Television Recommendation: Serial Experiments Lain

(picture courtesy of www.epic-anime.com)

So say what you will about anime. It's not for everyone. But let me get something straight for all the naysayers that continuously diss cartoons and japanese anime. Just like television, not all anime is the same. Their doesn't have to be giant gundams fighting each other, or pokemon battles. Rather, their are pyschological and philosophical ideals that are best exmplored through a different medium- anime. Much like seeing Homer Simpson continously getting up from what would normally be considered life or death situations with nothing but a scratch, anime allows us to have this different approach.

As far as Serial Experiments Lain goes, it brings up a series of interesting ideas regarding the internet and defining reality. It is a story about self discovery and finding out who one is in society. It brings in the cyberpunk element of artistry that I love and I think that it is a very underrated peice. Lain is essentially your typical school girl who lives a life like any other. That was until one of her friends committed suicide. To make things weirder, she receives a text messaged from her friend from beyond the grave. At first she thinks that it is a prank of sorts, but soon realizes that "the wired" is a medium that can be used between the living and the dead. She begins to question reality and even asks herself "Who is Lain?" It's one of those shows that isn't going to hold your hand while you watch it. Their is a lot of interpretation and you have to put some thought into watching it.

Like I said this isn't for everyone. As one review from animeworld.com states "Slow, surreal, layered with symbolism and a vague, wandering non-story, Serial Experiments Lain is a unique and defiantly weird series. As with most things that go this far out on an artistic limb, you're likely to either find it enthralling or be unable to stand it, but there's little room for middle ground." If you don't like anime, just ignore this post. Still, I love it and recommend it.