UNIQUE ANIME CLUB: Hellsing

1. 📚 Introduction & Origins (2 pages)

Manga overview: Hellsing (1997–2008, 10 volumes), written/illustrated by Kouta Hirano; prequel The Dawn (2002–2006, unfinished)
Anime adaptations:
- Hellsing (2001 TV anime): 13 episodes by Gonzo, diverges from manga mid-way
- Hellsing Ultimate (2006–2012 OVA): 10 episodes by Satelight/Madhouse/Graphinica; faithful manga adaptation
- Mention The Dawn anime shorts

Episodes 1–5: Introduction to Hellsing Org, Alucard’s ruthlessness, Seras Victoria’s transformation, Vatican vs. vampires.
Episodes 6–12: TV-original arcs; Millennium absent, unresolved antagonist.
Summarize key scenes (rooftop fights, character introductions, moral dilemmas).

OVAs 1–4 (2006–2008): Set-up—vampire outbreaks, Seras & Alucard’s origins, Vatican interference.
OVAs 5–7 (Madhouse): Millennium Nazi vampiric army introduced; escalating conflict.
OVAs 8–10: London battle climax, Alucard vs Anderson, Alucard’s absorption of blood army

Alucard: Vampire anti-hero, Dracula reincarnation; bound servant of Integra, hunger for challenges
Seras Victoria: From rookie cop to empowered vampire, struggle with identity and morality
Integra Wingates Hellsing: Stoic leader who subverts gender norms—authority, duty, lineage .
Alexander Anderson: Zealous Iscariot priest/hunter—a religious zealot-driven antagonist
Millennium: Nazi vampiric threat; ideological clash pulling in WWII echoes
Walter, Pip, supporting cast: Loyalty, tragedy, moral ambiguity.

Good vs. evil / moral ambiguity: Alucard’s alignment forces audiences to question notions of righteousness
Immortality & humanity: Characters wrestle with eternal life’s emotional cost—Alucard’s detachment vs Seras’s struggle
Faith, fanaticism, power: Religious symbolism through Anderson vs Hellsing’s secular vampirism; misuse of belief
Redemption: Seras, Alucard, and even Millennium members reflect themes of atonement

Animation styles: TV anime’s dated visuals vs OVA’s polished, cinematic gore
Directorial vision: Fast-paced, operatic violence; Gothic aesthetic, “grand opera” tone
Music: Heavy metal (TV) vs orchestral/gothic (OVA), supporting mood and tension .

Critical reviews: Manga praised for gothic world-building; some found violence repetitive .
Fan consensus: OVA favored for fidelity and production; TV praised for soundtrack and atmosphere .

“Ultimate follows the manga… ten episodes… fancy”

Legacy: Influential in gothic action anime; solidified vampire genre; fans lament cancellation of The Dawn

TV vs OVA: TV diverges mid-way; OVA faithful .
Adaptation choices: Pacing, character depth, censorship, omitted arcs (e.g., The Dawn), extra scenes.
The Dawn: World War II prequel; incomplete manga and partial short animation .