Hellsing

Publisher
ADV
Director
Yasunori Urata
Production
Gonzo Digimation
Format
Series
Running time
13 episodes
Year
2001

Hellsing: The Collection

By John Huxley
1st Aug 04

Hellsing is an odd mix of gothic horror and fast paced action, a kind of bastardised version of Bram Stoker's Dracula that could only be conceivable if it were an anime. Neither the action nor the horror aspects of Hellsing are particularly spectacular, but it's obviously a popular combination that has curried favour with audiences the world over. It's so popular, in fact, that ADV have seen it fit to release a collected version of Hellsing here in the UK. Not that I'm complaining, because despite its flaws, Hellsing is a show that deserves this kind of attention.

This collection includes all four DVDs from the series, which totals 13 episodes in one handy plastic case. As I've already reviewed the individual volumes of the regular Hellsing release (see the links below), I'll skip the details and give you a broad overview of the series.

The plot concerns the fate of the Hellsing organisation, a kind of British secret service that deals exclusively with eradicating vampires from the British Isles. The fearless (read looney) leader of this cult-like organisation is none other than Integra Hellsing, daughter of the famous vampire hunter Van Hellsing (of Bram Stoker's Dracula fame, and more recently the Van Hellsing motion picture) and master of the fearsome Alucard, a vampire of seemingly limitless power that would think nothing of destroying his fellow kind. Also central to the plot is Ceras Victoria (perhaps someone's been listening to the British national anthem...'God save the Queen, Send her victorious'), a new Hellsing recruit that falls victim to a vampire's bite and struggles to accept her newfound status as one of the living dead despite the great advantages it brings with it. Opposing the Hellsing organisation is a whole host of nasty creatures intent on sticking their rotten little fangs into the necks of innocent, busty virgins.

Actually, you can forget any comparisons with Hammer Horror right now. Except for their stereotypical representation of England, Hellsing shares little in common with Hammer's gothic masterpieces. The wooden steaks, garlic and holy water are replaced with .45 automatics, throwing knives and grenade launchers; a dynamic approach to vampire hunting that will appeal to adrenaline junkies more than it will fans of the traditional horror film. Indeed, Hellsing's main attraction is the fast-paced, stylish action that punctuates each and every episode. Although the direction of these sequences is nothing extraordinary, the stylish artwork, funky soundtrack and the distinctive character designs of Alucard and his adversaries give this a unique aesthetic appeal that helps set it apart from the crowd. Much like Trigun and Dragonball Z before it, half the fun comes from the buildup to the actual fight, the anticipation of seeing Alucard's full potential in battle. When the action finally comes around you shouldn't find yourself left feeling disappointed; Hellsing is a sturdy if unspectacular action series.

But Hellsing doesn't really hit its stride until we're well into the third volume, making us sit through quite a few lacklustre, uneventful storylines before we get to the real meat and bones of the series. And with Hellsing being only thirteen episodes long, this will be an inexcusable shortcoming for some, a waste of precious screen time that could have been used to further the otherwise underdeveloped story. On top of all the various subplots and flashbacks that detail the character's checkered backgrounds, the central storyline concerns the appearance of a mysterious computer chip that can transform ordinary humans into blood sucking scum. Despite being the primary focus of Hellsing, this story never really develops and is almost totally ignored by the time we get round to the inevitable climax, leaving many viewers disappointed at the lack of a resolution.

They may be integral to the plot, but the computer chips were never the main driving force behind the success of Hellsing (besides, if you really want to know more, you can get your hands on the recently released manga version of Hellsing). It's the inventive concept, the stylish characters and the fast-paced action that have won this series so many fans the world over. And you count me among them.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 audio, English subtitles. Disc 1: trailer music video, creditless opening, concept art collection, action figure info. Disc 2: staff interview, creditless ending (ver. 1), concept art collection. Disc 3: creditless ending (ver. 2), concept art collection. Disc 4: creditless ending (ver. 3), concept art collection, weapons of hellsing, magazine ad art

Release information: UK: 20 September 2004, ADV

Notes: The box is roughly twice as thick as a regular DVD case and opens in the middle, revealing a central CD holder in the middle that houses discs 2 and 3 while 1 and 4 are held at the sides. It's a sturdy structure that feels as if it would take quite some punishment to damage, but neither is it as lavish as some might have expected from a collected edition of a series as prestigious as Hellsing. The artwork on the regular cover and the alternate reversible cover is all-new, but it's very similar to the original release so you should know what to expect here. As far as I can tell the content of the discs is entirely identical to the regular release, which means that we're treated to some pretty nice extras including interviews, production sketches and music videos along with all the regular clean open/close options. All in all, a neat package that represents good value for money.

-- John Huxley 1st Aug 04

Hellsing Images