In the present day at the present time, the world is connected. A vast interlocking network of communication, from the lowly telegraph to the modern innovations of the telephone and internet, the world is Wired. Our story follows the titular Lain, an introverted highschool student who upon receiving a Mavi computer from her father, discovers an email from a classmate who had recently killed herself. This deceased classmate proceeding to inform Lain in real time of her continued existence within the Wired.
Produced jointly by Studio Genon and Tatsunoko Productions under the direction of Ryutaro Nakamura, with character design by Yoshitoshi Abe, and written by Chiaki J. Konaka, Serial Experiments Lain offers an inquiry into existence, identity and communication, as well as overall reality. Consolidating the theory of existence rooted in the culminating unconscious of people with a similar concept substituting in the technological, the series contemplates the existence and nature of it’s protagonist and the world around her as Lain attempts to discover her own answers. As each episode, pseudonymous with a layer of the psyche, unfolds, the questions of what is true and what is simply a construct of the Wired or Lain’s own warped mind becomes paramount.
Serial Experiments Lain offers the viewer an exercise in philosophy, theology and psychoanalysis, every last frame rife with interpretable hints and direction towards answers that may or may not be. The provocation for more then a handful of academic examinations, every viewer takes away a different consensus on the nature of what they have witnessed. As such the plot or lack thereof is less than apparent; events transpiring in such a way as to possibly be real, symbolic or simply hallucinations. What these events mean to overarching themes and tone of the story is left to the viewer, nobody to exposit to the nature of what has occurred but the untrustworthy.
Though Lain offers her own speculation as to the events surrounding her they quickly become as questionable and unreliable as anything else in her world; the eventual arguments between her different personalities the most explicit example of this. Serial Experiments Lain is relatively unique in it’s presentation, a world without context that allows the perception of the viewer to act as it’s definitive reality. Instead of telling or even so much as subtly suggesting what the truth is it allows the mind of those watching to act as an analogy for both the psyche and reality.
The art direction of the anime suits it well, blending surreal imagery with the mundane to great effect. Mirroring the bizarre storyline presented by the anime with similarly suggestive yet nondescript visual cues and clues that offer more evidence towards the budding theories of those beholding them. This does as much to contribute to the atmosphere as the dialogue; the art and animation stylized and symbolic. Sound or lack thereof is also utilized for the greatest amount of symbolic effect, working jointly with the visuals to form something wholly unique. The voice acting present in Serial Experiments Lain can vary, though both the subbed and dubbed renditions offer generally solid performances. Minor players in either versions can occasionally receive less then favourable performances, though both leads are well cast and strong in lending Lain their voice.
In conclusion, Serial Experiments Lain requires much of the viewer and the interest and willingness to immerse one’s self in the themes presented can be definitive as to how much one can enjoy the series. The anime is certainly not for everyone, lacking a cohesive plot and relying on the viewer to keep up, creating an interactive experience of sorts as that established within the show blends with the preconceptions of those watching. What it eventually amounts to is up for debate, as a philosophy so incomprehensible might be as good as gibberish to some, whereas others can be fascinated in their attempting to dissect it.
~ Colme
Produced jointly by Studio Genon and Tatsunoko Productions under the direction of Ryutaro Nakamura, with character design by Yoshitoshi Abe, and written by Chiaki J. Konaka, Serial Experiments Lain offers an inquiry into existence, identity and communication, as well as overall reality. Consolidating the theory of existence rooted in the culminating unconscious of people with a similar concept substituting in the technological, the series contemplates the existence and nature of it’s protagonist and the world around her as Lain attempts to discover her own answers. As each episode, pseudonymous with a layer of the psyche, unfolds, the questions of what is true and what is simply a construct of the Wired or Lain’s own warped mind becomes paramount.
Serial Experiments Lain offers the viewer an exercise in philosophy, theology and psychoanalysis, every last frame rife with interpretable hints and direction towards answers that may or may not be. The provocation for more then a handful of academic examinations, every viewer takes away a different consensus on the nature of what they have witnessed. As such the plot or lack thereof is less than apparent; events transpiring in such a way as to possibly be real, symbolic or simply hallucinations. What these events mean to overarching themes and tone of the story is left to the viewer, nobody to exposit to the nature of what has occurred but the untrustworthy.
Though Lain offers her own speculation as to the events surrounding her they quickly become as questionable and unreliable as anything else in her world; the eventual arguments between her different personalities the most explicit example of this. Serial Experiments Lain is relatively unique in it’s presentation, a world without context that allows the perception of the viewer to act as it’s definitive reality. Instead of telling or even so much as subtly suggesting what the truth is it allows the mind of those watching to act as an analogy for both the psyche and reality.
The art direction of the anime suits it well, blending surreal imagery with the mundane to great effect. Mirroring the bizarre storyline presented by the anime with similarly suggestive yet nondescript visual cues and clues that offer more evidence towards the budding theories of those beholding them. This does as much to contribute to the atmosphere as the dialogue; the art and animation stylized and symbolic. Sound or lack thereof is also utilized for the greatest amount of symbolic effect, working jointly with the visuals to form something wholly unique. The voice acting present in Serial Experiments Lain can vary, though both the subbed and dubbed renditions offer generally solid performances. Minor players in either versions can occasionally receive less then favourable performances, though both leads are well cast and strong in lending Lain their voice.
In conclusion, Serial Experiments Lain requires much of the viewer and the interest and willingness to immerse one’s self in the themes presented can be definitive as to how much one can enjoy the series. The anime is certainly not for everyone, lacking a cohesive plot and relying on the viewer to keep up, creating an interactive experience of sorts as that established within the show blends with the preconceptions of those watching. What it eventually amounts to is up for debate, as a philosophy so incomprehensible might be as good as gibberish to some, whereas others can be fascinated in their attempting to dissect it.
~ Colme
