A Short Commentary on Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is a mini-anime series made in 2004, and it focuses on childhood trauma and prejudices and their effect on an individual through the main character Lucy and other mutants. These mutants are called Diclonii. They differ from ordinary humans with their horn-like protrusions and invisible limbs called "vectors." Diclonii is thought to tend toward violence against humans. Thus, they are classified as dangerous and are held mostly captive or directly killed. Lucy is one of the captivated ones, and the series starts with her escape from the research facility. As the series progresses, we witness the story behind Lucy's violent behavior, which is a reaction to childhood trauma caused by her peers. On one hand, we have Lucy, who is thought to be a wild creature by nature, and on the other hand, we have Nana, who is violent on command due to her bond with Director Kurama. These two complex characters reveal that Diclonii is not wild animals but are like any human who would choose the wrong path because of their upbringing and the things they are exposed to. Since the characters have gruesome backstories and the theme is just as brutal, the show contains a lot of vulgar scenes filled with violence and nudity. Even though some of these scenes are written for fanservice, most of them are there to indicate people's perspective on Diclonii and how they are shaped by this perspective. Overall, this anime is a quality watch with its plot, characters, visuals, and awesome soundtrack; however, it is not fit for sensitive audiences due to triggering elements like an animal and child abuse. Still, those watching it will be questioning their perspectives on people and violence.