Today, before doing my homework (which comes after writing this post), i watched the first and second OVA of Hellsing. It was dead good (both of them) – they continue the manga storyline, which the anime left un-ended (almost un-dead). I would indeed write a long summary about both of them, but… well, then, should i do it? Don’t forget: i’m not careful with spoilers now, so you should be, if you still haven’t seen these OVA. If you’re not interested in my babbling, i’ll cut it short just for you: both are must-watch category, high quality anime products. I can’t wait to see the third subbed.
One important difference compared to the TV series is that the OVAs feature some kind of humour, that’s – to suit the horror scenery – often morbid, but still very amusing. One such gag is when Jan Valentine, while shooting down his enemy in a corridor “crossroads”, shouts the (said to be) well-known “Konami Code”, which is a cheat code in Konami games that gives the player everything needed to win the game. After that, just to top it all, he also states “I’m cheating and I’m invincible” – naturally by the end of the episode, one of these statements prove false (one can guess, which).
Also, there is a couple of literature and moving picture culture references: for example, in the very beginning of the second OVA, Alucard dreams (!) about a man “killing him” – in a very similar fashion like Dr Van Helsing and his companions killed Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel; to be exact, in the very same fashion. Also, according to the manga (which i sadly have not read), he is indeed Vlad Ţepeş, also known Count Dracula. In the end of the second OVA, when reporting information regarding Millenium to Integra, Walter mentions Han Solo and his superb ship Millenium Falcon briefly. There are also more, but i forgot them…
The first episode is about how Ceras Victoria became a vampire (draculina, as it’s written there), and her first battles alongside Alucard. It’s almost the very same story as the manga (while the anime series were a bit different from that), except a few additions, which mostly add humour, like Victoria’s dream after she was turned into a vampire by Alucard, which made me burst out laughing for a moment. Luckily, these funny parts don’t ruin the OVA’s horroristic atmosphere, just gives a small time to breath between the times of slaughters and bloodbaths.
The second one is about the siege of the Hellsing Castle by the Valentine brothers and their army of ghouls. Poor human army of the Institute is totally wiped out, “naturally” – they didn’t stand a chance against an armed ghoul horde supporting two full-blown vampire. But luckily Hellsing also has two “full-blown” vampires in its service, not to mention a good old butler quite adept at using different wires. The battles are quite much spectacular, and also some story is starting to develop, which seems quite much interesting – i’m seriously considering somehow getting my hands on the manga.
