Anime
| No. | English Title | German Title | Japanese Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A Chance Encounter | Begegnung (lit. "Meeting") | kaikô |
| 02 | Annihilation | Vernichtung | sôtô |
| 03 | Deep Feelings | Im Innersten (lit. "at heart") | kyôri |
| 04 | Attack | Aufeinandertreffen (lit. "to clash") | shokugeki |
| 05 | Receipt | Empfang | rakushô |
| 06 | Innermost Feelings | Herzenswärme (lit. "warmth of the heart") | chûjô |
| 07 | Confrontation | Zufällige Begegnung (lit. "random encounter") | saikai (lit. "confronting") |
| 08 | The Beginning | Beginn | kôshi |
| 09 | Reminiscence | Schöne Erinnerung (lit. "beautiful memory") | tsuioku (lit. "recollection") |
| 10 | Infant | Säugling | eiji |
| 11 | Complication | Vermischung (lit. "blending / mix") | sakusô |
| 12 | Quagmire | Taumeln (lit. "to stagger") | deinei |
| 13 | No Return | Erleuchtung (lit. "enlightenment") |
fugen |
DVD releases
OVA
The OVA (original video animation), occasionally numbered as "Episode 10.5," concentrates largely on the character Nana, and her efforts to fit in at the Kaede Inn.
| English Title | In the Passing Rain |
| German Title | Regenschauer (lit. "rain shower") |
| Japanese Title | tooriame ni te arui wa, shôjo wa ikani shi te sono shinjô ni itatta ka |
| Literal English | In the Passing Rain, or How Can a Girl Have Reached Such Feelings? |
Manga
12 episodes have been produced, though none have, as yet, been officially translated into English.
Kouta
Kouta comes into town to rent a dilapidated inn, known as Kaede House, belonging to the family of his cousin Yuka, on the condition that he inhabits and takes care of the place whilst securing a place in higher education.
One of his abiding traits is his helpfulness towards girls who are in trouble for whatever reason, epitomised by his allowing several to stay at the inn indefinitely. Kouta's father and sister, Kanae, died when he was very young after a summer break with Yuka, traumatic memories of which he has kept suppressed.
Yuka
Yuka is a cousin of Kouta and is in love with him. His aiding young females, especially the mysterious Nyuu (who is particularly nubile and hence a threat to Yuka's dreams of a relationship) is the cause of much angst between her and her cousin.
Lucy (a.k.a. "Nyuu")
Lucy
A Diclonius, Lucy escaped from Kurama's research facility, causing immense loss of life, before finding herself on a beach in a state of extreme vulnerability.
Lucy holds normal humanity in extreme loathing, having suffered bullying and maltreatment as a child on account of her Diclonius nature. Indeed, her best friend during childhood was a dog, knowledge of whose existence and whereabouts she entrusted to but one person, who eventually betrayed her. Having watched the poor hound being beaten to death, Lucy snapped, embarking on a killing spree that would claim many lives.
Later on, she is befriended by the young Kouta, sowing seeds that would blossom into infatuation on Lucy's part. Indeed, Kouta would appear to be the only non-Diclonius human whose right to live Lucy regards as sacrosanct.
In short, Lucy's philosophy appears to be "non-Diclonius = non-human". 
However, having suffered such brutality at the hands of supposedly civilised humans, it was to be expected that one with such deadly potential would lose any inhibitions as to its use. However, Lucy spares not other Diclonius either, torturing Nana when the younger Diclonius was sent to retrieve her.
Lucy suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, to the point that other Diclonius cannot recognise her when the sadistic "Lucy" personality is dormant.
The second personality is...
Nyuu
Whereas Lucy is an embodiment of malice and brooding, Nyuu could not be more different.
Regressed to a state of infancy and incapable of nothing more than the most basic speech - her only utterance is that from which this personality's name is derived - Nyuu is totally incapable of knowingly causing harm.
This personality may have emerged organically, after Lucy (wearing a helmet) was shot in the head. The personalities often switch when Lucy receives a blow to the head, though this is not universally the case.
<== Lucy as a young girl
Mayu
A young homeless girl who Kouta and Yuka take pity on, Mayu left home to escape a stepfather who sexually abused her.
She subsists on breadcrumbs, ostensibly obtained for her dog, Wanta, who is her companion. She later becomes the ward of Kouta and Yuka.
Nana
Nana is a "Silpelit", a "second generation" Diclonius. Her name originates from the Japanese number 7, hwe number at the research facility.
She is devoted to Kurama, who she tems "papa", and he often protects her, appearing to save her life when she is in dire straits.
Despite undergoing mortifications at the facility, Nana's personality is kind and friendly. She later becomes close friends with Mayu - the pair are of a similar age.
Wanta
Wanta is the constant companion of Mayu. At one point, he is taken from her, ostensibly by his "rightful owner", though her returns to the young girl.
Nozomi
A friend of Yuka, Nozomi appears only in the manga. She is very shy, perhaps due to a bladder problem that obliges her to wear protection.
A talented singer, Nozomi it was who introduced Nyuu to the song "Elfenlied".
Kurama
Kurama is the head of a research facility designed to hold a group of humanoid life forms known as the "Diclonius".
Surprisingly moral, Kurama acts as surrogate father to the Diclonius known as Nana, expressing a high concern and regard for her safety, as well as ensuring the safety of his own biological daughter, the exceptionally dangerous Mariko.
Kurama is a widower, his wife having died after complications following the birth of their daughter by Caesarian section.
Isobe
Assistant to Kurama. Regards Diclonius as subhuman, advocating treating them as one would an animal. Killed by Lucy after attempting to shoot the grieving Nana.
Shirakawa
Kurama's personal assistant. Though professional on the surface, she appears to have unrequited romantic feelings for him. Stoic victim of sexual abuse and humiliation at the hands of Chief Kakuzawa.
Kisaragi
Clumsy secretary to Kurama and Toudai graduate, Kisaragi is murdered by Lucy at the very beginning of the series as Lucy attempts to escape the Facility.
Bandô
Working for the National Police Agency's Special Assault Team, Bandô is extremely good at his job - largely due to the fact that his has extreme psychopathic tendencies.
Hiromi
Wife to Kurama and mother to Mariki, Hiromi died of massive blood loss as a complication of a Caesarian section, necessitated by the discovery that she was suffering from uterine cancer.
Mariko (a.k.a. Number 35)
Mariko is the biological daughter of Kurama and stepdaughter of her first victim, Saito.
She is the only living "third generation" Silpelit, as all the others were destroyed at birth in a purge led by Kurama, who broke orders to keep his child alive.
Two bombs have been implanted into Mariko, as a means to prevent her from causing too much damage.
Saito
Stepmother of Mariko and scientist at the facility. Killed by Mariko.
Number 3
Silpelit used in experiments as to the nature of the vectors. She didn't survive.
Chief Kakuzawa
Kakuzawa is the Director of the Diclonius research facility, performing terrible experiments on tehm despite his own being part-Diclonius.
Along with his son, apparently seeking to replace the current world order with a master race of Diclonius extraction.
Professor Kakuzawa Yu
Former university colleague of Kurama and professor, Kakuzawa Yu is the part-Diclonius son of Director Kakuzawa.
He is killed by Lucy after attempting to initiate mating with her, apparenty as part of a larger scheme to bring about a new Diclonius world order.
Arakawa
University colleague of Yu Kakuzawa, working with him on a vaccine to stave off the Diclonius virus.
Kanae
Kanae was the younger sister of Kouta. She was killed, along with her father, in a manner so traumatic that Kouta utilised the psychological mechanism of dissociation in order to keep the memory repressed.
Kouta & Kanae's father
Slain by Lucy on a train with his daughter, whilst his son looked on.
Lucy's one true friend during childhood
A dog who befriended Lucy during her childhood, only to be betrayed and killed, an event that motivated Lucy's initial killing spree.
In the light of this relationship, it is now plain as to why, despite all her excesses against humanity, Lucy never sought to harm Wanta.
Takada Aiko
Only the second person to accept Lucy as a friend inspite of her Diclonius nature, Takada Aiko was brutally slain during the first operation to capture Lucy undertaken by the Facility.
Tomo
Orphan installed at the same home as Lucy, whom he bullied. Slain by Lucy to avenge her friend, a dog, murdered by Tomo and his associates.
Orphan girl
A young girl who befriends Lucy, warning Tomo et al off from hurting her. However, Lucy kills her when it is revealed that she has given Tomo's crew information about the whereabouts of her dog.
Detectives
These two detectives, from the Kamakura police station, visit the Kaede Inn on a rainy evening as part of inquiries as to the whereabouts of the escaped Lucy.
Bakery worker
A kindly woman who takes pity on Mayu, saving the crusts from bread, ostensibly for Wanta, though she has her suspicions otherwise.
Create a free website at Webs.com