My thoughts on Hell Girl  

Written by Shadowfox on December 7th, 2007 in Anime    3 comments

I’ve just recently finished watching the first season of Hell Girl (地獄少女, Jigoku Shoujo), so I thought I’d share some thoughts and info with those of you who read the blog. Here goes:

Each episode follows a person who experiences some sort of torment or anguish in their life (caused by another person), up to the point where they become desperate enough to use the Hell Correspondence (Jigoku Tsuushin) website … which can only be accessed at midnight (don’t bother trying to search for it :P). All that is on the site is the text: We will take revenge on your behalf (あなたの怨み、晴らします。), a text box where the name of the person you want revenge to be taken on should be typed, and the submit button.

Soon after accessing, the submitter is visited by Enma Ai (閻魔 あい), the Jigoku Shoujo, who hands them a black straw doll with a red string tied around its neck, and informs them that in order for the revenge to be taken, the string should be pulled of and the object of their revenge will be ferried straightaway to Hell; however, the person taking the revenge will also be damned, and they will never be able to enter heaven and will also be ferried to Hell when they pass away.

When the string is pulled, Ai’s assistants presents the object of revenge with their sins … and finally Ai appears herself – and recites the litany: “Oh, pitiful shadow cloaked in darkness, Thy actions cause men pain and suffering, Thy hollow soul drowns in thy sins … ” then absolute silence, then “do you want to try dying this once?”.

I enjoyed Jigoku Shoujo tremendously – the characters were great, and I thought Mamiko Noto, the seiyuu for Ai was perfect – having that soft gentle voice saying “Ippen, shin de miru?” (want to try dying this once), would be all the more terrifying for the person with a guilty conscience.

There is a shorted second season – Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori – as well as a 12 episode live-action series, something I definitely want to get my paws on.

Thats it for now, but before I leave … this wouldn’t be complete without a picture … enjoy :)


Jigoku Shoujo

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  • http://www.descon.co.za Sou1Co11ector

    I saw this anime last year. It was compelling in the beginning with the getting dragged to hell part, but it later became too much of the same.

    It started to pick up again when they introduced the girl who could see/hear Enma Ai as she ferried people to hell.

    It then went the normal route where the character just goes completely insane and I thought they could’ve done a better job of tying the story down.

    But it was good at the beginning and the mid-end of the show, except the last 2 or 3 episodes.

  • http://www.animated-meanderings.com/about/authors/ Shadowfox

    It’s a fair point, although I must admit it’s been such a long time since I’ve watched it that it is probably due a rewatch. And possibly a new review. Will have to see when the time becomes available :)

  • UnderWorld

    Hell Girl…. Creepy…. I came here after watching a video of Hell Girl and thought “Who the heck is that girl… she looks demonic and also cool at the same time.” After researching more of her, I now know her as the girl from hell who you can summon at a website at midnight who will help you get revenge at people who makes you upset/you have hated them your whole life. But there is a cost to this: there is a contract where you take a straw doll form Hell Girl and there is a red string around it’s neck. You pull it, the person you hate gets sent to hell, and when you die you get sent to,etc.Anyway i wish i could meet Hell girl other than using the website because i don’t hate anyone really.