5/5 For Some Vengeance Is All They Want But IS the Ultimate Price Worth It
  by Rich (CA)
Like people have said this is indeed a dark series not for young children at all but truly meant for adults as most can probably tell. The series is mostly dealing with people who have grudges against someone else be they truly great or simply petty it doesn't really matter to Ai Enma also known as the Hell Girl. Ai Enma has a website that if found by someone will give them the opportunity to avenge themselves on someone they feel has wronged them or their family, the person who wishes to curse the person who wronged them makes a pact with Enma. Enma will indeed send the cursed person to Hell for eternal punishment but the cost to the one who makes the bargain is just as sever, he or she after their life is over will also be cursed to Hell as punishment for making the bargain and going through with it. The series shows with each episode situations that have both the feeling that "Yes this person does indeed deserve to go to Hell", but other situations show us that while it may seem harsh that it's for the most part Life, meaning there are situations of just standard school bullying and taunting, and so the question for the viewer is do some of these people deserve their consignment into Hell for some of these crimes. I also like how they show after the person has done the deed and they see the aftermath they have to wonder if what they have done is truly worth it and if it's made their life better like they thought it would. The picture is nice and clear and as always with Funimation the cast for both the English and Japanese cast did incredibly well. So if you like the dark animes like Hellsing or Vampire D this is another series that's worth you interest and time...

5/5 Gorgeously Done.
  by Van E. Wood (Virginia)
It has been a while since I have first set eyes on this series and must I say it's truly splendid, the art, the music, and characters you come across. It has a mix of a bit of feudal japan and modern day japan. I have seen both seasons of Hell Girl and working on the third. If you love a bit of horror,fantasy, and suspense then this series is wonderful for you.


Your main character is Ai Enma who is known as Hell Girl(or Jigoku Shoujo), and has a website that is ONLY available at midnight. People who wants revenge types in the name of the person who deserves to go to Hell. She will come possibly at that instant or later on and will hand you a black voodoo doll with a red string around it's neck. She says that once you curse some one by getting revenge you will also dig a second grave and once YOU die you will also be sent to Hell, but thats after you die by normal causes in life. She will disappear and watch you to see if you'll pull the string. She will exact your revenge and send your acquaintance on a ferry boat to Hell and give you a mark on some part of your body (usually on the chest) to show you that was your payment.

A dark series but truly and wonderfully made. Also made into a live action series, 3 anime seasons also a manga series that is continuing to be published here in NA by DELREY manga. Hope you enjoy the series and NOT be disappointed.

5/5 Perhaps it is time to die...
  by T. Mccormick (CA)
These are the final words a damned soul will hear alive before they succumb to Ai Enma and her deadly fragrant flowers that fall from her kimono. This unfortunate human has been the target of supernatural vengeance. They committed some unspeakable acts of cruelty to someone who was able to summon Hell Girl because vengeance burns in their heart. Someone was willing to sell their soul to Hell for "...the revenge one cannot exact alone". The Demon, Hell Girl, will ferry the soul of your tormenter straight into the depths of Hell if you enter her covenant and promise her your soul also when you die..

This series is one of the best I have seen but it has many things going against it, Some of these may make this series unwatchable if you like lots of action or aren't captivated by the characters and concepts. Repetitive and predictable plots, reuse of Hell Girl's dialog over and over, gratuitous amounts of violence and inhumanity. It also employs some of the most overused character types in the genre; the super grownup child with special powers who communicates with Ai. Her irresponsible father is also widowed. Her father is also a corrupt but good-hearted journalist who wants to stop Hell Girl and her revenge for hire service.

The way the entire production works is such a pleasure to watch that nothing detracts from it. I don't normally like this type of story and it took a few episodes to grow on me. The animation is top notch. The creepy way Hell Girl looks in a black school girl's uniform unsettles me. The beautiful backgrounds are works of art. The musical score is perfectly matched to the mood of the scenes and defines the characters like operatic motifs. The opening and closing animation sequences and the accompanying songs I watched for all 26 episodes I enjoyed them that much.

The stories follow a formula much of the series. Single self contained shows that show someone being wronged so badly by someone they summon Hell Girl who gives them a way to get the ultimate revenge, sending that person straight into Hell. Mixed into the episodes are subplots such as the reporter and his daughter and the reason behind Hell Girl's interest in them. Another sheds light on why Hell Girl does what she does. There are numerous other threads woven in the episodes.

Miss Ai lives in a ephemeral place with her shinigami assistants and her kindly grandmother. The English voice actor for Hell Girl does an excellent job, delivering her lines without emotion, perfectly in character.

The last three episodes are combined to form a final story that wraps up the subplots, adds closure and also promises of more to come from this series.

I don't know if another season is coming, it would be difficult to top this. Hell Girl reminds me of Witchblade or Speed Grapher for story quality and content. It combines Western and Japanese elements in a very unique way and should be enjoyable to non-anime fans who like scary stories with lots of psychological intensity.

Not much nudity, less than one scene per episode, but many scenes per episode of violence and cruelty. Not much swearing outside of the use of the word "Hell". And there are some scary scenes with Hell and its evil minions. And the series overall is grossly violent and depicts nastiness of every type which is difficult to watch at times.

Some reasons for using Hell Girl's "Instant Karma" method are questionable at best. Mistakes are made and even redemption and salvation are possible but few black straw dolls are returned unused to Hell Girl. Most pull the scarlet thread for some reason plus their desire for vengeance.

I rarely write reviews of anime because everyone has their own tastes and I doubt I like what most anime fans like. I feel a need to promote it because I enjoyed each episode so much. This is really good adult anime that has all the elements for greatness. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.



5/5 Hell Girl: The Complete First Season
  by F. Valette (Düsseldorf, Germany)
Fascinating stories raising a number of profound philosiphical issues about evil, right and wrong, vengeance, salvation, and even the meaning of life!
Japanese cartoons like this series, or films such as Princess Mononoke, bring you food for thought and for meditation. They have nothing to do with the usual rubbish which is inflicted upon us on TV. In my view they could even be viewed by children below the age of 13.

5/5 Fun, great art and sound track
  by Thomas Davis (Apex, NC USA)
The sound track for this is extremely well done and artistry is beautiful. I have to admit that the plot seemed repetitive at first but did evolve into a greater story. It was not bad guy and victim goes to hell in every episode. I bet someone that watched the first few shows would have thought this to be repetitive. There were a few shows that actually left me shocked and faced with some truths about mankind. I'm older, so i am not saying this is an educational film, but it is a film that just might remind you of an old song.

This film is not like spirited away, shana, witchblade or even hellsing where there is an obvious plot. Clearly, the majority of episodes can stand on their own without the others as short stories, but as the series moves on there is a move away from the short stories to something more intense.

I watched this with my daughter. It does have some strong content for kids, but she is grown up enough to handle some foul language and bloody graphics. We had fun burning though the 6 DVD's. I was her that pushed me into watching this after seeing it a few times on TV.

Five stars may be slightly generous, but the production is very well done.