How far would you go for revenge? That's a question that FUNimation's latest series Hell Girl puts out there, front and center. You may have heard of it before if you have kept your finger on the pulse of what's popular in Japan. Known as Jigoku Shoujo in its original form, Hell Girl has gone on to garner a second season, manga, and live action version. That speaks volumes to how well it was received in Japan but how will it fair with the American audience?

With 26 episodes in its first season Hell Girl originally aired between 2005 and 2006. It's unfortunate that it took so long for the show to make its way here to the States but the wait was well worth it in my opinion. Studio Deen did a fantastic job on this show as the first volume showed. The writing was sharp, the sense of drama was a cut above, and throughout it all the creepy atmosphere really made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up at times.

The basic premise follows a mysterious website that people can only access at midnight. Have someone who pissed you off? Did an enemy do you wrong in a major way? Type the person's name in on the site and revenge will be yours. By logging on and doing such a thing you not only guarantee that the person in question will have a bad day but that they'll receive a one way ticket to hell. It's a comforting thought to keep in mind if you feel like really smiting someone; of course this comes at a price. The fine print within this contract is that even though you'll be dooming your tormentor you'll also be dooming yourself. By entering into the agreement you also condemn yourself to an eternity in hell when you die. Revenge doesn't look so great now does it?

The first volume of Hell Girl was wildly entertaining but I must admit that the formulaic presentation was kind of a disappointment. The episodic content worked well for the style of show and concept but something about it gave the series a rigid feel which contrasted the vibrancy of it all. In each of the five episodes someone had a grievance whether it was the baseball player who was accused of murder, the girl who was being stalked, or the other girl who was being bullied; there was someone out there who did someone wrong and they were going to pay for it. Each episode rang through loud and clear and the show displayed its thought-provoking and violent intent.

The second volume picks up essentially where the previous one left off though that's kind of silly to say thanks to the episodic content once again. This installment begins with another tale of revenge that revolves around adults rather than young children as the previous volume featured. The story involves cheating spouses and trouble on the home front as one wife uncovers dirt about another's husband. Things go from bad to worse and soon enough the woman's family is feeling the pinch of the boss' wife. In the end it's up to the daughter to summon Enma and right the wrongs that are occurring. This episode was definitely a bit more refreshing as it dealt with more adult content as opposed to the prior volume's stories.

The second episode here wasn't nearly as good as the opening one. Basically it involves an aspiring actress who is trying to live up to her mother's wishes of taking over the family business. The mother constantly pressures the daughter into performing though the girl just seems unable to keep up for whatever reason. As the final performance approaches it appears as though the girl is going to lose to better talent. In a fit of rage she tries to summon Enma but quickly learns that the tables have turned on her. I appreciated the twist here and found it to be the most compelling part of this episode. The rest of it leading up to the finale was kind of blah but the ending certainly packed a punch.

The third episode here makes things a little interesting and chances the structure of the show somewhat. Two new characters are introduced and they change the dynamic of the series a tad. A tabloid journalist named Hajime discovers HellCorrespondence.com and becomes intrigued by the prospect of Hell Girl. He bites off a little more than he can chew as he begins witnessing Enma's actions against those who wronged others. The plot thickens as Hajime's daughter, Tsugumi, develops a special connection with Enma that allows her to essentially know what's going down and when. With these two characters introduced the show features a story about someone getting back at someone for pushing their friend off a building, two girls in a bake shop, and another pair of friends who wind up fighting.

The second installment of Hell Girl is arguably much more fluid than the first. These episodes felt better all around, though the second one was kind of a let down compared to the rest. This series has definitely taken off and the introduction of two recurring characters helped to add spice to an otherwise formulaic program. Hopefully that trend will continue and we'll be seeing a powerful show with some strong footing soon enough. Hell Girl is still highly recommended and this volume is much better than the first.

Hell Girl is presented on DVD with a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio and features a marvelous transfer. FUNimation did a fantastic job of bringing this show to DVD and though some of the typical problems like grain and compression appear is little to complain about. Colors in the show appear vibrant though I must admit that some of the gradients looked kind of funny in some scenes. This second volume continues the unique look of Hell Girl and promotes Studio Deen's prowess as far as producing anime is concerned. The art direction is second to none and as subdued as many scenes are the contrast helps to craft a fascinating atmosphere.

Like most current releases from FUNimation Hell Girl comes with Japanese and English 2.0 as well as a 5.1 English track. The dubbing quality for both languages is superb and I can honestly say that I didn't have a preference either way. The English track in particular impressed me with spot on emotion and pitch that matched what I expected it should. Technically speaking the 2.0 selections are competent for stereo inclusions but the 5.1's greater presence definitely impressed me. The directionality on the soundstage for effects was slightly more subdued than I would have liked but the overall quality of the audio was very pleasing.

This volume of Hell Girl features clean animations and trailers as you'd expect but something called a "Montage Episode" is included as well. This is essentially a compressed version of the episode plots shoved together and works as kind of a preview of sorts. It's not particular compelling and it isn't informative but anything beyond the typical paper thin extra features are nice to have.

Hell Girl is original, intriguing, and empowering all at the same time. The creepy atmosphere really breathes life into the program and the quality of the writing helps craft interesting stories. This volume offers five more episodes that, for the most part, continue the formulaic trend of person wronged, person calling Hell Girl, enemy going to hell, and the contractor being branded as well. The addition of two new characters helps shake up the dynamic a bit and it certainly breathed some life into the show at the right time. This has become a powerful and engaging series that maintains a dark atmosphere many will love. If you haven't given this series a chance yet then you'll definitely want to add it to your list!

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