Currently, there is a second series on the popular anime series and manga called “Hellsing.” However, the original Hellsing series wasn’t much based off of the manga. At this moment, there is “Hellsing Ultimate” which is the original video animation or OVA. There are three episodes at the moment and it’s still ongoing as it’s labeled as “Hellsing I, Hellsing II, and Hellsing III.” The first episode had premiered at the 2006 Anime Expo. Three series has aired so far in Japan at the moment with more in production. The first two were already released to the United States with Hellsing III being released to the United States on October 16, 2007.
The Hellsing Ultimate OVAs strongly revolve around the mangas. Anybody that have been keeping track with the Hellsing manga will possibly enjoy the watching Hellsing Ultimate. The main characters are the same as the series before released several years prior. They are Alucard and Seras Victoria who are the most important characters next to Sir Integra Hellsing who’s in charge of the Hellsing Organization based in England with strong ties and influence in the government of Great Britain. Watching the first few episodes, it’s very different from the regular Hellsing anime series for TV.
Alucard is a vampire and Seras Victoria is a former police officer turned into a vampire. One big difference between the manga and the series is the appearance of Alexander Anderson who’s an agent of the Vatican’s Iscariot division. In the regular series, Anderson doesn’t make his appearance until the second or third episodes. But Anderson retains the same persona and ability to wield baptized blades in his coat. Each OVA of Hellsing Ultimate follows each volume of the manga. Hellsing I follows volume one, Helling II follows volume two, and Hellsing III will follow volume three. As long as the manga is still in circulation, there will be more OVAs. Watching the OVAs, I am pretty impressed at the quality and the storylines.
Hellsing Ultimate looks to be the true series as it comes right from the manga. To enjoy the series, you should think of it as a separate series and not a sequel to the original series. As the original series remained in England with some scenes in the United States and in Hong Kong, Hellsing Ultimate will take characters around the world taking out the threat that vampires pose to humanity. Asides from taking on the threat of vampires, there is the age long conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism such as the conflict between Alucard and Anderson as they can be classified as rivals and enemies.
There are implications of religious fundamentalism in the form of Alexander Anderson as he beliefs the words of the Catholic Church are absolute to the entire world. In the series, the Catholic Church deems the Hellsing Organization to be the same as the vampires. Hellsing Ultimate is still as bloody as its TV series predecessor meaning it’s not for little kids to watch. About mid-teens to adults can watch the series and possibly appreciate it. People who enjoyed the manga more than the anime series that came out before will probably enjoy this. In short, if you enjoyed the manga more, you will definitely enjoy Hellsing Ultimate more.
Hellsing Ultimate does sport an interesting cast of heroes and villains each with their own special abilities and quirks. As Hellsing Ultimate is strongly tied with the manga, there will be new characters and groups such as a possible resurrection of the Nazi Reich that wasn’t covered in the original Hellsing anime series. In a sense, Hellsing Ultimate may offer much more than what the original series has. To enjoy Hellsing Ultimate, one must look at this as a separate series.
There’s supposed to be a Hellsing OVA IV to be released but it’s put on hold. The other OVAs along with Hellsing IV are currently put on hold. For those who have enjoyed Hellsing Ultimate so far, keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully, the fourth OVA will be released at the end of this year.
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