Serial Experiments Lain: Navi

It did not take much to inspire me to pick up this title. I was looking for something a little more mature that the series I was collecting at the time (Martian Successor Nadesico and Bubble Gum Crisis Tokyo 2040), but I did not know what to base the decision on besides the at least "16 Up" rating. What it came down to was box art, and still to this point there is no better cover art for anime than Serial Experiments Lain.

Once I got back into the car after making this purchase, I read the plot synopsis and was amazed at how intriguing it was. Seeming irresistible, at least from my perspective, or that of anyone who can get into films like Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky, this is an extremely promising title.

Lain is an anime that must be purchased since to catch everything about it requires many viewing. You cannot afford to blink or you will miss many little details in the story and the animation. Patience is also required because a premise is not really established for this series until after the end of the final episode of the video. If you are impatient, it will be difficult to enjoy the story or the slowly gradual changes in the character of Lain. Being able to understand this character is crucial to enjoying the series because all of the other characters are nothing more than background drawing with the added dimension of movement.

I consider the series' artwork to be beautiful. It gives the feeling of being extremely realistic while maintaining the feel of reading a manga. The computer images used in this series are not too complex, but are placed properly to give the viewer the same sense of "aahhhh" and worry that Lain is experiencing.

The series soundtrack further adds to the show's overall beauty. With the exception of the closing credits' song, the eerie techno beats are perfect for this series. There is only one artist that I can compare this to and that is Trent Reznor, but due to the lack of violence or aggression, a Nine Inch Nails score would not be appropriate. Because of this, Lain's beauty is going to be difficult to match.

Serial Experiments Lain may only be enjoyed be minority cliques like Goths and Geeks, but no one can deny this series' beauty on virtually all levels. It is an expensive purchase ($24.99 dubbed, $29.99 subtitled), but it a necessity for any anime fan who does not have ADD collection.

Should I review the next volume of Serial Experiments Lain?
Yes No