Hellsing - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

is a Japanese manga

Manga

Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano

Kouta Hirano

is a Japanese manga artist born in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan, most famous for his manga Hellsing.- History :Starting his career first as a manga artist's assistant , and later an H manga artist, he went on to enjoy somewhat limited success with other relatively unknown manga titles such as Angel Dust,...

. It first premiered in Young King Ours
Young King OURs
is a monthly seinen manga magazine published in Japan by Shōnen Gahosha, aimed primarily at male audiences, mostly older teens and young adults. It is the sister publication of Young King...

in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...

volumes by Shōnen Gahosha

Shonen Gahosha

is a Japanese publisher named for Shōnen Gaho one of its first magazines. Founded in 1945, it previously published driving manuals and English conversation guides. Now it is known for magazines such as biweekly seinen manga Young King, the monthly manga serials Young King OURs and Monthly Young King...

. 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 vampire

Vampire

Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...

s, ghoul

Ghoul

A ghoul is a folkloric monster associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh, often classified as undead. The oldest surviving literature that mention ghouls is likely One Thousand and One Nights...

s, and other supernatural

Supernatural

The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...

foes who threaten England.

The manga series is licensed for English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...

, in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment

Madman Entertainment

Madman Entertainment is an Australian company that distributes international films as well as Japanese anime and manga in Australia and New Zealand. The company is owned by Funtastic Limited and is one of the major entertainment companies in Australia. It employs 130 people and has an annual...

, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi

Chuang Yi

Chuang Yi Publishing Pte Ltd. is a publishing company based in Singapore that specializes in producing domestic and imported comics and comics-related merchandise, in English and simplified Chinese. Chuang Yi distributes all or some of its products in Singapore, Malaysia, India, and the Philippines...

. 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

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

series of the same name

Hellsing (TV series)

is a Japanese anime television series based on Kouta Hirano's manga series of the same name. The series is directed by Umanosuke Iida, from a screenplay by Chiaki Konaka, and produced by the Gonzo animation studio...

was produced by Gonzo. Directed by Umanosuke Iida

Umanosuke Iida

was a Japanese anime creator, director, screenwriter. Iida died due to lung cancer.- Director :* Mighty Space Miners* Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team * Vandread * Vandread Taidouhen * Hellsing...

, 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

Fuji Television

is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....

from October 10, 2001 to January 16, 2002.

An original video animation

Original video animation

, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...

(OVA) entitled Hellsing Ultimate is being produced by Geneon. It follows the manga storyline more closely than the anime series. 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. 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.

Plot

Hellsing is named after and centered around the Holy Order of Protestant Knights, originally led by Abraham Van Helsing

Abraham Van Helsing

Professor Abraham van Helsing is a protagonist from Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula.Van Helsing is a Dutch doctor with a wide range of interests and accomplishments, partly attested by the string of letters that follows his name: "M.D., D.Ph., D.Litt., etc." The character is best known as a...

. 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

Integra Hellsing

, more commonly, Integra Hellsing, is one of the main characters from the anime and manga series Hellsing. In both the TV series and OVA series, her Japanese voice is provided by Yoshiko Sakakibara and Kaori Mizuhashi , while her English voice in both is done by Victoria Harwood and Tricia Dickson...

, 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

Walter C. Dornez

is a fictional character in the Hellsing anime and manga series created by Kouta Hirano. Walter is a member of an organization called Millennium. He previously served as a member of the Hellsing Organization, and also as the retainer of the Hellsing family...

, and Alucard

Alucard (Hellsing)

is a fictional characterin the Hellsing manga and anime series created by Kouta Hirano. A powerful vampire, Alucard works with the Hellsing Organization against other vampires and evil forces. He fights with ferocity and often extreme cruelty, rarely killing until his target has been disabled and...

, 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

Seras Victoria

is a fictional character from both the Hellsing manga series and anime series by Kouta Hirano. In both the television series and the OVA, her seiyū is Fumiko Orikasa. Seras' English voice actor in both series was K. T. Gray....

, 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

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...

group called Millennium

Millennium (Hellsing)

Millennium is a fictional Nazi organization from the manga series Hellsing by Kouta Hirano, they serve as the primary antagonists in the series. Its name is a reference to the "Thousand Year Reich" which Adolf Hitler sought to establish during World War II...

still exist and are intent on reviving the Third Reich by creating a battalion

Battalion

A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...

of vampires. Millennium, Hellsing, and the Vatican section XIII Iscariot

Iscariot (Hellsing)

Iscariot is a fictional organization from the manga series Hellsing.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 and heretics...

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

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

Hellsing Organization

More formally known as the Royal Order of Protestant Knights, the Hellsing Organization was founded by Abraham Van Helsing

Abraham Van Helsing

shortly after the events of Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker

Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...

's novel Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...

as a response to the threat posed by vampires. The Hellsing Organization is traditionally headed by Abraham's descendants, who control Alucard

Alucard (Hellsing)

, the ultimate vampire created by the organization for use in their continuing struggle against supernatural threats. After World War II

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

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, 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

Heckler & Koch MP5

The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....

submachine guns and GKN Saxon

Saxon (vehicle)

The Saxon is an armoured personnel carrier used by the British Army and supplied in small numbers to various overseas organisations. It was developed by GKN Sankey, from earlier projects, AT 100 IS and AT104, and is due to be replaced by the Future Rapid Effect System.-Design:The Saxon was intended...

or VAB

Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé

The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB is an armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976; around 5,000 were produced.- Design :The VAB was designed as a wheeled troop transporter, complementing the...

APCs used to transport Hellsing soldiers to areas where there are reports of supernatural outbreaks in Britain. The paramilitary

Paramilitary

A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....

aspects are rarely mentioned in the OVA or the manga.

Alucard

Alucard (Hellsing)

The series' main protagonist. An ancient and powerful vampire, he serves as the Hellsing Organization's most powerful operative, vampire expert and its "trump card". He is actually the original vampire that was defeated by Dr. Abraham Van Helsing in Bram Stoker's book Dracula

Dracula

Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...

. In the Hellsing universe, instead of being killed, Alucard was taken into custody and experimented on by what became the Hellsing organization. At some point he was locked up by Abraham's son Arthur, and later released by Arthur's daughter Integra, who becomes his Master from then on. In the beginning of the story Alucard turns Seras Victoria into a vampire.

Integra Hellsing

;

A descendant of Abraham Van Helsing

Abraham Van Helsing

and the Bureau Director of the Hellsing Organization. She inherited her position as the head of the Hellsing family at the age of 12 (13 in the Gonzo series), upon her father's death. Integra is also Alucard's current master. She is intelligent and strong, almost always featured smoking cigars. Although often seeming strict and domineering, she is much respected and admired, even among her enemies. Following in the path of her family's tradition, she is reputed to be a worthy vampire huntress herself, as noted by her enemies and exhibited by her capabilities during the latter chaotic events of the series. Integra is the only one who could command the respect and loyalty of Alucard.

Seras Victoria

Seras was formerly a member of the police force, but after being mortally wounded on a mission involving Alucard, she chose to join him among the ranks of the vampires rather than die. Both her parents were murdered when she was a child, and she reportedly has no close friends or connections. After being turned, Seras joins the Hellsing organization, where she struggles with her role as Alucard's fledgling and her reluctance to drink blood. She finally accepts her nature to honor Pip Bernadotte's request.

Walter C. Dornez

Walter is a 69-year-old retired member of the Hellsing Organization who serves as Integra's butler, only revealing his true capabilities as the 'Angel of Death' and ex-Hellsing 'trashman' in times of need. He was handpicked to be a Hellsing operative and butler by Integra's father and, along with Alucard, participated in the destruction of Millennium in World War II, over fifty years ago.

Captain Pip Bernadotte

Captain Pip Bernadotte is the leader of the Wild Geese, a group of mercenaries hired by Hellsing. He is very well respected and admired by his men. He is of French origin. During the battle with Zorin and her forces he dies while rescuing a badly injured Seras. Before his death he kisses Seras and offers her his blood; she drinks it, becoming a true undead absorbing his life and memories into herself.

Arthur Hellsing
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

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.

Iscariot (Vatican Section XIII)

The Iscariot Organization, named after Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...

, the apostle who betrayed Jesus

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...

, 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.

Alexander Anderson

Alexander Anderson (Hellsing)

is a character from the manga/anime Hellsing, acting as an antagonist to his nemesis, the protagonist Alucard). He is a warrior priest or paladin monster slayer and purifier who works for the Iscariot Organization...

A warrior priest

Priest

A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

or paladin

Paladin

The paladins, sometimes known as the Twelve Peers, were the foremost warriors of Charlemagne's court, according to the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. They first appear in the early chansons de geste such as The Song of Roland, where they represent Christian martial valor against the...

who works for the Vatican Section XIII, Iscariot

Iscariot (Hellsing)

. Anderson is Iscariot's ultimate weapon in the fight against the undead. With regenerative capabilities, and a variety of holy weapons (including his signature blessed bayonets, of which he has many) his mission is nothing less than the complete destruction of all the undead in the world. As this includes many of Hellsing's subordinates, Anderson is one of Alucard's greatest foes, as well as his primary rival.

Enrico Maxwell

is a character from the manga and anime series Hellsing. In the TV series, he is voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka. In the OVA series, he's voiced by Show Hayami and his younger version Risa Hayamizu, and in both TV and OVA versions, his English voice is JB Blanc....

Enrico Maxwell is the ambitious, ruthless leader of the Iscariot Organization (Vatican Section XIII). He is also depicted as Alexander Anderson's boss, analogous to Integra's relationship to Alucard.

Heinkel Wolfe and Yumie Takagi

Heinkel Wolfe and Yumie Takagi are fictional characters in the manga Hellsing, and is prominently featured in the manga series Crossfire...

Heinkel Wolfe is a pistol wielding assassin

Assassination

To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...

belonging to the Iscariot Organization. Yumie, a Japanese nun with a split personality is her partner. They appear first as Maxwell's bodyguards and again in the brigade of Iscariot operatives sent to the besieged London to apprehend Integra Hellsing. These two also appear in the first, second, and third installment of the manga as a short chapter in the back, as it seems more to give a slight background on the two rather anything else.

Renaldo
A priest who acts like a bodyguard for Maxwell, perhaps similar to Walter's role with Integra.

M'quive
The new leader of Iscariot after Maxwell, as depicted in volume 10.

Millennium

A mysterious group of Nazis that was hiding in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

since the end of World War II

World War II

, they serve as the main antagonist

Antagonist

An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...

s 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

Microprocessor

A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...

implanted in them to monitor their status, behavior, intent, and aggression. Somewhat similar to kamikaze units, they are remotely ignited and destroyed once defeated.

The Major

A sociopathic former SS

Schutzstaffel

The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...

officer, he was in charge of Nazi experimentation with artificial vampirism until Alucard and Walter destroyed the laboratory in 1944. Obsessed with battle, he seeks to create an endless war.

The Captain

The Major's silent, stoic adjutant and bodyguard. He is a werewolf and was around when Alucard and Walter destroyed the laboratory containing documents on artificial vampirism.

Rip van Winkle

Rip van Winkle (Hellsing)

is a fictional character in the manga Hellsing and a member of the Millennium forces. She is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto and in English by Kari Wahlgren....

Rip van Winkle is the "Huntress" of the Millennium Organization. Her weapon of choice is a long-barreled flintlock musket. The gun itself fires magic bullets, to which she claims "punish all without distinction." She appears in both Hellsing (manga) and Hellsing: the dawn (manga) as well as in the 4th OVA. Her connection to Alucard extends back to WWII.

The Doctor

He is Millenium's top scientist of physiology and technology, the genius behind many of their projects. Perhaps unstable, certainly eccentric, but undeniably brilliant. Doc usually appears dressed in a perpetually bloodstained white lab coat, an unusual shirt which reveals his lower torso, and glasses with an assortment of adjustable, multilensed spectacles. Also he is relentlessly loyal to the Major and the cause of undead research.

Schrödinger

Schrödinger (Hellsing)

is a fictional character in the Hellsing manga series by Kouta Hirano. He is a member of the Millennium forces. He is voiced by Ryōko Shiraishi and by Laura Bailey in English....

Schrödinger is a catboy created by Doc to serve Millennium

Millennium (Hellsing)

. Usually found sitting underneath the Major's throne like a pet, he also acts as an envoy for Millennium. He has the ability to be "everywhere and nowhere" at the same time, his powers also include apparent regeneration/immortality, If he believes that he is unscathed, then he is. (These abilities, his name, and his being feline are obviously a reference to the famous "Schrödinger's cat

Schrödinger's cat

Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment, usually described as a paradox, devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. It illustrates what he saw as the problem of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics applied to everyday objects. The scenario presents a cat that might be...

" scenario in quantum physics). Apparently he has a slight attraction towards Seras

Seras Victoria

, at least hinting it when he first and only time they meet.

Zorin Blitz

Zorin Blitz (Hellsing)

is a character in the manga Hellsing and a member of the Millennium forces. In the OVA, her Japanese seiyou is Yoko Soumi, and her English voice is Helena Taylor....

Zorin is a tall, masculine female character covered with tattoos on one side of her body and face. She is often seen smoking, and her weapon of choice is a scythe. Using her tattoos, Zorin can create very realistic illusions using the memories of her target, and then takes advantage of her enemy's weakness. She leads a devastating attack upon Hellsing Manor during manga/OVA 6 and 7. The imagery associated with Zorin is amongst the most obligatorily occult, apart from Alucard's.

Tubalcain Alhambra

is a character from the anime and manga Hellsing. He is a member of the Nazi organisation Millennium. He is a namesake of Tubalcain, a biblical descendant of Cain who was said to be a metalworker...

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.

Luke and Jan Valentine The Valentine Brothers
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 C. Dornez
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

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.

Sir Hugh Islands
The leader of the round table

Sir Shelby M. Penwood
A admiral in the British military

Sir Rob Walsh
A lieutenant of the round Table

Sir Gregory Penwood
Grandson of the Original Penwood

Sir Irons
Great grandson of the original sir islands

Others

The Queen of England
Made a brief appearance

The Pope
also made an appearance

Abraham van Hellsing
made 3 small cameos

Richard Hellsing
wanted to kill Integra but failed by Alucard and Integra.

Cheddar Priest
The first Vampire alucard encounter
and also attacked Seras
Leif and Jessica
A bonnie and clyde styled Vampires killed by Seras and alucard.

Manga

The series premiered in Young King Ours
Young King OURs
is a monthly seinen manga magazine published in Japan by Shōnen Gahosha, aimed primarily at male audiences, mostly older teens and young adults. It is the sister publication of Young King...

in 1997 and ran for eleven years until the final chapter was released in the November 2008 issue. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...

volumes by Shōnen Gahosha

Shonen Gahosha

, with 10 volumes having been released. The series is licensed for an English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics

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

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. Hellsing is also licensed for regional language releases in France by Editions Tonkam, in Italy by Dynit

Dynit

Dynit SRL is one of the main Italian manga and anime publishers. It was founded in 1995 by Francesco Di Sanzo, Claudia Cangini, Francesco Bombardini, Paolo Nascetti, Saetti SRL and Federico Colpi and its original name was Dynamic Italia SRL. The name was changed following a litigation between Colpi...

, in Hungary by Mangafan, in Germany by Planet Manga, in Poland by Japonica Polonica Fantastica

Japonica Polonica Fantastica

Japonica Polonica Fantastica, also known as JPF, is a Polish manga publisher, located in Mierzyn near Szczecin, Poland. The founder of JPF is Shin Yasuda.-Titles published:*.hack//Legend of the Twilight*Akira*Angel Sanctuary...

and in Denmark and Sweden by Mangismo.

Crossfire

See:Crossfire (manga)

Crossfire (manga)

Crossfire refers to a three-chapter series by Kouta Hirano, who is best known as the author of Hellsing, where it appeared in the first three tankoubon. The stories focus on the fictional Vatican Section XIII, or the Iscariot Organisation...

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.

Hellsing: The Dawn

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

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

in September 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising

Warsaw Uprising

The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...

. 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

Taliesin Jaffe

Taliesin Jaffe is an American voice director, script writer, voice actor, and former child actor.Jaffe was born in Los Angeles, California. He is known for directing and writing many English language anime titles for New Generation Pictures, most notably R.O.D the TV and Hellsing...

, 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.

Hellsing prototype manga

This series features Kouta's old works, which are all Hentai

Hentai

is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...

, before he started Hellsing this features the character's prototypes.

Angel Dust: Alexander Anderson
Coyote: Pip Bernadotte and The Major
Desert Guardian: The Captain
Doc's Story: The Doctor and Schrodinger
Hi and Low: Integra Hellsing and Yumie Takagi
Magic School: Renaldo
The Legend of Vampire Hunter: Alucard, Seras Victoria, Luke and Jan Valentine
Ikaryaku:Enrico Maxwell and Rip van Winkle
Daidōjin Monogatari:Walter C. Dornez and Heinkel Wolfe

Anime

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

Chiaki J. Konaka

, born April 4, 1961) is a Japanese writer and scenarist best known for Serial Experiments Lain, and later for the Digimon season, Digimon Tamers....

and directed by Umanosuke Iida, the series premiered on Fuji Television

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 and in Australia by Madman Entertainment

Madman Entertainment

. Geneon's English dub

Dubbing (filmmaking)

Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...

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

Yasushi Ishii

is a Japanese musician from Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. He specializes in experimental, acid, classical and hard rock. He is famous for his work with anime scores. He composed music for and scored the first Hellsing anime, with the music released as two separate soundtracks...

is used as the opening theme for all thirteen episodes. Mr. Big

Mr. Big (band)

Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...

performs the song "Shine" for the series ending theme.
It has a manga adaptation as well.

OVAs

Hellsing Ultimate, known simply as Hellsing in Japan, is an original video animation

Original video animation

, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...

(OVA) series formerly animated by animation studio Satelight

Satelight

is a Japanese animation studio.-History:The studio was founded on December 1995, in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, their first project being Bit the Cupid, the world's first fully digitally-animated television series. The name Satelight consists of S for Sapporo, A for Animate, T for Technology and E for...

and later Madhouse

Madhouse (company)

is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1972 by ex–Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It has created and helped to produce many well known shows, starting with TV anime series Ace o Nerae! in 1973, and including western favourites Ninja...

, now being animated by Graphinica (as of OVA VIII) and produced by Geneon

Geneon

is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...

. The first fifty minute episode was released to Region 2 DVD in Japan on February 10, 2006. The seventh episode was released in Japan on December 23, 2009. The seventh episode DVD included a teaser trailer announcing the eighth episode with a tentative release date of "sometime 2010." The ending of each episode uses various pieces of instrumental music composed by Hayato Matsuo

Hayato Matsuo

is a Japanese video game and anime composer, arranger and orchestrator. He has worked on titles such as Front Mission 3, Final Fantasy XII, the Shenmue series, and Magic Knight Rayearth. Inspired by his mother, a piano teacher, he graduated from the music composition department of Tokyo University...

and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra

The Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra , one of Poland's premier musical institutions, was established in 1901 on the initiative of an assembly of Polish aristocrats and financiers, as well as musicians...

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

Anime Expo

Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...

convention. Though Geneon USA stopped self-distribution of its titles in 2007, it remains the licensor of the series and in 2008 the North American distribution was assumed by Funimation Entertainment

Funimation Entertainment

Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...

. 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. 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.

Soundtracks

Two CD soundtracks composed by Yasushi Ishii

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. The second soundtrack, Hellsing Original Soundtrack: Ruins, containing an additional 22 tracks followed on September 2, 2003.

Also, three soundtracks composed by Hayato Matsuo

Hayato Matsuo

have been released for the Hellsing OVA series (Hellsing Ultimate). Hellsing OVA Original Soundtrack - BLACK DOG Released on March 21, 2008. 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. 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.

Reception

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. In November 2007, the ninth volume was among the top 10 volumes sold according to Japan's monthly sales rankings.

External links

Official Geneon Entertainment Hellsing website

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