Hell Girl 地獄少女, Jigoku Shōjo

The cover of eighth Japanese DVD compilation of the second season released by Aniplex on August 22, 2007
地獄少女
(Jigoku Shōjo)
Genre Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
TV anime
Directed by Takahiro Ōmori
Written by Ken'ichi Kanemaki
Studio Studio Deen
Licensed by

Australia New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Canada United States Funimation
United Kingdom Revelation films
Network Animax, MBS, Tokyo MX, Kids Station
English network

Canada United States IFC
India Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Republic of China Hong Kong Animax Asia
Singapore Okto
Original run October 4, 2005 – April 4, 2006
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
Manga
Written by Miyuki Etō
Published by Kodansha
English publisher Canada United States Del Rey Manga
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Nakayoshi
Original run October 2005 – 2008
Volumes 9
TV anime

Hell Girl: Two Mirrors
(Jigoku Shōjo: Futakomori)
Directed by Takahiro Ōmori
Written by Ken'ichi Kanemaki
Studio Studio Deen
Licensed by Canada United States Sentai Filmworks
Network Animax, MBS, Tokyo MX, Kids Station
English network India Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Republic of China Hong Kong Animax Asia
Original run October 7, 2006 – April 6, 2007
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
TV drama
Directed by Makoto Naganuma
Studio Izumi TV Production
Network Nippon Television
Original run November 4, 2006 – January 27, 2007
Episodes 12
Game
Jigoku Shōjo Akekazura
Developer Compile Heart
Rating CERO: B (Ages 12 and up)
Platform Nintendo DS, PS2
Released September 27, 2007 (DS), September 19, 2009 (PS2)
TV anime

Hell Girl: Three Vessels
(Jigoku Shōjo: Mitsuganae)
Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
Written by Ken'ichi Kanemaki
Studio Studio Deen
Licensed by Canada United States Sentai Filmworks
Network Animax, MBS, Tokyo MX
Original run October 4, 2008 – April 4, 2009
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
Anime and Manga Portal

Hell Girl (地獄少女, Jigoku Shōjo?), also known as Jigoku Shōjo: Girl from Hell is an anime series, produced by Aniplex and Studio Deen. It focuses on the existence of a supernatural system that allows people to take revenge by having other people sent to Hell via the services of the mysterious titular character and her assistants who implement this system. Revenge, injustice, hatred, and the nature of human emotions are common themes throughout the series.

It premiered across Japan on numerous television stations, including Animax, Tokyo MX, MBS and others, between October 4, 2005 and April 4, 2006. Following the success of the first season, the series was followed soon after into a second, Jigoku Shōjo Futakomori (地獄少女 二籠?), which premiered October 7, 2006 across Japan on Animax.[citation needed] A live-action television series adaptation started airing in Japan on Nippon Television from November 4, 2006.[citation needed] A third season of the anime, further continuing the series, was first announced on the mobile version of the series' official website Jigoku Tsūshin.[1] The official title of the third season was announced to be Jigoku Shōjo Mitsuganae (地獄少女 三鼎?).[2] and began airing on Japanese TV October 4, 2008.[3]
Contents
[hide]

[edit] Plot
Main article: List of Hell Girl characters

Most episodes are self-contained short stories in which the series narrates the suffering of a different individual caused by one or more antagonists. In general during each arc, the protagonists' dramas are explained in detail from the start of their grudges, through the escalation of their torment until it becomes unbearable and they resort to accessing the Hell Correspondence website. Although in general, the client gives the antagonist a chance, he or she usually ends up pulling the string on his or her doll and sending the antagonist to hell. Once they have pulled the string, before taking the antagonist to hell, Ai Enma punishes the person for his or her sins with the help of her companions.

In the first season, the story soon follows a journalist named Shibata Hajime, a former blackmailer, and his daughter Tsugumi who shares a strange connection with the Hell Girl as they investigate the truth behind the Hell Girl. In the second season, a mysterious young girl from Hell, named Kikuri who is able to travel freely between Earth and the Twilight realm where Ai resides, is introduced. Later, the plot centers around Takuma Kurebayashi, a boy who is blamed by his townsfolk for causing disappearances around the town that are in reality caused by the townsfolk using the Hell Correspondence. In the third season, some time after Ai's death, Kikuri returns to recruit Ai's assistants along with a yōkai named Yamawaro, who accepts an old offer from Ai to become her fourth assistant. The story follows Ai's mysterious revival from death and subsequent inhabitation of the body of a young schoolgirl, Yuzuki Mikage.
[edit] Hell Correspondence

The medium through which a client contacts Ai Enma has changed over the centuries. Initially clients would write the names of whom they hated on an ema, which later changed to sending a letter to the address appearing in a three-column newspaper advertisement only visible to those with enough hatred. Once the internet became available, people could access the Hell Correspondence website, otherwise known as the "Hotline to Hell". Soon after, the site was adapted into a mobile version that could be accessed from cell phones.[4]

Each medium can only be used at midnight by one who harbors a desire for revenge against their object of hatred. Should someone submit the name of someone against whom they bear a grudge or immense hatred, and their request is accepted, Ai Enma will take them to a realm of perpetual twilight where she offers them a straw doll, one of her companions, with a red string wound around its neck and describe to the client the details of their contract; should the client pull the string tied around the doll's neck, she will ferry the target of the revenge straightaway to Hell. However, once the client's life has ended, he or she, too, will go to Hell, and a black crest-shaped mark appears on the client's chest to serve as a permanent reminder of this and their decision to send someone to Hell. However, this mark is no guarantee that the person themselves won't be sent to hell by another client.
[edit] Media
[edit] Anime
Part of a painting by Kawanabe Kyōsai, featured in the opening theme of Hell Girl
Main article: List of Hell Girl episodes

The Hell Girl anime series is produced by Aniplex and Studio Deen. It is directed by Takahiro Ōmori and written by Hiroshi Watanabe. The first season spanned 26 episodes and premiered across Japan on Animax between October 4, 2005, and April 4, 2006. The series' second season, premiered from October 7, 2006 across Japan on Animax. Animax also later translated and dubbed both the first[citation needed] and second seasons[citation needed] of the series into English for broadcast across its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and also aired the series across its other networks worldwide in various other languages, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Europe and other regions. The first season of the series was also licensed for North American distribution by FUNimation. The U.S. cable/satellite channel IFC announced in September 2007[5] that it acquired Hell Girl from Funimation, which then premiered on July 9, 2008.[6] Section23 Films announced that Sentai Filmworks has licensed the second season of the series, with the first DVD set shipping on May 25, 2010, and the second set on July 27.[7] On June 24, 2010, Section23 Films announced that Sentai has also the third season of Hell Girl, under the subtitle Three Vessels. The first set will be released on September 28, 2010,[8] followed by the second set to be released on November 30, 2010.
[edit] CDs
Main article: List of Hell Girl soundtracks

Two original soundtrack albums were released for Hell Girl. The first album contains twenty-four tracks and was released on January 25, 2006 by Sony Music Entertainment under the catalog number SVWC-7331.[9] The second album contains twenty-six tracks and was released on April 19, 2006 by Sony Music Entertainment under the catalog number SVWC-7348.[10]

Two original soundtrack albums were released for Jigoku Shōjo Futakomori. The first album contains twenty-three tracks and was released on January 24, 2007 by Sony Music Entertainment under the catalog number SVWC-7440.[11] The second album contains twenty-three tracks and was released on March 21, 2007 by Sony Music Entertainment under the catalog number SVWC-7454.[12]

Two original soundtrack albums were released for Jigoku Shōjo: Mitsuganae. The first album contained twenty-eight tracks and was released on December 17, 2008 by Sony Music Entertainment under the catalog number SVWC-7597.[13] The second album contained twenty-seven tracks and was released on March 4, 2009 by Sony Music Entertainment under the catalog number SVWC-7612.[14]
[edit] Manga

The Hell Girl anime series was later adapted into a manga, which featured art by Miyuki Etō (永遠 幸, Etō Miyuki?). It has been serialized in Kodansha's Nakayoshi shōjo manga magazine since October 2005. While the stories are mostly original, chapters 4 and 10 are adapted from their respective anime episodes (in the first season), while chapter 2 is adapted from anime episode 9. Chapter 17 is adapted from episode 8 of the second season.

Due to the difference in media, Ai's modus operandi in the manga is somewhat different from the anime. Ai has been seen attending the same schools as some of her student-clients. Also, the straw figurine with the string was not featured in the first few chapters. Subsequently, its appearance is no longer as ubiquitous as its anime counterpart. Ai's clients need only to accept the contract, and the victims' torture by Ai and her helpers would then begin. In some cases, the torture begins after she has rung her bracelet in front of her victim (and not before as seen in the anime). The appearance of the boat in which Ai uses to ferry her victims to Hell is reduced as well. Notably, Sentaro Shibata is featured, but Tsugumi and Hajime are not. Also, Kikuri has made appearances from volume 4 onwards. Takuma appears towards the end of the manga, though not as young as his anime counter part. Detective Meshiai and Hotaru Meshiai also appear. Though Hajime doesn't appear, the biography Hajime wrote does, as a source of information on Ai for Meshiai and Takuma, implying that Hajime does have a presence in the manga universe. Subtle nods to the anime are scattered through out the manga, such as Gill du Ronfell's cameo in volume 6.

The manga has recently been licensed by Del Rey Manga, and the first volume, titled Hell Girl, was released January 2008. The second volume was released in May 2008.
[edit] Live action

Hell Girl was adapted into a single live-action television drama series that premiered on Nippon Television from November 4, 2006 spanning 12 half-hour episodes. The series was directed by Makoto Naganuma. The theme song for the series is "Dream Catcher" by Olivia Lufkin.[15]

Hisahiro Ogura, the actor who portrays Wanyūdō in the live-action adaptation is also the Japanese male narrator at the beginning of every episode of the anime series. Eriko Matsushima retains her role as Ai's grandmother in the live action series.
[edit] Cast

* Ai Enma: Sayuri Iwata
* Ren Ichimoku: Kazuki Kato
* Hone Onna: Aya Sugimoto
* Wanyūdō: Hisahiro Ogura
* Ai's Grandmother: Eriko Matsushima
* Hajime Shibata: Kazuhiko Nishimura
* Tsugumi Shibata: Saaya Irie

[edit] Episodes
# Title Original air date
1 "Cracked Time"
"Hibiwareta Jikan" (ひび割れた時間) November 4, 2006[16]
Yu Miyazuki is relentlessly bullied by Sakurako Endo after being accepted into a university. She decides to contact Hell Correspondence and types in Endo's name, but decides not to submit it. The next day, Yu is forced by Endo and her gang to shoplift, where she is almost caught, and again she types her name but does not submit it. As punishment for failing to shoplift, Endo forces Yu onto an older male and takes a picture of them. Yu almost is hit by a truck, but is saved by Ai who gives her Wanyuudo. Her university application is denied then after Endo shows off the pictures and tells her teachers that Yu was the shoplifter. Yu then sends Endo to Hell when she refuses to admit to what she did, and finds out that Endou bullied her because she got into the university and not her. Despite this, Yu decides to try for the university again someday soon.
2 "The Boy in the Box"
"Hako no Naka Shōnen" (箱の中の少年) November 11, 2006[17]
Daichi Nizushima is a young boy who has frozen himself from the outside world by locking himself in his bedroom. After his father's death, Makoto Shinoda, a manager for the company his father worked at, tells Daichi's sister that he believes it is Daichi's fault because he did not speak with his father. Daichi's decides to access Hell Correspondence and types in Shinoda's name before being given the straw doll. His sister digs deeper into the company and finds evidence that they might have contributed to his death, but she is chased down and falls down a flight of stairs. Daichi looks at his father's blog and realizes that he committed suicide because he was given too much work to finish and is computer illiterate, and was harassed by Shinoda for this. After finding out about his sister's injury, Daichi pulls the string and sends Shinoda to Hell. The next day, Daichi tears down the cardboard on his window and decides it is finally time to see the outside world.
3 "A Baby's Dream"
"Midorigo no Yume" (嬰児の夢) November 18, 2006[18]
A young girl named named Shoko has already had three abortions, but still wishes to have children with her husband Seichi Toriumi, who works at an office as a manager. Because Shoko seems unable to have children, Seichi sleeps with Mari, another girl whom he has also married, but has promised to divorce for Shoko. Instead though, he plans to divorce Shoko because she can not get pregnent. Shoko finds this out and types Mari's name into Hell Correspondence, but decides against it. The next day, Shoko sees Seichi at the store with Mari, and as it turns out, they have a daughter, as well as another child on the way. Devastated, Shoko attempts to call Mari and speak with her about this, but Mari does not believe her. As Shoko showers, she feels pain in her womb and is told by her doctor to give up on ever having children now. Knowing her marriage is forever lost, Shoko contacts Hell Correspondence and sends it. When she is not given an immediate response, she attempts to commit suicide. Ai brings her to her world where she is saved, and gives her the straw doll. Shoko pulls the string and sends her cheating husband to Hell.
4 "Dusk"
"Ōma no Migiri" (逢魔の砌) November 25, 2006[19]

5 "The Epitaph of Lies"
"Itsuwari no Bohimei" (偽りの墓碑銘) December 2, 2006[20]

6 "The Red Thread of Promise"
"Yakusoku no Akai Ito" (約束の赤い糸) December 9, 2006[21]
A young schoolgirl, Sachi, is seen entering the name "Mako" on Hell Correspondence, and submitting it. Her phone immediately rings, and it is Mako, saying that she knows that Sachi has cursed her. Mako is a girl who lives at an abandoned warehouse, who saved Sachi as a young child by killing her tutor who was sexually abusing her by pushing him down a flight of stairs. Mako and her made Red Thread bracelets to promise they would be friends forever, but Mako proves more mean then loyal. When Mako destroys Sachi's bedroom, soils her reputation and almost kills her crush, Minegi, by the same method of pushing him down a stairwell, Sachi pulls the string on the straw doll. It is then revealed that Mako and Sachi are the same person, with Mako being another personality that Sachi created due to her abuse. Mako's half is sent to Hell while Sachi remains in the mortal world, trying to rebuild her reputation.
7 "Sweet Temptation"
"Amai Yūwaku" (甘い誘惑) December 16, 2006[22]

8 "Miracle of the Holy Night"
"Seiya no Kiseki" (聖夜の奇跡) December 23, 2006[23]

9 "The Fake Compensation"
"Nise no Daishō" (偽の代償) January 6, 2007[24]

10 "Memories of Sorrow"
"Kanashimim no Kioku" (悲しみの記憶) January 13, 2007[25]

11 "Darkness of the Real World, Part. 1"
"Arawashisei no Yami" (現し世の闇 前編) January 20, 2007[26]

12 "Darkness of the Real World, Part. 2"
"Arawashisei no Yami" (現し世の闇 後編) January 27, 2007[27]

[edit] Video game

Hell Girl has also been adapted into a video game for the Nintendo DS entitled Jigoku Shōjo Akekazura, which was developed by Compile Heart and released in Japan on September 27, 2007. Compile Heart made a PS2 version entitled "Jigoku Shōjo Mioyosuga" released on September 17, 2009.
[edit] Reception
Wiki letter w cropped.svg This section requires expansion.

Dominic Nguyen wrote "The 40-page vignettes don't have as much depth as 25 minutes of television, and if you finish the whole book in one sitting, you may get the feeling that you've read the same chapter five times with different characters. But if you give yourself some time to digest each story, you will understand the sinister beauty of Hell Girl."[28]
[edit] References

1. ^ "Third Hell Girl Anime Series Greenlit for Production (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2007-12-28. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-28/third-hell-girl-anime-series-greenlit-for-production. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
2. ^ "New Hell Girl Anime Named: Jigoku Shōjo Mitsuganae". Anime News Network. 2008-03-19. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-19/new-hell-girl-anime-named-jigoku-shoujo-mitsuganae. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
3. ^ "Bandai Channel Official Jigoku Shōjo Page". http://www.b-ch.com/contents/feat_jigoku_syojo/. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
4. ^ "Hell Professor vs. Hell Girl". Hiroshi Watanabe. Jigoku Shōjo: Mitsuganae. 2009-02-21. No. 20. 15 minutes in.
5. ^ Anne, Becker (12/9/2007). "FC Boosts Anime, Acquires Three Series". Reed Business Information. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/111541-IFC_Boosts_Anime_Acquires_Three_Series.php. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
6. ^ "Hell Girl Anime Debuts on IFC's Linear Channel Tonight". Anime News Network. 2008-09-30. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-30/hell-girl-anime-debuts-on-ifc-linear-channel-tonight. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
7. ^ "Sentai Adds Asu no Yoichi, Eyeshield 21, Hell Girl 2". Anime News Network. 2010-02-26. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-26/sentai-adds-asu-no-yoichi-eyeshield-21-anime. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
8. ^ "Sentai Acquires Xan'd, Hell Girl Season 3 Anime, Adds New Dubs". Mania.com. 2010-06-24. http://www.mania.com/sentai-acquires-xamd-hell-girl-season-3-anime-adds-new-dubs_article_123457.html.
9. ^ "Jigoku Shōjo Original Soundtrack". Neowing. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWC-7331. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
10. ^ "Jigoku Shōjo Original Soundtrack 2". Neowing. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWC-7348. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
11. ^ "Jigoku Shōjo Futagomori Original Soundtrack". Neowing. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWC-7440. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
12. ^ "Jigoku Shōjo Futagomori Original Soundtrack 2". Neowing. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWC-7454. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
13. ^ "Jigoku Shōjo Mitsuganae Original Soundtrack". Neowing. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWC-7597. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
14. ^ "Jigoku Shōjo Mitsuganae Original Sound Track -Soushoku-". Neowing. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWC-7612. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
15. ^ "Drama Detail Data: 地獄少女 JIGOKU-SHOUJO" (in Japanese). Furusaki Yasunari. http://www.tvdrama-db.com/drama_info/p/id-39512. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
16. ^ "Story: Episode 1" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_01.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
17. ^ "Story: Episode 2" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_02.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
18. ^ "Story: Episode 3" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_03.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
19. ^ "Story: Episode 4" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_04.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
20. ^ "Story: Episode 5" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_05.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
21. ^ "Story: Episode 6" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_06.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
22. ^ "Story: Episode 7" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_07.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
23. ^ "Story: Episode 8" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_08.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
24. ^ "Story: Episode 9" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_09.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
25. ^ "Story: Episode 10" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_10.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
26. ^ "Story: Episode 11" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_11.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
27. ^ "Story: Episode 12" (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. http://www.ntv.co.jp/jigoku/story_12.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05. [dead link]
28. ^ Nguyen, Dominic. "Hell Girl". Newtype USA. 7 (1) p. 106. January 2008. ISSN 1541-4817.

[edit] External links

* Jigoku Shōjo official website (Japanese)
* Jigoku Shōjo @ Bandai Channel (Japanese)
* Hell Girl @ Bandai Channel (Japanese)
* Hell Girl: The Official Anime Website from FUNimation
* Hell Girl: Independent Film Channel
* Jigoku Shōjo: Futakomori @ Bandai Channel (Japanese)
* Jigoku Shōjo: Mitsuganae @ Bandai Channel (Japanese)
* Jigoku Shōjo: Mitsuganae @ Studio Deen (Japanese)
* Jigoku Shōjo: Mitsuganae @ Tokyo MX (Japanese)
* NTV's official website for Jigoku Shōjo Live Action (Japanese)
* Official Jigoku Shōjo Akekazura Nintendo DS website (Japanese)
* Jigoku Shōjo (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
* Jigoku Shōjo Futakomori (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
* Jigoku Shōjo Mitsuganae (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia

[hide]
v • d • e
Hell Girl
Episodes • Episodes • Soundtracks
[hide]
v • d • e
Animax
Networks
Asia • India • Eastern Europe • South Korea
Brands and awards
Animax Taishō • Animax Anison Grand Prix
Original productions
Aishiteruze Baby • Area 88 (Soundtracks) • Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom • Dotto! Koni-chan • Ginga Legend Weed • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. – The Laughing Man • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. – Individual Eleven • Hungry Heart: Wild Striker • Hell Girl • Jūsō Kikō Dancouga Nova • Kaiketsu Zorori • Kappa no Kaikata • Kamisama Kazoku • Kurozuka • Meine Liebe • Ultra Maniac • Ultraviolet: Code 044 • Viper's Creed • Whistle! • Yōkai Ningen Bem • Zipang • LaMB • Other broadcast programs
People and companies
Sony • Masao Takiyama • Yoshirō Kataoka • Sunrise • Toei Animation • TMS Entertainment • Nihon Ad Systems • Nippon Animation • Yukari Tamura • Kōsuke Okano • Sayuri Yahagi • Natsuki Katō
Website: animax.co.jp

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_Girl"
Categories: Anime series | Manga series | Japanese television dramas | 2005 works | 2005 television series debuts | 2006 television series endings | Anime of 2005 | Anime of 2006 | Anime of 2008 | Anime with original screenplays | Aniplex | Animax | Fantasy anime and manga | Famitsu Bunko | Funimation Entertainment | HJ Bunko | Horror anime and manga | Manga of 2005 | Mystery anime and manga | Sentai Filmworks | Shōjo manga | Tokusatsu television series