Serial Experiments: Lain (1998– )

TV Series  -   -  Animation | Mystery | Sci-Fi
7.9
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Strange events begin to occur as a withdrawn girl named Lain becomes obsessed with interconnected virtual realm of "The Wired".

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Title: Serial Experiments: Lain (1998– )

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Season:

1

Year:

1998

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Cast

Series cast summary:
Bridget Hoffman ...
 Lain Iwakura (13 episodes, 1998)
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Storyline

A week after Chisa committed suicide, her classmates begin to receive emails from her. Hearing rumors fly at school, a quiet withdrawn girl named Lain goes home that day, turns on her dusty Navi computer for the first time and has a conversation with the dead girl. Chisa's message reads that she killed herself because she didn't need her body anymore, and she now exists in The Wired. When Lain asks why someone would do something like that she gets a response: "Because God is here". Written by Anonymous

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Release Date:

7 July 1998 (Japan)  »

Also Known As:

Lain  »

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The two MIBs actually have names. The name of the short, Asian MIB is Lin Sui-Xi. The name of the tall, Caucasian MIB is Karl Haushofer. His character was the only one to be addressed by name during the series. See more »

Quotes

Chisa Yomoda: There was no reason for me to stay in the real world any longer. In the real world, it didn't matter if I was there or not. When I realized that, I was no longer afraid of losing my body.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Pulse (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

"Duvet"
, from album Twilight
Composed and performed by Boa. Vocals by Jasmine Rodgers.
Courtesy of Polystar Records
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User Reviews

Masterpiece of Anime and Animation
22 June 2003 | by (USA) – See all my reviews

Lain is by far one of my favorite animes of all time. The story is deep, well thought out, and very entertaining throughout. The characters develop perfectly, the atmosphere is incredible, and the story is flawless. Some of the story is left slightly open ended, leaving the viewer to fill in his or her own conclusions.

Tech heads will relate to this story effortlessly. The Wired is easily a souped up version of our own Internet, and the history isn't outrageously far from our own and well explained. The parallels between our world and this fictional world really make things interesting. This series really hits a sweet spot for sci-fi technological dramas.

Every anime fan should see this series, but be prepared for a brain twister. I've watched it a good five times and I can honestly say I still find new tidbits of the story every time. You just can't sit back and put your brain on cruise control; You must make an effort to follow the story or it will leave you mercilessly lost and confused.

And remember folks, this is fiction. You have to be willing to suspend belief a few times and accept the universe of the work at hand. Those unwilling or unable to do this, need not apply. Think of it as a deep mystery novel. Even when following the concrete parts of the story with great attention, there's enough misdirection to leave you wondering what if... and that's half the fun.

If you simply can't accept that the story isn't handed to you neatly gift wrapped, and that you may have to fill in the details from your own imagination, then go watch a simpler anime. This isn't for you. If you like the confusing story of animes like Neon Genesis Evangelion, or Boogiepop Phantom then you'll love this. If you live and breath technology, you'll only love it that much more. All in all, this is a masterpiece of animation.

  • Rirath_com


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Films that blow your mind or remind you of Lain lovesux54
If it isn't remembered, it never happened johansonberbert
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who'd you cast for a live action lain movie? pataki0021
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