| Elfen Lied | |
 First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Nyu | |
| エルフェンリート (Erufen Rīto) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Lynn Okamoto |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Young Jump Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Young Jump |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | June 6, 2002 – August 25, 2005 |
| Volumes | 12 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Mamoru Kanbe |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Takao Yoshioka |
| Music by |
|
| Studio | |
| Licensed by |
|
| Original network | AT-X |
| English network | |
| Original run | July 25, 2004 – October 17, 2004 |
| Episodes | 13 + OVA |
Elfen Lied (Japanese: エルフェンリート, Hepburn: Erufen Rīto) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Lynn Okamoto. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from June 2002 to August 2005, with its 107 chapters collected into twelve tankōbon volumes. Elfen Lied revolves around the interactions, views, emotions, and differences between human beings and the Diclonii, a mutant species similar to humans in build but distinguishable by two horns on their heads and "vectors", transparent telekinetically controlled arms that have the power to manipulate and cut objects within their reach. The series is centered on the teenage Diclonius girl "Lucy" who was rejected by human beings and subsequently wants revenge.
The series takes its name from the poem "Elfenlied", German for "song of the fairies", which is featured in the story. Elfen Lied involves themes of discrimination, social alienation, identity, prejudice, revenge, abuse, jealousy, regret, and the value of humanity. It is also noted for the graphic violence, emotional themes of how the characters change through, and the overall transgressive subject matter of the whole story.
A 13-episode anime television series adaptation was produced by the studio Arms and broadcast on AT-X from July to October 2004. The anime finished airing before the manga was complete; as a result, the plot differed between the two, especially the ending. The manga is licensed in North America by Dark Horse Comics. The anime series has been licensed in North America by ADV Films and in Australia by Madman Entertainment.
- ^ ダークファンタジーまとめ. Akiba Souken (in Japanese). Kakaku.com. March 20, 2019. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ "Anime UK News – Our Favourite Halloween Specials". Anime UK News. October 29, 2018. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
Elfen Lied is a dark fantasy series that will rip your heart out both emotionally, and literally.
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GermanFrenchwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Elfen Lied South Africa Animax". Animax. July 25, 2004. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
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