Ichi the Killer: Episode 0

This anime acts as a prequel to Takashi Miike's infamous live action film. It shows how bullied school boy Hajime Shiroishi comes to discover his violent side; something that will lead to brutal murder and him being institutionalised. When he is released he has no memories of what he has done, and has the mind of a six year old, but others plan to find a way of using his violence for their own needs and making him 'Killer Number One'.

If you haven't watched the original film, or read the manga, this anime is unlikely to appeal too much; however if you liked the film this is well worth watching. Be warned though it is disturbing at times. The animated violence might not be as extreme as the live action film but it is made more disturbing by the fact that it is made very clear that Hajime is aroused by extreme violence. There is also violent sex in a couple of scenes. The story is interesting enough but at forty six minutes in length it feels a bit rushed; apart from Hajime the characters aren't particularly well developed. The animation might not be of the highest quality but that roughness seems to suit the material. Overall I'd only recommend this to Ichi fans.

These comments are based on watching the animation in Japanese with English subtitles.

This animation is actually based on the manga origins of Ichi the Killer but could still plausibly coincide with the movie. It's well made and VERY GORY. Even worse than the live action because it's animated. Currently this is the only Ichi animation made but more should be coming soon. If you liked the live action movie diffenetly pick this up.

I saw this anime as an add on to the sensory overload that was ichi the killer. I have to say i did not like the anime. As well as i believe it has been done it seems like just another way of squeezing another drop of crimson fluid from a franchise that is already swimming in it.The takeshi miike voiced kakihara is just not even worth mentioning as he hardly even manages any lines. The same set of animation occurs several times in the cartoon which isnt a good sign as the animation is only 45 minutes long.the dub is in an english accent which means no self respecting fan of the live action could sit through it. A must see for ichi fans but a must not buy.

This prequel explains more than the 2003's. Its animation is not the best, but it's not really a problem. It's a reasonable anime.

Keep this in mind: this isn't some of the slightly more sanitized Adult Swim material on Cartoon Network. Ichi the Killer Episode 0 is hardcore anime, meant for probably some of the sickest f****s digging around for whatever they can in the most gritty video bins in some dump of a store. In its 40 minute running time the filmmakers backtrack into the life of Ichi, the memorable sadist from Takashi Miike's film. It's basically all about Ichi coming back from repressed teenage years where he's got the mind of a six year old trapped in a body that's half psycho-libido, and half just psycho killer, the two merging most of the time. Ichi is, of course, trained this way, or rather controlled by forces that use him as a killing machine. But we also see a side to an anti-hero that we might never ever see, which makes him so much of a crazy bird that we almost try and move away from the screen as killings go on, loaded with harsh sexual connotations that would probably scar for life some small children if seen.

It's a violent, insane spectacle, filled with the kind of imagery that only comes out of a comic book that has the reputation to still shock in the 21st century. Lots of sick martial arts moments tinged with just that extra over-the-top belt of surreal mania, as Ichi cries and cries and grows aroused all the more from one killing to the next. I recommend it probably more to those who would already be seeking out anime that's a little more than what would usually be used to seeing; the drawbacks are kinda glaring for most though, including an overbearing soundtrack (sometimes used would have been alright, but this constant starts to take a toll on the narrative, and such awful techno-pop carp), and an ending that seems to cut short just as a whole other narrative seems to start up. It goes without saying I can't see why a show like this wouldn't be picked up - you'd need an exec with the guts of a Tarantino or, for that matter Miike, to see it through without damning the creators to hell and starting a religion to repress this trash. But as trash it is, there's some art stuck in the middle: abstractions done and fashioned as if out of the most deranged fever dream ever conceived in anime.