Helck: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Helck: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Helck is an action-adventure series aimed right at the Shonen crowd. Created by Nanaki Nanao, Helck is produced by Cong Cao (Giant Beasts of Ars, Otaku Elf), Ransen Imai, Taisuke Shikama (After School Dice Club, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) and Yūsuke Ueno (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, Teasing Master Takagi-san). Helck features animation production by Satelight (Heat Guy J, Lord Marksman and Vanadis). The theme song performances are by Hiroki Nanami (opening one), Aimi (opening two), saji (ending one), and KanoeRana (ending two). Helck features voice performances by Katsuyuki Konishi, Mikako Komatsu, and Shiori Izawa. With a battle of the brawn, Helck provides action-packed fun for tournament series fans.

The Demon Realm is holding a wide-spanning competition to determine who will become the next demon lord over the entire Demon Ream. The competition involves action-packed battles between contestants. The demon warriors battle one another to see who can claim victory and earn the title of the new demon lord.

With the previous demon lord demolished by a human fighter, the Demon Realm needs a replacement as soon as possible and all bets are off. The human warrior Helck (Katsuyuki Konishi) decides to enter the competition to see if he can become leader of the demons. Helck proclaims a hatred for humans. Despite the proclamation, some of the other demons remain skeptical of a human having interest in joining the demon competition. After all, it is a fight to become the leader of the demons.

Vermilio (Mikako Komatsu) is one of the leaders of the Demon Realm. Vermilio decides that something fishy might be going on with Helck competing in the demon battles. Vermilio worries that the human is actually plotting something against the Demon Realm.

Determined to stop Helck from winning the competition, Vermilio will stop at nothing to see Helck lose the games. Can Helck rise above all the competitors and rise to the occasion? Could Helck be a human leader over the Demon Realm?

Helck is an intriguing character and someone who brings an element of suspense to the series. Whose side is Helck on? The side of the humans or the demons? The demons want to know and Helck aims right at the prize – winning the tournament.

The animation is decent and works well enough for the production. While not perhaps a top-tier series in regards to animation, the series still achieves a solid enough aesthetic style. The series features art direction by Eiji Iwase (Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague). The animation is often bold and colorful – adding vibrancy to the production and its animation style. Similarly, the cinematography by Tsuyoshi Shimura (Girly Air Force, Under Ninja) manages to highlight the animation well and its bright and bold colors. The cinematography is a impressive showcase for the series.

The score composed by Yoshihisa Hirano (Hunter × Hunter, Zoids Wild Zero) is a solid backdrop for the action and adventure. The score highlights the action beats and works as decent background music to enhance the tone and atmosphere of the battles. As the epic fights unfold in the tournament, the action oriented score amps up the adrenaline.

Written by Mitsutaka Hirota (Bibliophile Princess, Rent-A-Girlfriend) and Toshizo Nemoto (Chrome Shelled Regios, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime), Helck isn’t the best written series but it manages to have a solid concept and emphasis on action. The focus isn’t as much on being some character-based drama but more on exploring the action beats of the saga and making these fight sequences compelling.

Directed by Tatsuo Satō (Bodacious Space Pirates, Martian Successor Nadesico), Helck isn’t a slam dunk and won’t join the ranks of action masterpieces like Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Outlaw Star, or Cowboy Bebop. However, Helck does offer a decent action-packed battleground for epic fights and energetic mayhem if one wants something else to sit back and relax to.

The action is the main draw. The series isn’t going to draw anyone in with lots of drama – it’s about highlighting the action. Helck puts demon characters up against Helck – a human being with great strength and skill – who wants to win the battle and emerge victorious. As the demons pile up, adrenaline-packed mayhem continues as the tournament unfolds.

Helck: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks, Helck is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series has a pleasing high-definition presentation. The animation "pops" with impressive color reproduction. The bright and colorful animation looks excellent on the release. The background animation makes a solid impression. Clarity and detail on the release are solid looking overall.

The Blu-ray release provides quality encoding. One of the best features of the Blu-ray disc format in the streaming era is that it continues to provide superior video quality compared to streaming video services. Streaming video services tend to provide video with lower bit-rates and more compression. For a less compressed image, the physical media format offers an undeniable advantage for home theater fans and videophiles.

Helck: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The sound direction by Shinji Takamatsu (RobiHachi, Grand Blue Dreaming) is well preserved on the release. Dialogue is crisp and clear on the release. The soundtrack sounds nice and crisp. The soundstage offers reasonable detail with the stereo audio dynamics.

The Blu-ray disc format provides lossless audio encoding. This is one of the hallmarks of the format. Even in the streaming era, Blu-ray provides a superior option for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that the audio is lossless. Streaming services only provide lossy (non-lossless) audio encoding. For enthusiasts with expensive audio gear and who care deeply about sound quality, lossless audio can make a difference.

Helck: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes in a standard Blu-ray case. The set does not include a slipcover. The set does not comes with any additional pack-ins or physical goodies. This aspect of the release could be a little better. Fans appreciate collectable packaging, swag, and physical goodies like booklets, art cards, and more. Alas, the set is a standard-edition with no extra physical bonuses.

On disc supplements:

Clean Opening Animations (HD, 3:04)

Clean Closing Animations (HD, 3:04)

Unfortunately, the bonus features selection on the release is lackluster overall. The release does not add any real value in regards to the supplements. The set only comes with a small selection of basic extras. Supplements such as audio commentaries, making-of documentaries, cast/crew interviews, comic con panels, roundtable discussions, and photo galleries would have gone a long way to add some extra value. Fans will have to weigh both the pros and cons of the release and if it is worth a pickup with such an underwhelming supplemental package. Fans who prioritize bonus features may find the release to be too disappointing to purchase but fans who prioritize ownership over anything else may be easier to sway in a purchase decision.

Helck: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Helck is a decent action-packed anime series. Fans of tournament style anime series with plenty of duke-it-out battles will find something worth checking out. The series has decent production merits, too. The series might not be a classic but it may appeal to Shonen anime fans. Director Tatsuo Satō (Bodacious Space Pirates) brings the action for shonen anime fans. The battle is on for the Demon Realm.

The Blu-ray release provides a solid high-definition presentation and lossless audio encoding. Unfortunately, the set has a sparse supplemental package. The extras were underwhelming. Fans of the series wanting a permanent copy in their collection and who are looking for a superior video and audio presentation may wish to consider a purchase. The set doesn't come with any extra swag, either. Even so, fans wanting to own the series will certainly be tempted to pick up the release.