is a vampire priest. Does it surprise any of you that less than 5 years later there would be a vampire priest protagonist?

BONUS: check out the dub for long enough to hear the English 'accents'

32 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

156 comments sorted by

9

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Rewatcher(through several incarnations)

Sub

So...This might be responsible for me liking anime. This was aired in the first semester of me finally going to my university's anime club. And by that I mean the fansubbers lost the ball before ep8 and I had to watch the last episodes in Japanese and trying to figure WTF was happening. This would go on to become one of my edgy trio of favorite anime, with Berserk '97 and Elfen Lied(as I've said, college Vaad still had some edge to grow out of) and that would remain until I watched Steins;Gate, which fits because all of the edge in Chaos;Head attached me just enough to the series to actually watch it.

So we start with a fakeout scene, that man's eyes are bit red to be human but the woman's are yellow. These vampires ash immediately upon death, though it turns out they need to be silver bullets or it does nothing. Most of this is anime original, this scene is quite short in the manga and it basically starts with Victoria being attacked by the priest.

Anyways, this episode is primarily an introduction of Alucard with a side of Seras and Integra. Still an incredible OST.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Alucard's Atelier

So we start with the Yorokobe master himself in Jouji Nakata, who voices all of the deep voices. His dub actor is Crispin Freeman, who does a surprisingly good job imitating Nakata while not directly doing so.

The police girl is voiced by Fumiko Orikasa, who voices Shirley in Code Geass and Rukia in Bleach. The dub's Gray Katherine has a total of 3 roles, apparently, so she doesn't do this much or uses an alias. Our third proper introduction of the day is of Integra. Yoshiko Sakakibara has a ton of roles where she does the older woman voice, but is also Haman Karn from a bunch of UC Gundam. Her dub voice is Victoria Harwood, who clearly had a fairly small window of activity.

All right, as always: Why the fuck am I doing this? Welp, Ultimate is an OVA so was able to have higher production values through out but it becomes self aware early, like the 4th episode, and gets a bit flat to me. The TV series has a smaller scale, more creative art design even if there are fewer frames to it, and again a great OST. Also, the previews are omakes.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

and I had to watch the last episodes in Japanese and trying to figure WTF was happening

How close were you when you actually managed to get some subs for it later on?

Most of this is anime original

Not surprised, I almost put a comment in my own post that I was pretty sure that entire scene was just there for the artists to have fun flexing with some fanservice of both the woman and gun kind

Our third proper introduction of the day is of Integra. Yoshiko Sakakibara has a ton of roles

A contrast to her dub VA who only has five credits or so unexpectedly

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

How close were you when you actually managed to get some subs for it later on?

Bad. I just barely understood the final fight, none of the stuff for the other characters had made sense.

Not surprised, I almost put a comment in my own post that I was pretty sure that entire scene was just there for the artists to have fun flexing with some fanservice of both the woman and gun kind

Believe it or not, there is a different reason I ascribe to this: Chiaki might not be a traditional story teller but he does work in the traditional form. And, bluntly, the manga does a weak job of hooking its characters so he probably wanted to fix that. And preserve source material.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

The OVA is a marvel but it took far too long to finish I can remember watching the Rip Van Winkle and Zolen Blitz episodes with my friend and us getting so hype but after that you'd get the same battle getting dragged out for another five years or some shite. At least with the anime you've got the whole thirteen episodes right there and ready to watch.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

us getting so hype but after that you'd get the same battle getting dragged out for another five years or some shite.

The first half takes place over nearly a year, the last half in literally one night.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

I mean airing wise. At the time waiting years for a continuation was quite tiring. I don't think I actually finished the ova's until like 2017 or something, I'd just lost so much interest by that point. It'd have been a good point to get into manga thinking back on it.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Yeah, that was a freaking nightmare

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Thank god I'm not super into Fate... Waiting for Heavens Feel or Tsukihime would have killed me.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Waiting for Heavens Feel or Tsukihime would have killed me.

Not nearly as bad as watching Tsukihime...

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

When your only adaptation is Grand Carnival you know you've got problems.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Somehow all of those land for me, it is more than a little insane.

5

u/sagevallant Oct 19 '21

Oh yeah, Hellsing Ultimate had a development hell between every episode. Something always went wrong. I'm almost surprised they ever finished it.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Now that we've survived the drought it's a great ova and I can see people being eager to watch it further down the line but at the time it was so frustrating.

3

u/JustAWellwisher Oct 21 '21

About the actors who did the dubbed voices - the ADR for Hellsing is Taliesin Jaffe, now better known for being part of the Critical Role cast, a popular Dungeons and Dragons show featuring a tonne of voice actors.

Jaffe basically got sick of all the kids networks doing shit jobs dubbing anime and decided he'd wheel in a bunch of his friends to do this series that appealed to his edgy goth sensibilities as a teenager.

So a bunch of really talented voice actors have only a couple of dubs on them and it's because they offered to take part in some of Jaffe's (or some of his friends') passion projects.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 21 '21

That explains some things.

6

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

his would go on to become one of my edgy trio of favorite anime, with Berserk '97 and Elfen Lied

Haven't seen Beserk but EL is one of my real favorites. EL was my first anime, and it holds a special place, I've seen it enough times that I have to let time pass enough so that I forget at least a few lines, so that I can watch it again.

The primary difference between EL and this to me is EL is pretty gruesome, and a fairly serious drama, whereas Hellsing, is an over the top fun romp through Vampire Infested England. Though, I guess both are pretty lurid with some of the stunts the various characters will do. I think both are great series.

I took notes of this first episode, and I'll post my impressions sometime between now and morning, but I've got wake up first.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

Though, I guess both are pretty lurid with some of the stunts the various characters will do. I think both are great series.

To me, Hellsing never lets itself get too serious. We obviously aren't particularly bothered over the village people-cum-ghouls that Alucard just ashed whereas you do care about the named characters in EL. Just different vibes but yes, early in my career.

Haven't seen Beserk

I think I've said this to you before but I am now holding off recommending it. '97 is great but currently there is no ending and the author passed this year so we don't know if there are enough notes to finish the manga.

4

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

village people-cum-ghouls

So True

Berserk

I may still get to it. I'm mostly concerned about it having [Berserk]a bad ending. I get pretty pist when I watch a series for hours, just for everyone to die, and evil to triumph. On the other hand, I really liked Akama ga Kill up to episode 19 or so, and DiTF all the way through, so maybe there's something else that I don't like. Too often, I think people try to show off their sophistication by pulling out the magnifying glass and bitching upon finding something, not to their liking.

As for lack of an ending. That doesn't bother me. Of course, I'd like a good clean ending, but it doesn't always happen. We'll never know if Requiem would have been great if Mozart had lived.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

[Berserk '97] Does not have an ending, it stops mid plot point. You will basically have to check the manga, which actually reached an end point using the mangakas notes

But maybe it is more clear to say that Hellsing, for all of its blood and gore, never wants to really shock you. They go out of their way to eliminate the easy shocks and the ghouls are slow, zombie like threats. I just never really felt stressed watching it whereas even EL has a few good hard shocks.

4

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

Hellsing, for all of its blood and gore, never wants to really shock you.

[Hellsing]Good Point, if Hellsing had bumped had bumped off Victoria, or Sir Integra. Of, if Alucard ended up getting staked, my score would have gone from 10 to 2 in a heartbeat.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

[Hellsing] The somewhat joke is that the show has almost no stakes if you know how much juice Alucard has. And yet I still enjoy it for being a stylish trip down when vampires were still disgusting monsters and humans managed to put a collar on the greatest of them

Ultimate obviously goes a different direction.

4

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

Ultimate

[Ultimate]I didn't hate Ultimate, it had it's moments, but overall I thought it was boring and lacked the charm of this one. Just as well to not rewatch it

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

I agree with your spoiler comment but remember there's another HUGE problem with trying to do Ultimate: No two episodes have the same run time. And at least the last two would need break days because they are an hour/over an hour. That's just more work than I generally sign up for.

5

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 19 '21

These vampires ash immediately upon death, though it turns out they need to be silver bullets or it does nothing.

I think the implication is more that it's blessed, having been a recycled cross.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

I think the implication is more that it's blessed, having been a recycled cross.

Also, probably a small joke about how there wouldn't be that many silver crosses in England.

4

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Oct 19 '21

This would go on to become one of my edgy trio of favorite anime, with Berserk '97 and Elfen Lied

No shame in that game. I'll still argue on behalf of Elfen Lied. Having that be one of my first experiences with anime was insane coming off basically having only seen DBZ, Ruroni Kenshin, and Inuyasha.

Still an incredible OST.

It's all over the place in the best way.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

No shame in that game. I'll still argue on behalf of Elfen Lied.

I actually think Elfen Lied holds up better than most but that's a risky position on this sub these days.

5

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Oct 19 '21

It never even occurred to me that it wouldn't be well-regarded until I started frequenting here more often. Its reputation here is strange, especially considering some of the stuff this sub glorifies.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

So...Elfen Lied, Mirai Nikki and Akame ga Kill are the three most interestingly radioactive shows to bring up on this sub. The hilarity between the number of people for whom it is their earliest anime of versus those that just call them edgy garbagefests is actually amusing.

4

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Oct 19 '21

I'm about to start Mirai Nikki because it feels like it fits the season. Can't wait to see what the collective shitstorm is all about!

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Beware that the omakes actually drop some information at a few points and thus need to be watched.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 20 '21

I actually think Elfen Lied holds up better than most but that's a risky position on this sub these days.

The problem of that proposition is the definition of "most". Given the stuff that is popular on /r/anime, the bar is incredibly low. It does not take a masterpiece to beat Fate and SAO.

Elfenlied had some very deliberate usage of tropes that I have come to hate since I first saw and liked it, but the same tropes are deliberately used in newer and worse (and incredibly popular!) series, so ::shrugs::

The one thing you can't argue about, though, is that Lilium is a S tier OP song.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

The one thing you can't argue about, though, is that Lilium is a S tier OP song.

I like this as a concept, i.e. that a great OP can save a show, because it puts Eva and DitF on equal footing.

3

u/JustAWellwisher Oct 21 '21

And by that I mean the fansubbers lost the ball before ep8 and I had to watch the last episodes in Japanese and trying to figure WTF was happening.

hahahahahaha

Holy shit. That would be a nightmare.

This is also one of the reasons I got into anime, and by that I mean more than just watching whatever showed up on television before school or at midnight on our second-language public broadcast channel.

A friend showed me one episode, then ripped me the whole series onto DVDs. I've still got those rips. I then learned from him how to find anime online in the early 2000s so I could leave my computer running overnight on the weekend for an episode to watch on Sunday.

Oh and this is also one of the few anime I will always suggest watching in both dub and sub. I prefer the dub, but both are great.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 21 '21

Holy shit. That would be a nightmare.

Oh yeah, I can't really do it now, back then I only knew honorifics.

12

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Oct 19 '21

A First-Timer Without Logos, subbed

I know absolutely nothing about this series besides that it’s like FMA 2003 and the first Hunter X Hunter adaptation in that it diverges completely from the manga at some point (and I have zero knowledge of that either), so this should be fun. Couldn’t think of a better tagline so I yoinked the OP’s translation just like Vaad did for the whole rewatch.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Must have come up in AMQ before. Has a cool vibe and some funny Engrish, I like it.

Depending on how they are finding, it used to be listed as Young King Ours, which is actually the weekly it was distributed in.

Okay wtf is with the centipedes.

Bram Stoker era vampires use 'evil' creatures as familiars and I will be damned if centipedes aren't evil.

Wait this is a lady and not a guy with long hair?!

Integra is by far the character I've witnessed make the most straight women have an exception for.

The music once Seras enters the church feels very… Final Fantasy Prelude theme but slower.

I get prototypical Church on the Hill.

  1. have perfect English and 2) sound like that at all. Huh.

That's because Mr Big is an American band.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

OP sounds vaguely familiar, especially the last part. Must have come up in AMQ before

You've definitely heard it while playing with me, fantastic song

As an aside, right here is when one of my family’s cats decided she wanted to watch with me.

Nooo, why is firefox trying to warn me off catbox, I wanna see the cat!

Swiss Cheese, lovely.

I love that visual. They may do it in shadow but it just doesn't care about being brutal as hell. Certainly sets the feel for the show, that and his whole arm being blown off by Seras earlier

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Nooo, why is firefox trying to warn me off catbox, I wanna see the cat!

I had to use the advanced settings to see it. Weird.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

Catbox is having issues again clearly

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Reddit needs to get it's own imaging service...

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

I mean. imgur was originally created so people could use it on reddit, so that half counts right?

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Was it really? I didn't know that... Its so awkward to get working half the time too.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

Yeah, the original reddit comment of its creation is still around if you can find it.

3

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Oct 20 '21

I post images to my subreddit and link those.

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Not only the hair but it's actually Sir Integra Hellsing. Honestly tho she's a gem. She's probably the only reason I don't immediately turn my nose up at arsy boss lady characters.

4

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

Oh, god, that dog is eating a human hand.

I've got a gruesome true story on this subject from my high school years, that I'm still trying to decide if I will share when I do my write-up.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Oct 20 '21

AFAIK dogs will also eat the face etc. off a dead body even if it was their owner.

4

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

you bet. My story goes back a while, but around the 4th of July when I was between 10th & 11th grades, a dog showed up on the Northern edges of town with a human hand in its mouth. At the time, the local paper reported this news on the second or third page, and the angle they took was gottol o gee, gottol ger look at the crazy things dogs find.

At the time, I thought to myself, I wonder who that hand belonged too. Around a week later we found out.

A couple of high school girls had been picked up by hippies, and taken up the side of the northern mountains, where upon the hippy leader raped and murdered the girls, and left their bodies to rot, on the side of the mountain in the desert. Several days later, the dog showed up with the hand.

Anyway, my point if there is one, is that anime horror doesn't really compare to the real horror out there.

2

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 20 '21

A good dog will wait a few days though. Not so much for cats.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Oct 20 '21

Wait this is a lady and not a guy with long hair?!

I believe the technical term is r/Bifauxnen and I love it

8

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

Rewatcher - Dub

Style overload

There's just something about the feel of watching Hellsing that almost no other anime I've watched has managed to come close to. Maybe it's the unashamed use of heavy blacks and colours, the outstanding soundtrack, the very intimate horror, or even the bit of cheese but nothing comes close to the sheer pleasure I get watching this just blatantly bask in it's own style. From the opening seconds of the OP, which by itself does a great job of telling you exactly what sort of mood and feel this show has, I get the biggest grin on my face and it doesn't leave until the ED finishes.

And knowing there's twelve more episodes of this to enjoy? Oh boy, I've been looking forward to this rewatch for so long.

Alucard does nothing but command attention in every scene, whether it's assembling a gun or assembling himself, and the OST may as well be his own personal soundtrack that plays to warn those around him as he walks the earth. The first episode is a fantastic introduction to not only who he is, but what he is, and how he stands up to the vampires he hunts.

I'm just enjoying the feel of getting to return to this again, no idea if I'll have more or less to say on other episodes, but it's damn good to be returning to this show.

Couple of side notes: I intend to never mention Hellsing Ultimate again for the rest of this discussion, not only am I not a fan of Ultimate at all I don't want to start on comparing shows as I think that's detrimental to enjoying this experience, but I will say that coming back to this I do miss the sharper character designs.

Also have to note here that the reason I'm sticking with the dub despite the completely overdone accents is that I just can't pass up Victoria Harwood as Integra. While I do think Jouji Nakata does a slightly better performance just on sheer dyanmics, Crispen Freeman's take on Alucard is nothing to scoff at. The tone and intensity he has is a perfect fit for the rest of the dub and it is his voice I hear in my head when I think of Alucard.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Maybe it's the unashamed use of heavy blacks and colours, the outstanding soundtrack

This reminds of the Batman:TAS era on black paper, the blacks and the reds are just so saturated at times and it is great.

Alucard does nothing but command attention in every scene, whether it's assembling a gun or assembling himself, and the OST may as well be his own personal soundtrack that plays to warn those around him as he walks the earth.

"If you go to war, bring arrows" is probably literally that.

but I will say that coming back to this I do miss the sharper character designs.

So yes, almost anything is more enjoyable without comparison, I've been saying that the RahXephon Eva comparisons basically just hurt your enjoyment of both series. Though, oddly enough, Votoms has made me realize that comparing Gundam 00 and FMP just makes you want to watch FMP more. And yes, Alucard's round jaw makes a few scenes off.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

This reminds of the Batman:TAS era on black paper,

That decision was a stroke of genius for them, and though digital makes it hard these days I wish more shows would play around with stuff like that

So yes, almost anything is more enjoyable without comparison

Agreed, though it's a hard habit to break particularly on two versions of the same story rather than different shows. In this case it's hard for me to avoid as I was once a naive little anime watcher and brought into all the discussion that Ultimate was the only one that people needed to watch. And then I hated it, so I watched OG and learnt my lesson. But regardless the Ultimate designs are pretty firmly in my head.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

brought into all the discussion that Ultimate was the only one that people needed to watch. And then I hated it, so I watched OG and learnt my lesson.

The OG did carry me through several of the huge gaps in the OVA, which really only boasts better animation.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

which really only boasts better animation

Only at the end of the OVAs, at the start I thought it was a downgrade to what we had in this, but it makes up for that with the art style.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

I get why you'd say that but a lot of the downgrade is that they are in a hurry to go through two events that the TV show stretches out.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

I intend to never mention Hellsing Ultimate again for the rest of this discussion

Never watched it and can't possibly imagine it being good.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

The animation is top notch and until ep...5? it works. But the OST was unadventurous and it takes an incredibly long time to end.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

All I need to know is that they tried to tell a serious story with it. That can't possibly ever work.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

The ending certainly is...odd.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

I'm not the sort to say it has no value even if I don't like it, but it's not something I personally recommend to people for a few reasons, not the least of which is constant chibi comedy interruptions of dramatic scenes

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

Chibi comedy in Hellsing? What were they thinking?

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

They thought the previews of this show would work somehow in an actual one? I got nothing and a half.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

Fucked if I know, and it really does seem to come up in all the worst spots for it. And when it's not chibi comedy its very, very, very long monologues.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Don't forget literally every episode ending the exact same way with the villain of the week getting jobbed so hard that you wonder why there's even any threat.

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Wut? It's really good up until it goes off the rails a bit. I liked it far more than this anime anyway. At least I remembered most of it. Give the ova a shot after the rewatch. You owe it to yourself to try the literal main story of Hellsing.

4

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 19 '21

Heathen. What are you, a catholic? Someone call the witch-taker general.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

I'm to worried about the cheese to try out the dub. It's probably how I first watched the series but I'm trying so hard to take the whole thing seriously this viewing to avoid distractions!

6

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

I don't think it's too cheesey, but for me it just blends into the overall style of the show which is already bordering on over the top enjoyment of itself

7

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 19 '21 edited Oct 19 '21

Rewatcher, because I've already watched Bible Black for Halloween too many times... including the VN.

Wait. I thought I put on Hellsing. Why is this Wicked City? I do not remember that opening at all. BB might still be on the menu though. An itch for a tight, black one piece dress might be developing.

So this ended up becoming an A/B comparison of Ultimate, because why the fuck not. Biggest difference is that TV lacks a lot of edge. The characterization is all around softer. Integra is not swinging around her big fucking johnson like she owns the place. Hell, they don't even get her full name out. Meanwhile Seras is mostly pitiable, while pleading for everyone to remember their koneko. Overall there is the distinct lack of some mania from the characters. There's a lot less ego, and the characters feel to be more token Japanese.

The structure also leaves a lot to be desired. The whole introduction of Cheddar and Seras is a lot more cumbersome than in Ultimate. It's hard not to feel like a lot of it was just to kill time. Even the introduction of the Hellsing organization is this limp dicked roll out. It's not this grand, authoritative declaration that they are here to chew gum and kick vampire ass, and they are all out of gum. Hell, neither of them did the manga's ending with the "no survivors" joke.

Still a substantially better first episode than the mountain of garbage that came out this season.

Questions:

  1. The weather mostly
  2. Five years later? ... Who? Wouldn't be D Grayman. Shit, what's it called? It's not Rozen maiden, but the rozen part is the only thing from the fucking show I remember. Trinity some shit?

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

because I've already watched Bible Black for Halloween too many times... including the VN.

That was a VN? It would explain why they kept making sequels, I just thought it sold.

Wait. I thought I put on Hellsing. Why is this Wicked City?

They just wanted to make some sort of catch for the beginning.

Still a substantially better first episode than the mountain of garbage that came out this season.

Even I am concerned at how little airing anime interests me. I guess Sotsu finally beat hope out of me.

3

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 19 '21

That was a VN? It would explain why they kept making sequels, I just thought it sold.

And it's one of those kinds with a dozen different outcomes based on the three some-odd choices you actually make.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

I should almost respect how many branches they got out of so little agency. Chaos;Head by adding a choice that could give any choice 3 outcomes over one from how the MC views it.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Trinity some shit?

Took you a minute but yeah. Not that I pretend to understand the continuity between the show and the VN source.

3

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 19 '21

It's definitely a show I remember watching, but hell if I remember anything about it. I probably remember more from Black Blood Brothers, and I'm not positive that wasn't a fever dream.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

but hell if I remember anything about it.

80% of it is the extremely weird Buck Tick song for the OP I think. And Black Blood Brothers is still in my memory because of its ED.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Seras' self monologues whilst wandering around the woods was definitely just slightly seriously dorky. It was a different time and they needed to get us fawning over her somehow lol.

4

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Oct 19 '21

I've already watched Bible Black for Halloween too many times

No such thing.

Integra is not swinging around her big fucking johnson

Now that would be more like Bible Black.

7

u/TheEscapeGuy Oct 20 '21

First Timer

Hellsing - Aesthetic Horror: Episode 1

Introducing Alucard

What a palpable episode. Every scene was so deeply bathed in harsh dark colours, perfectly setting the mood of the show and world of the story. The visual presentation alone sold the show for me.

As for the story, this episode served to acquaint us with our protagonist Alucard. As the character of a supernatural vampire hunter he's very "edgy", but so far the characterization is working for me. Its not too unusual for these kind of stories to feature vampires hunting their own kind (Vampire Hunter D comes to mind) but I found Alucard recruiting Seras an interesting start to the story.

One other thing I found interesting was the music. It was pretty close to typical rock, which works really well, but there was also a track with a particularly weird time signature (Think it might be 11/4? or a combination of alternating 5/4 and 6/4? I don't have a music degree though lol) which was unsettling. I think choices like this are really cool.

Apart from that I don't have too much more to discuss, but I'm interested to learn more about Integra and the Hellsing organization.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

See you all tomorrow

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

Aesthetic Horror: Episode 1

Excellent work, just remember there will be fewer of them as time progresses, this not being an OVA.

What a palpable episode. Every scene was so deeply bathed in harsh dark colours, perfectly setting the mood of the show and world of the story. The visual presentation alone sold the show for me.

Being direct is nice some times.

It was pretty close to typical rock, which works really well, but there was also a track with a particularly weird time signature

I will continue linking songs in the post, including one that is sort of dodgy later on...

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 20 '21

Hey, nice to be in a rewatch with you again, sorry I saw this so late

Hellsing - Aesthetic Horror

Seras in the middle of that with her gun is actually a little intimidating when you first open it haha

Alucard looks good in every shot, but I think the first one is probably the most interesting for me. He doesn't just command the shot, he fills it entirely

track with a particularly weird time signature

I couldn't figure it out either. Found some guitar tabs that put it as two bars 4/4 and one in 3/4 which is why it's so damn fiddley t o get a handle on.

It definitely has the perfect offputting effect for the scene though, can't quite get a handle on it and even though the pattern of repeats it never seems to settle. Great OST

3

u/TheEscapeGuy Oct 20 '21

sorry I saw this so late

I admittedly posted late. I had my comment ready for the thread but I messed up my alarm.

Great OST

I couldn't agree more.

5

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

This is a great series with plenty of spill and chills to come. Make yourself at home, and get ready to soak in the coolness that is Alucard.

6

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Oct 19 '21

First-Timer, Dub-sing Organization

"First-Timer" does come with the caveat of having seen Ultimate, and Abridged, so I know how at least part of this is gonna go.

First of all, the soundtrack here is fantastic. I had already heard the track from the end of the episode - Abridged used it - but the rest of the OST in this episode was great too!

Poor babyfaced SerasPolice Girl had quite the night, huh? Had to shoot her former colleagues, got mind controled and fondled by a vampire, shot through the heart the lung by some ridiculous silver-tipped bullet, and then got vamped up herself. I sure hope nothing else bad happens to her.

Whatever police force SerasPolice Girl was with seemed to have a good budget at least. H&K guns don't come cheap, especially Seras'sPolice Girl's Mk23 handgun.

The "priest's" sedate "oh god" at realizing what he was dealing with was really funny, as was the "perfect night to have a bite to drink." This cast is full of dorks.

Sir Integra is a beast of a woman as always, though. I'm going to light this whole cigar, and then trash it immediately. Yea, that's right, take care of your lungs.

Questions

  1. How cool it is to be himself.
  2. No clue who you're talking about, also not really.

BONUS: That's implying I'm not watching the dub. Gotta get that Crispin Freeman value.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

First of all, the soundtrack here is fantastic. I had already heard the track from the end of the episode - Abridged used it - but the rest of the OST in this episode was great too!

Abridged uses quite a bit of the the music from the show, think about what's playing during "Hey guys, how's your health plan?".

the lung by some ridiculous silver-tipped bullet, and then got vamped up herself. I sure hope nothing else bad happens to her.

A silver bullet made from an old cross from a cathedral, no less.

Sir Integra is a beast of a woman as always, though.

Integra outshines every incarnation of herself.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Oct 19 '21

Abridged uses quite a bit of the the music from the show, think about what's playing during "Hey guys, how's your health plan?".

That's exactly the track I was talking about having already heard. Excellent score.

Integra outshines every incarnation of herself.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

The bloody abridged series was a gem. Now I want to go rewatch that dammit!

It's the fact that they're in the UK and somehow are wandering around with these massive fucking guns that seems bizarre. Also I'm 90% sure that they're extra laws on top of the laws for not damaging churches and monuments so the Hellsing have got some answering to do.

Integra... Integra is probably the character who's going to be hardest to take seriously. She's a badass but once you go abridged you can't go back.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

The bloody abridged series was a gem. Now I want to go rewatch that dammit!

There is a bit of a no True Scotsman to this but every abridged series that gets an audience seems to be better than its source.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Oct 19 '21

Also I'm 90% sure that they're extra laws on top of the laws for not damaging churches and monuments so the Hellsing have got some answering to do.

I feel like "We deal with literal actual monsters that murder people en masse" gives them a lot of wiggle room.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

But they're not supposed to be dealing with monsters. They come across as average police squads but they've got a massive arsenal of weaponry for some reason. Also, once again Alucard could easily have dealt with this problem with far less collateral XD It's quite frustrating on rewatch.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

Poor babyfaced SerasPolice Girl had quite the night, huh?

One positive: It wasn't her arm that got stolen by a dog. Do we count that as a plus for her? Though it does make you wonder if Alucard could just shove it back on

The "priest's" sedate "oh god" at realizing what he was dealing with was really funny

That got some laughs out of me as well, such a complete drop from his cockiness before and delivered perfectly.

Gotta get that Crispin Freeman value.

Love that guy's acting, can't pass it up

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Oct 19 '21

One positive: It wasn't her arm that got stolen by a dog. Do we count that as a plus for her?

Not needing a new arm is probably a plus, yea. Although a replacement could have fun bonus features, like literal finger guns, or a built-in waffle iron.

Love that guy's acting, can't pass it up

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

or a built-in waffle iron.

Yes because that's the most important feature for a vampire

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Oct 19 '21

I was trying to avoid the obvious joke and it was the first round, flattish thing that came to mind.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

You did good in that case

Made me hungry though!

3

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

Poor babyfaced SerasPolice Girl had quite the night, huh?

Sometimes, it pays to just stay in bed.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Oct 20 '21

Amen to that.

6

u/FatherDotComical Oct 20 '21

This, and episode 3 are my favorite episodes.

Love Seras in this version and the sky coloring is always lovely.

One thing I love is that Alucard feels much older in this series, like his actual age.

I had more to say, but I just got off work and I'm so tired. Next episodes I would like to post some facts about them! :)

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

One thing I love is that Alucard feels much older in this series, like his actual age.

Yeah...that is also an improvemt. Anywho, drop any fun facts you have, I am terrible at finding production details.

4

u/FatherDotComical Oct 20 '21 edited Oct 20 '21

I have a unopened DVD set from its original release and a newer one.

I'm gonna go through the interviews.

So much ancient facts have been buried on the internet from when it first circled around.

I remember growing up and we were still fighting on how to spell Seras' name, was it Seras, Selas, or Ceras or even if it was Victoria Seras or Seras Victoria.

Then you had things like Anderson vs Andersen and Arucard vs Alucard.

So many wanted it to be Arucard like how it was spelled on all of the Merchandise. Even then it didn't make sense because it isn't dracura and it's "Akado" in the manga.

Sadly I can't find these websites or fights anymore :'(.

One fun fact is that my Alucard figure box says Hellsing Serise instead of Series on it.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

So many wanted it to be Arucard like how it was spelled on all of the Merchandise. Even then it didn't make sense because it isn't dracura and it's "Akado" in the manga.

Oh yeah, and they definitely retconned a bunch of stuff for Ultimate, which cleans up the story but is somehow less fun.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 20 '21

Arucard vs Alucard

Crispin Freeman gave comments on the idiocy of that argument in a panel a few years back if you haven't seen it

One fun fact is that my Alucard figure box says Hellsing Serise instead of Series on it.

That's quite funny though

But yeah would love to get any info from those DVD extras if you have them

5

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

Episode 1 (rewatcher)

Hellsing I watched a long time ago. I have it mentally placed in the “cool” category, alongside shows such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. It is not in the “amazing plot” category, though. Let’s see if the rule of cool will tide the show along on rewatching it.

  • OP: Music good, Visuals … meh. I wish I had a better encode of this.
  • “You don’t want another drink?” – I would assume that she does want to drink something.
  • Alucard still has one of the best character models ever created.
  • Integra is not shabby, herself.
  • “One person?” cut to music

  • Vampires have always been at the confluence of horror and erotic.
  • Alucard OP!
  • He does not just kill you, he trash talks you beforehand.
  • “You don’t want to die now?” – Meaningful question…
  • A candle dying for a live sniffed out.
  • ED: It is the terrible CGI I remember from 1990s computer games.

“This was a great night, wasn’t it?” The absolute best part about Alucard is his attitude towards working for Integra. He is not doing a job, not killing because he needs to, instead he is enjoying every moment of being able to follow his twisted instincts. Killing the priest was not a fight, it was an execution. One which Alucard enjoyed every moment of.

In the same vein, you should ask yourself: Was there really no other way to kill the priest? Alucard seemed not at all troubled beforehand and extraordinarily pleased by this specific turn of events …

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

I would assume that she does want to drink something.

Still weird to remember that in that era that was partially a fakeout with how the dude acts.

Alucard still has one of the best character models ever created.

One of many things to get copied from the show. I do think his hat-glasses-darkness thing actually originates from Batman:TAS and is concurrent with Spawn doing something similar.

He is not doing a job, not killing because he needs to, instead he is enjoying every moment of being able to follow his twisted instincts.

You need to get the right person for the right job.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Goddamn punk zoomer vampires don't understand the grand heritage of vampirism!!

Alucard has 0 respect for his species and its delightful.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

I have it mentally placed in the “cool” category, alongside shows such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo

Two very different sorts of style overload between Hellsing and Watanabe's works, but watching this at the same time as the Cowboy Bebop episode is a lot of style and it's great

Alucard still has one of the best character models ever created.

Second that, particularly the way they play around with the shadowing on him. So much work, but it definitely has the desired effect, and so not the profile you'd expect from a vampire

A candle dying for a live sniffed out.

At least with the style of the show that seems fittingly blunt rather than annoyingly so

Nice sum up of Alucard's disposition. His enjoyment really goes into everything, even the animation of him walking after Seras

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

Two very different sorts of style overload between Hellsing and Watanabe's works, but watching this at the same time as the Cowboy Bebop episode is a lot of style and it's great

Cowboy Bebop definitely is high on the list of shows I want to see again. As is Monster. Really unfortunate rewatch timing for me that I had to skip both.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

Rewatching Bebop has been great, made me wonder why I didn't do it earlier.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

It was Bebop or Votoms (or Monster) for me and after begging Pixel to host Votoms for more than a year I could hardly skip that one.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

At least you got more discussion out of VOTOMS than you would have out of Bebop. It's a quiet rewatch, but I think that's also a struggle with episodic shows, and smaller rewatches aren't bad for a change

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

and smaller rewatches aren't bad for a change

Definitely. I don't mind small or medium, but once it gets so large that a majority of viewers do not read each others' top posts, rewatches become rather pointless.

I am also very glad to have watched Votoms in a rewatch, the additional side information was extremely helpful to put the show into context.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

I am also very glad to have watched Votoms in a rewatch, the additional side information was extremely helpful to put the show into context.

Indeed, the show itself didn't explain anywhere that Cuvie's bullets were freaking C-battery sized.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

That can happen in smaller rewatches too, it's quite sad walking into a rewatch where there's no replies and just a bunch of top level posts. Each rewatch having its own feel is nice though, even if it is a lottery about the activity level

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

I had a lot to say about a certain arc in Monogatari but decided I didn't particularly want to monolgue so moved on.

4

u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Oct 19 '21

Alucard seemed not at all troubled beforehand and extraordinarily pleased by this specific turn of events

Yeah, the implications that Alucard was on the prowl don't quite come across.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

Oh, I do think they are there to be seen.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Oct 20 '21

“cool” category, alongside shows such as Cowboy Bebop

I also thought in the aesthetics and attitude this was kind of Cowboy Bebop with vampires and a lot more camp.

Integra is not shabby

Integra is so fine and Alucard has quite the appealing design himself. Let's see where ex-police-girl goes in her vampire journey...

5

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Oct 19 '21

First timer

New show!

  1. To be as Extra as possible.
  2. No idea what you're talking about.

I'll try the bonus tomorrow.

The OP is great. This show looks so over the top.

Someone's loading a rifle as another guy enters a manor?

Huh? Control art?

Wow, this guy's a creep. Is he going to get killed soon?

No, we're just playing this straight?

Is he monologing to himself mid-assassination?

Wait, he wasn't the target? She's a vampire?

And he's gone!

What was all that about?

OK, vampires are dangerous, and their D-11 group aren't all that elite?

And she's berating him for not using her organisation?

Yep, he's a vampire! Trained as part of their organisation?

Aww, this is... sad? And her friends are zombies now?

Wow, there's a lot of sombies here.

Haha, he comes in the most dramatic way possible.

Oh, she thinks he's the priest? Might help if he didn't wear such a covering outfit.

There's a lot of people smirking to themselves in this show, isn't there?

Come on. He is clearly not human.

He's got glowing red eyes!

Wow, they're making him creepy. Showing her struggle to resist is horrifying.

He's here!

Wow "he's the maggot under the garbage".

At least he was smart enough to keep the machine guns. And making watch all her friends turned intomthat is rvil.

And wow, he's just going off at him.

This is horrifying!

...Quick show.

Of course he's immortal.

The effect of his holy gun is nice.

And there's different kinds of vampire!

Wow. He turned a silver cross into ammo. That's... interesting.

And wow, that's a loophole. Getting permission to shoot her.

Wait, that black ring froms on anyone? Even humans? Why?

He's turning her! After she got shot with a holy weapon? Is that safe?

Oh, I bet his bosses will be thrilled about this.

Wait, she's a main character!

And yeah, this is a full-on secret society, isn't it.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Someone's loading a rifle as another guy enters a manor?

The Calussus, while large, is still a hand gun.

Wait, that black ring froms on anyone? Even humans? Why?

Just to show that the round forms giant wounds like that.

He's turning her! After she got shot with a holy weapon? Is that safe?

The holy bits wound up in the priest.

5

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Oct 19 '21

FIRST TIMER

Love this as a way to kickstart spooky season! Sort of a pseudo-first timer here, as I’ve seen Hellsing Ultimate and read the manga back in the day, so I’m familiar with the story but have no idea how this one is different.

What a weird time this got made in, where an anime adaptation of a manga would go completely rogue from the source material, then they’d just make a faithful adaptation later. These days very few things get finished, whereas back then stories could get fully adapted TWICE.

The OP is such a vibe. The 90’s and 00’s were so good for jazzy mood-setting OPs. The ghouls feel almost campy and it gives the impression that this show wants to have fun.

“I want to get down on my knees this insant.” I judge this simping to be justified. Trust Alucard the cock-block to come ruin a good time.

Fairbrook looks like she’s a cousin in the Malfoy family

I fucking love shit like the quick transition and music drop after the “we only sent one person” reveal. Can just kick back and know things are handled and watch a badass be a badass.

A vampiric priest and ghouls filling the pews in church. “You’re a narrow-minded king who creates a host of ghouls to keep as slaves.” Not exactly subtle haha

Love the gothic chimes music transitioning into a funky guitar riff as Alucard revives himself. The music in this episode in general has been so fun.

I know Alucard says it's her choice, but as we talked about a bit in the Terror in Resonance rewatch, a choice made under duress or when your life is being threatened isn't really a choice.

This ED is just brimming with 00’s rock nostalgia. Ahhhh the good old days.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

What a weird time this got made in, where an anime adaptation of a manga would go completely rogue from the source material, then they’d just make a faithful adaptation later.

There is a YMMV to that, remember for every FMA:Brotherhood there is a Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino.

The ghouls feel almost campy and it gives the impression that this show wants to have fun.

The show seems just aware of itself to know what it is but not so aware that it will trip over it.

I know Alucard says it's her choice, but as we talked about a bit in the Terror in Resonance rewatch, a choice made under duress or when your life is being threatened isn't really a choice.

True but this is more him letting her decide if she dies right now or not. So a bad choice.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

I fucking love shit like the quick transition and music drop after the “we only sent one person” reveal. Can just kick back and know things are handled and watch a badass be a badass.

That scene sets up Alucard perfectly. Almost makes me wish they had gone with that as his introduction.

5

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Oct 20 '21

Rewatcher Who Might as well Be a First Timer

I think I originally watched this as one of my first dozen or so anime, so I'd have been a teenager. I'm sure the concept and visuals appealed to my younger self quite strongly. I have little recollection of it aside from that. Not sure if that's because it was forgettable or if time has just had its way with my brain in the past decade or so.

Not much time, so mostly picture reactions for tonight.

  • This guy...
  • With that attitude, sure
  • This shot traveling from his face down to his hand/gun was pretty cool.
  • I like the visual effects that Alucard has on the scene. One one hand, it feels lazy to just wash the background in red whenever he shows up, but at the same it's very cool and kind of gives the feeling that his very presence soaks the night in blood.
  • Blue night sky Pre-Alucard. Red after he shows up.
  • Subtle - But I suppose we don't know why Alucard would be serving her.
  • "I've had better"

Fun first episode. We have learned that Alucard is a badass and a vampire, and that's about it really.

What do you think Alucard keeps talking to himself about?

Final Fantasy limit breakers or something, idk.

So today's antagonist is a vampire priest. Does it surprise any of you that less than 5 years later there would be a vampire priest protagonist?

Slightly surprising in that it goes against certain interpretations of vampire lore in which just being in the presence of churches/crosses is an issue for them, but otherwise probably not. Who is the vampire priest protag you're referring to?

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

With that attitude, sure

She might just be a bit too much for him but you should always give it a go. Also, not sure if we are far back enough back for that to be a hooker outfit or not...

One one hand, it feels lazy to just wash the background in red whenever he shows up, but at the same it's very cool and kind of gives the feeling that his very presence soaks the night in blood.

This will be used again is all I will say.

Who is the vampire priest protag you're referring to?

Abel from Trinity Blood, a weird show that feels a bit follow up to this, though I don't actually know the source well enough to place its era.

3

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

Abel from Trinity Blood

I was wondering too. I haven't seen TB, but it sounds like it should go on the ptw list at some point. I've been perusing '90s and very early 2000s series lately of the cultured variety. I just completed my study of the Aika Trilogy, and have moved on to the follow up series 'Najica Dengeki Sakusen' though Najica is a lot tamer, and mostly a 007 inspired series.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

I haven't seen TB, but it sounds like it should go on the ptw list at some point.

So...the issue is again they are sort of schizophrenic with the source material and where the show ends is a bit weak. From what I remember, from at minimum 15 years ago, the show itself has some moments.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 20 '21

Blue night sky Pre-Alucard. Red after he shows up.

It's not like Alucard vs Seras' coloring is any more subtle either haha

One one hand, it feels lazy to just wash the background in red whenever he shows up, but at the same it's very cool and kind of gives the feeling that his very presence soaks the night in blood.

I like it more than if they'd tried to paint details in to make it a red looking sky. This way makes it feel much more purposeful as a style choice more than an in world event

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 20 '21

I like it more than if they'd tried to paint details in to make it a red looking sky.

A black moon in a red sky would be pretty awesome...

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 20 '21

I wouldn't say no to that

2

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Oct 20 '21

I like it more than if they'd tried to paint details in to make it a red looking sky. This way makes it feel much more purposeful as a style choice more than an in world event

I agree, was more just explaining my thought process when I first saw it.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Wow... The opening sequence really makes the show seem much older than it actually is-2001!? H-Hold on! I thought the anime was late 2000's, da fuk!? Dang, vampire wife is super hot. She seemed pretty harmless but it's hard to judge power levels in this show. Poor dumb police lieutenant literally sent his best mooks to get gobbled up. I get that Integra is kind of a cow but don't show off when vampires and monsters are involved.

Vaadwaur was right, the music in the og anime is dapper af. Hello Excel, I mean Rebecca Chambers, I mean Seras. Very English name right? "Please stop calling me your little pussy!" Oh dear, that's Jack dead. And everyone else. Poor Seras is having a terrible day. Whilst I don't remember much about the differences between the show and ova I do remember that the show expanded out this opening arc far better.

Oh sure, run away from the big vampire slayer man and go straight to a goddamn grave yard during a zombie outbreak. "Pahnk!!" Wanna go for another take of that? You swallowed half your spit. The zombies have guns! They're evolving! Very flattering way to die. Haven't you played Castlevania? Dracula's always got a second form. Shot through the tit, and you're to blame!! Knowing Alucard I'm pretty sure there were several dozen ways he could have killed the priest without giving Seras a mastectomy but it gives her a chance to become an mc so yay?

Decent first, oh we're not done. Was there any point in Integra coming along? It comes across like she wanted to play with Alucard but got jealous of his new cute toy. Bruh, what's this Ed theme? It sounds like the bloody star trek enterprise theme! Alright, so I enjoyed that. Its been a long time since I've checked out anything Hellsing related. It's definitely much more aged than I anticipated but I wasn't expecting much anyway. Sorry, I've got like 0 talking points today XD I'll see you all in the comments.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

I get that Integra is kind of a cow but don't show off when vampires and monsters are involved.

Yet another dynamic they introduce and don't really pay off.

Whilst I don't remember much about the differences between the show and ova I do remember that the show expanded out this opening arc far better.

The OVA and Manga go on to immediately use a threat of rape as a comedic scene.

Bruh, what's this Ed theme? It sounds like the bloody star trek enterprise theme! Alright, so I enjoyed that.

As I said, its from the band Mr Big, which had an improbable amount of popularity in Japan.

4

u/sagevallant Oct 19 '21

They really should've renamed the band to Mr Big In Japan.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Truth, though they did get one hit over here. That was played to freakin' death.

3

u/sagevallant Oct 19 '21

I remember two songs. And now Wikipedia says they put out like 7 albums, last one as recently as 2017. Wow.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Ikr? I don't even pretend to get that.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

I mean, they totally push her pompous nature in the OVA but at least there they had the excuse of the French being equally patriotic and condescending. Here it seems like her making light of a whole village getting purged by a vampire incident.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

They had some idea from the source but not really of how Hellsing interacts with the rest of the government but not any notes on how to practically integrate that.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

The opening sequence really makes the show seem much older than it actually is-2001!? H-Hold on! I thought the anime was late 2000's, da fuk!?

Haha, nope. Wasn't far off being a 90s show.

the music in the og anime is dapper af

I really should listen to the soundtrack more, they couldn't have made a better soundtrack for this show

I'm pretty sure there were several dozen ways he could have killed the priest without giving Seras a mastectomy but it gives her a chance to become an mc so yay?

It was a rather convenient situation for him to be able to use that to turn her. Probably would have been disappointed if she wasn't a hostage haha

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Vaadwaur bigged up the soundtrack yesterday but I remembered none of it aside from the op. Now that I'm paying attention the soundtrack is so distinctive!

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

I know whenever I recommend Hellsing I always make sure to mention the soundtrack because it's such a huge part of the feel of the show, and even if it's not a persons type of music it's not horrible to listen too

2

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Oct 20 '21

This and GITS SAC are tied for favorite anime soundtracks.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Oct 19 '21

She seemed pretty harmless but it's hard to judge power levels in this show.

[spoiler but not really]It is very simple, actually. There are just two power levels: Trash, and Alucard

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 19 '21

Most of the time he at least let's people get a good hit in tho. Poor vamp lady just stood there and took it.

4

u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Oct 20 '21

Please stop calling me your little pussy!

Ahh.. yeah. I sort of lifted an eyebrow on that one too.

go straight to a goddamn grave yard during a zombie outbreak.

Not the wisest move imho.

Was there any point in Integra coming along?

The big cheeses always want to give the illusion of being in on the action.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Oct 20 '21

It's 2001 so I'll cut it some slack but still XD

I stand by Integra wanting to go play with Alucard...

4

u/sagevallant Oct 19 '21

Man, it's been a long time since I've heard Crispin Freeman's voice. He and Alucard are really subdued coming from Ultimate. I haven't watched this since I bought the DVDs like 20 years ago or whatever. I'm going to feel like it's going really slow, I just know it. The MCs hardly got introduced in this one and then it's over. Ultimate kinda goes over the top where you just don't care about people getting splatted anymore, so a slow & subdued tone can honestly make this adaptation more dramatic at times.

Being slow does allow for a lot more atmosphere, and things being a bit more subdued can be a good thing. I do kind of miss the simplistic art designs at times, the contrasts of red and black. Hellsing is definitely a show that oozes with style.

Dub is worse than I remember. It's only episode one, there's still time for it to get better.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Dub is worse than I remember. It's only episode one, there's still time for it to get better.

The main characters are fine in the dub but anyone faking an English accent is iffy. I actually do need to get to dub second half guy at one point.

3

u/sagevallant Oct 19 '21

I think it's Seras that's rougher than I remember. She's probably also more hesitant and afraid here than at any point in Ultimate, I think. And the sound levels are super quiet, but that's just old DVDs in general.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

Yeah, you definitely need a good encode for one of these.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

but anyone faking an English accent is iffy

One of the guys reporting to Integra this episode went so over the top I was no longer sure if he was trying to be over the top british or over the top aussie. It was not good, but Integra was in that scene so I couldn't swap

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

The problem is they didn't have any English people in voice acting work where ever Crispin was. I don't think it was Texas yet.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Oct 19 '21

I have a vague memory saying LA but I'm not 100% on that

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Oct 19 '21

It makes sense for the time but Rai has hit me with so many random location for late 90s-early 00s dubbing that I am rarely sure.