Lind Land Reviews: Serial Experiments Lain

[Lind_L_Tailor]

Serial Experiments Lain is one of the weirder animes out there. Not weird in the Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei/anything else produced by Studio Shaft sense like most modern anime weirdery is, but closer to the Neon Genesis Evangelion strain than anything, just minus the giant robots, angst and biblical references. The show kicks off with suicide, which ultimately sets the tone for the rest of the series in its eerie bleakness. The plot revolves around the titluar schoolgirl Lain, a classmate of the girl who commited the aforementioned suicide, who hears of other students recieving email from the dead girl. As she herself has never really used a computer, she asks her father, a tech geek, to set her up with one. Whilst in a bear suit. For some reason...

Following this, she discovers said email from her classmate on her Navi (which isn't a PC. Nope. Not at all.), which turns out to be largely inconsequential to the rest of the series. What matters is that now, she's part of the wired. No, not the internet, the wired. Which is completely different. Honestly.

What follows is 13 episodes of pure, unbridled acid trip, condensed into anime form. Granted, it make take multiple views before it makes sense, which makes its 13 episode run time helpful, but Lain is one of those shows that grows on you. As confusing as it may be, and as little as it comes straight out and tells you, it still manages to win you over on atmosphere alone, being somewhat remeniscent of Silent Hill in that way. The artwork has an unusual yet loveable style, focuised on creepy eyes and facial expressions. Well, one facial expression in particular, anyway. Those who've seen a certain episode will know of which I speak.

One thing I love about this series is the use of audio. There's little to no background music, or any kind of non-diagetic sound at all, for that matter. Off the top of my head, the only times I can remember there being music is in the Cyberia club, when music is actually playing in-universe, and in the opening titles/credits. What results is an increibly tense and eerie atmosphere. And it certainly helps that what music they do use is beautifully composed, and utterly fitting to the overall feel of the series.

If I had to give it a fault, and I suppose I do, then there would be the poor characterization. No-one really stuck out as a character for me, with the possible yet very mild exception of Masami Eiri, although in a cyberpunk format that doesn't matter too much. There's also the aformentioned tendancy of being confusing, but, as strange as this may sound, that was actually something I liked about Lain.

So, to summarize, if you're in the mood for having your mind fucked, Lain is most definitely the anime for you. If you can't sit still for 5 minutes without a stupid joke or something dying, then you're better off giving it a miss.

Final Words:
Unusual, eerie, and an overall mindfuck.

Animation/Graphics: 8/10
Story/Plot: 7/10
Music/Background: 10/10
Voice Acting: 6/10

Overall: 7/10

For Fans Of: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Paranoia Agent.

[Contra Fates]

That was one damned fine review, Lind! Amazing work. I nodded a lot while reading it, so there's lots of agreement from me! I'd say your ratings were pretty fair, as well.

[Doubt]

I love NGE...AND PARANOIA AGENT!

Must. Get. Is it out in America?

[Lind_L_Tailor]

I love NGE...AND PARANOIA AGENT!

Must. Get. Is it out in America?

Indeed it is. Has been for a while... I believe this came out in '98, or a similar year.

[Doubt]

Indeed it is. Has been for a while... I believe this came out in '98, or a similar year.

Ah, well, you can't expect every anime to come out here, you know! xD I'm definitely getting this, then.

[BlackJack]

I bought a bunch of DVDs today, and I almost bought this. It looked like the whole series on DVD (which was plausible since I bought the entire series of Firefly). But I couldn't find anything on the box that confirmed that. It could have been only some episode, which I would NEVER buy, or an OVA, which I would also NEVER buy. I may go back and check again sometime, though.

[Lind_L_Tailor]

There aren't any OVAs. Ryu has all the DVDs, so unless it was a boxset you saw, it was probably about 4 episodes or so.

Also, you actually bought something for once? Good on ya!