Hellboy Animated, Sword of Storms. Starz Media (2006)

A very enjoyable, original animated Hellboy film. As ever with the extended Hellboy franchise the quality control is very high and the story is allowed to develop according to its own logic without being constrained by continuity issues from other branches. In Japan a scholar opens a scroll that tells the story of how a brave samurai warrior trapped the demons, Thunder & Lightning in a sword and lost his beloved to the wrath of her father. The scholar becomes possessed and tracks down the sword and starts a process to release the demons and their brothers the dragons. The B.P.R.D., in this case Hellboy and Kate Corrigan and some others go to Japan to investigate the theft of the sword while Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman remain at the base. Hellboy soon finds himself trapped in a parallel space where he has to journey home with the sword,facing a number of challanges along the way as well as having some ambigious help, while in the real Earth dragons are coming to life in countries all over the world. In a very nice touch all the dragons are the ones that are particular to the traditions of that country. Abe and Liz are caught in a storm and a plane crash at sea and find themselves battling a very fierce creature from the deep. Hellboy crosses a mythical Japanese landscape, returns to modern Tokyo with trouble in tow and the smashing conclusion is delivered.

Some of the scenes in this film are drawn directly from Hellboy stories, others are freshly minted for this story. The animation is excellent, the Japanese flavour is clear without being insulting or intrusive. The various monsters are inventive and the fights are forceful and effective. With the same cast as the live action films providing the voices and a witty polished script, this is a quality production with plenty to interest a non-Hellboy fan.

Hellboy Animated: Blood & Iron. Starz Media ( 2006)

One of the really striking things about the way that the Hellboy franchise has developed and expanded is the way in which it has allowed different versions of the story grow in different versions, the comic, live action and animated versions all follow different routes. This freedom of action is a great strength for the franchise. Blood & Iron is not an animated Hellboy comic, though it does use some ideas from the comic Wake the Devil, it follows its own path. The character design is distinctive and most importantly Professor Broom is very much alive in the film.

A hotel, due to open soon, reports that it is haunted, its well connected owner has the pull to ensure that the B.P.R.D. (Bureau for Paranormal Research & Defence) are involved. Professor Broom, although retired, joins the team ans seems to have a suspicion regarding the events he is unwilling to share with the others. What Hellboy, Liz Sherman, Abe Sapien and the rest of the team find at the hotel is that someone is trying to resurrect a vampire called Erzsebet Ondrushko. Professor Broom had thought he had destroyed Erzsebt years before and finds himself in conflict with her again. When the goddess Hera shows up things get very difficult for the team.

Threaded through this narrative is the story of Professor Boom's first encounter with Erzsebet. This is told in a reverse chronological flashback with the story unwinding back from the final encounter to the point where Broom is leaving for the expedition. This is a very effective device, it not only counterpoints the actions in the haunted hotel, it is a gripping piece of story telling in its own right. The whole story is available in straight chronological order among the extras.

This is a super Hellboy story as well as a very well made piece of animation, the cast are very effective, the plot enjoyable and has everything that could be desired, Hellboy thumping monsters, Elizabeth Sherman toasting wolves, Abe Sapien being a really tough opponent, a great set piece fight, smart crisp dialogue and finally release for the innocent victims. Great fun for Hellboy fans and non-fans alike. The voice talent is provided by the actors from the live action films and is excellent.