| Hellsing | |
First volume of Hellsing manga released in Japan |
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| ヘルシング (Herushingu) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Action supernatural fiction |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Kouta Hirano |
| Published by | Shōnen Gahosha |
| English publisher | Madman Entertainment Dark Horse Comics Chuang Yi |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Young King OURs |
| Original run | 1997 – 2009 |
| Volumes | 10 |
| Manga | |
| Hellsing: The Dawn | |
| Written by | Kouta Hirano |
| Published by | Shōnen Gahosha |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Young King OURs |
| Original run | 2001 – ongoing |
| TV anime | |
| Hellsing | |
| Directed by | Umanosuke Iida |
| Written by | Chiaki J. Konaka |
| Studio | Gonzo |
| Licensed by | Madman Entertainment Funimation Entertainment ADV Films (defunct) |
| Network | Fuji Television |
| English network | Starz! (Encore Action) Animax 2x2 |
| Original run | October 10, 2001 – January 16, 2002 |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Original video animation | |
| Hellsing Ultimate | |
| Directed by | Tomokazu Tokoro (epis. 1-4) Hiroyuki Tanaka (epis. 5-10) |
| Written by | Yōsuke Kuroda (epis. 1-4) Hideyuki Kurata (epis. 5-10) |
| Studio | Satelight (epis. 1-4) Madhouse (epis. 5-7) Graphnica (epis. 8-10) Kelmadick (epis. 8-10) |
| Licensed by | Madman Entertainment Manga Entertainment Funimation Entertainment |
| Released | February 10, 2006 – ongoing |
| Runtime | 40 - 60 minutes (each) |
| Episodes | 10 |
Hellsing (ヘルシング Herushingu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It first premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shōnen Gahosha. As of March 2009 all chapters have been released in 10 volumes in Japan. Hellsing chronicles the efforts of the mysterious and secret Hellsing Organization, as it combats vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural foes who threaten England.
The manga series is licensed for English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics, in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. In 2001, Hirano began publishing chapters of a prequel series, Hellsing: The Dawn, in special editions of Young King OURs, with six chapters released as of September 2008.
An anime series of the same name was produced by Gonzo. Directed by Umanosuke Iida, the series was based on the manga, but used a screenplay by Chiaki Konaka and is significantly different from the manga in terms of plot, though it uses some of the same characters and similar character designs. Spanning 13 episodes, it was broadcast on Japan's Fuji Television from October 10, 2001 to January 16, 2002.
An original video animation (OVA) entitled Hellsing Ultimate is being produced by Geneon. It follows the manga storyline more closely than the anime series.[1] The first episode was released in Japan on February 10, 2006, and as of August 2011, eight episodes have been released. The sixth OVA in the series will be available on both DVD and Blu-ray; both Blu-ray and DVD editions of episodes one through five are available in Japan as of October 22, 2010.[2] The first episode was released in North America on December 5, 2006. As of August 2010, four episodes of the OVA have been released in North America. At Anime Expo 2010 Funimation Entertainment announced that they have licensed four of the new OVA episodes 5-8 and the original TV series and these will be released in the USA in 2012.[3]
Contents |
Hellsing is named after and centered around the Holy Order of Protestant Knights, originally led by Abraham Van Helsing. The mission of Hellsing is to protect Queen and Country from the undead and other supernatural forces of evil. This organization is currently led by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who inherited the leadership of Hellsing as a child after the death of her father. She is protected by the faithful Hellsing family butler and former Hellsing "trashman," Walter C. Dornez, and Alucard, the original and most powerful vampire that swore loyalty to the Hellsing family after being defeated by Van Helsing one hundred years before the story takes place. These formidable guardians are joined early on in the storyline by former police officer Seras Victoria, whom Alucard turned into a vampire.
As the scale and frequency of incidents involving the undead escalate in England and all around the world, Sir Integra discovers that the remnants of a Nazi group called Millennium still exist and are intent on reviving the Third Reich by creating a battalion of vampires. Millennium, Hellsing, and the Vatican section XIII Iscariot clash in an apocalyptic three-sided war in London, and Millennium reveals its true objective: to destroy the vampire Alucard, ending a feud begun during World War II.
More formally known as the Royal Order of Protestant Knights, the Hellsing Organization was founded by Abraham Van Helsing shortly after the events of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula as a response to the threat posed by vampires. The Hellsing Organization is traditionally headed by Abraham's descendants, who control Alucard, the ultimate vampire created by the organization for use in their continuing struggle against supernatural threats. After World War II, it was decided that Alucard was too powerful or potentially too dangerous to continue to be used as a weapon, and was locked away in the dungeon of the Hellsing mansion. Upon Arthur's death, his daughter, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, became the director of the organization. Integra's uncle, Richard Hellsing, attempted to assassinate her and take control of the organization, but was defeated by Alucard, whom Integra accidentally released.
In the Hellsing universe, the organization is an integral part of the true power-structure of the United Kingdom, which is, according to the story, still ruled by a hidden aristocracy and the monarchy. The organization is tasked with defending the country's shores from any and all supernatural threats and often faces controversy over the highly unconventional methods Hellsing chooses to do this, such as the use of "anti-Christian" powers and creatures. In the TV series, Hellsing is portrayed much more like a paramilitary or counter-terrorist organization armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns and GKN Saxon or VAB APCs used to transport Hellsing soldiers to areas where there are reports of supernatural outbreaks in Britain. The paramilitary aspects are rarely mentioned in the OVA or the manga.
The Father of Integra and friends of Sir Hugh Islands & Sir Shelby Penwood. During World War 2 he sent 14 year Walter and Alucard in female form to stop Millennium
The Wild Geese, a group of mercenaries, were hired as soldiers after a Millennium attack on the Hellsing headquarters left the organization severely short-handed. The leader of the Wild Geese is Captain Pip Bernadotte, a womanizing Frenchman who loves to tease Seras Victoria. Its members are remarkably mixed in ethnicity, age, and background. Though highly skilled, they are no match in a close fight against vampires and rely on measures like remote-detonated mines to combat the Millennium forces. Only seven of them survived the battle, with only two without serious injuries.
The Iscariot Organization, named after Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is a top-secret wing of the Vatican charged with the active pursuit and extermination of demons (such as vampires) and heretics. Given that the Hellsing Organization not only employs vampires but is run on the principles of staunch Protestantism, Iscariot is their natural rival, despite their similar aims.
A priest who acts like a bodyguard for Maxwell, perhaps similar to Walter's role with Integra.
The new leader of Iscariot after Maxwell, as depicted in volume 10.
A mysterious group of Nazis that was hiding in Brazil since the end of World War II, they serve as the main antagonists for the remainder of the series. Research headed by the Doctor developed a method of creating artificial vampires, which are then sent out to wreak havoc with chips implanted in them to monitor their status, behavior, intent, and aggression. Somewhat similar to kamikaze units, they are remotely ignited and destroyed once defeated.
A Spanish vampire who appears in Volume 3/4/OVA 3 who promised Brazilian police and military officers immortality through becoming vampires in exchange for killing Alucard and Seras Victoria.
Two vampire brothers who were sent by Millennium to kill everyone in the Hellsing mansion.They appear to be american due to their accents and are hitmen as they talk about jobs in Volume/OVA 2.
Walter had been captured by The Captain and transformed into a Vampire by Doc. This implied that he teamed up with Millennium since 1944
The Convention of Twelve or the Twelve Conventions is the name of a secret society that runs England from the shadows. Their members include nobles, prominent politicians, and military leaders. They hold meetings around a long, rectangular table, with Sir Integra Hellsing at the head and Sir Hugh Islands at the foot. They have also been known as The Roundtable, in reference to the Round Table of Arthurian legend.
The leader of the round table
A admiral in the British military
A lieutenant of the round Table
Grandson of the Original Penwood
Great grandson of the original sir islands
Made a brief appearance
also made an appearance
made 3 small cameos
Integra's uncle who wanted to kill her but failed when she awoke Alucard.
The first Vampire alucard encounter and also attacked Seras
Bonnie and Clyde-styled vampires who were killed by Seras and Alucard [Episode 2].
The series premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ran for eleven years until the final chapter was released in the November 2008 issue.[4] The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shōnen Gahosha, with 10 volumes having been released. The series is licensed for an English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics. The first volume was released on December 1, 2003 and as of May 19, 2010, the company has published ten translated volumes. Chuang Yi is releasing the series in English in Singapore, with six volumes released as of October 2008, and through an agreement with the company, Madman Entertainment is re-releasing those volumes in Australia and New Zealand.[5][6] Hellsing is also licensed for regional language releases in France by Editions Tonkam, in Italy by Dynit, in Hungary by Mangafan, in Germany by Planet Manga, in Poland by Japonica Polonica Fantastica and in Denmark and Sweden by Mangismo.
See:Crossfire (manga)
A three chapter side story about two Iscariot Members Heinkel Wolfe and Yumie Takagi. With Cameos of Alexander Anderson and Enrico Maxwell. But is a separate story and is mostly likely another prototype manga as it features a man who resembles Walter C. Dornez. In OVA 6 it was released as a Drama CD.
In 2001, Hirano began publishing chapters of a prequel series, Hellsing: The Dawn, in special editions of Young King OURs, of which six chapters have been released as of May 2009. The Dawn features a fourteen year-old Walter C. Dornez and Alucard, in the form of a 14 year old girl, attacking Millennium's base of operations in Nazi-controlled Poland in September 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising. Publication was scheduled to resume after the conclusion of the main Hellsing series, however, as of yet there have been no new chapters since the manga's conclusion. According to Taliesin Jaffe, the chapters of The Dawn will be animated as part of the Hellsing Ultimate OVA series. The first animated entry to The Dawn, was released in conjunction with the eighth OVA.[7]
This series features Kouta's old works, before he started Hellsing this features the character's prototypes.
Following the release of the manga, Gonzo produced a thirteen episode anime series that uses the same characters and settings, but a different story from its source manga. Written by Chiaki J. Konaka and directed by Umanosuke Iida, the series premiered on Fuji Television on December 27, 2003 and ran until its conclusion on February 16, 2004. The series is licensed for English language release in North America by Geneon Entertainment, in the United Kingdom by ADV Films (although no longer licensed since September 2009) and in Australia by Madman Entertainment. Geneon's English dub of the series aired in the United States on Starz!'s Encore Action channel from December 21, 2003 to March 15, 2004.
The series uses two pieces of theme music. "Logos Naki World" (A World Without Logic) by Yasushi Ishii is used as the opening theme for all thirteen episodes. Mr. Big performs the song "Shine" for the series ending theme. It has a manga adaptation as well.
Hellsing Ultimate, known simply as Hellsing in Japan, is an original video animation (OVA) series formerly animated by animation studio Satelight and later Madhouse, now being animated by Graphinica (as of OVA VIII) and produced by Geneon. The first fifty minute episode was released to Region 2 DVD in Japan on February 10, 2006.[8] The seventh episode was released in Japan on December 23, 2009.[9] The seventh episode DVD included a teaser trailer announcing the eighth episode with a tentative release date of "sometime 2010." [10] The ending of each episode uses various pieces of instrumental music composed by Hayato Matsuo and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra up to OVA V. OVAs VI and VII feature vocal closing themes by Japanese rock group Suilen. Titled "Magnolia" and "Shinto-Shite" respectively. The OVA series is licensed for release in the United States by Geneon USA. In producing the English dub of the series, Geneon used much of the original cast from the dub of the anime series, which the company had also licensed. The first episode was released to Region 1 DVD on December 5, 2006, after premiering the episode at the 2006 Anime Expo convention. Though Geneon USA stopped self-distribution of its titles in 2007,[11] it remains the licensor of the series and in 2008 the North American distribution was assumed by Funimation Entertainment.[12] Funimation released the fourth episode on September 23, 2008. Simultaneously, the company re-released the first three episodes. At Anime Expo 2010, Funimation Entertainment announced that they do have all three of the new OVA (episodes 5-7 as of that date) and the original TV series. On July 27, 2011, Hellsing OVA VIII was finally released in Japan after a long one year and eight month wait. Along with the first episode of The Dawn, Hellsing IX is expected to arrive in early 2012.[3] Funimation Entertainment additionally announced that they licensed the 8th OVA as well as the first four OVAs and will re-release them as well as the previously announced OVAs in 2012.[13]
Two CD soundtracks composed by Yasushi Ishii have been released by Geneon for the Hellsing anime series. Hellsing Original Soundtrack: Raid was released on July 1, 2003 and contained 19 tracks.[14] The second soundtrack, Hellsing Original Soundtrack: Ruins, containing an additional 22 tracks followed on September 2, 2003.[15]
Also, three soundtracks composed by Hayato Matsuo have been released for the Hellsing OVA series (Hellsing Ultimate). Hellsing OVA Original Soundtrack - BLACK DOG Released on March 21, 2008.[16] As well as a DVD-Audio mini-soundtrack released as an extra with Hellsing OVA IV in Japan, titled Premium Disk - Warsaw Recording Selection featuring 9 tracks.[17] The newest one is also an extra with Hellsing I-V Blu-ray BOX, titled Nazi CD featuring 13 tracks and 1 secret track. The vocal tracks by Suilen were released by the band on their recent mini-album THE DAWN.[18]
In 2005, the six and seventh volumes of the Hellsing manga series ranked among Diamond Comics Distributors's list of the top 48 manga volumes sold in the United States for the year.[19] In November 2007, the ninth volume was among the top 10 volumes sold according to Japan's monthly sales rankings.[20][21]
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