The story starts off somewhat simple. A shy, timid, fourteen-year-old girl with few friends and interests is introduced as the titular main character. However, as the plot unravels itself, a simple web transforms into a deep, multi-faceted fabric. It is anything but simple. Conspiracies, ego, realization, communication and identity are explored in an existential tale of life in the digital age, set in the era of the personal computer. We are introduced to supporting characters through Lain, and merely few episodes in are questioned whether they even exist, or are delusions of Lain's twisted, yet innocent mind. Lain's obsession with the digital world of the Wired could be interpreted as humanity's plight into the world of the web, and a statement on globalisation as a whole. It constantly bombards the audience with questions regarding identity, humanity, religion and just when the audience thinks they are starting to get a basic grip on the highly and purposely convoluted storyline, the show throws a curve ball that knocks your interpretation over.
The whole plot operates on the level of a David Lynch film. Dreamlike imagery, suspicious, mysterious characters with motives concealed behind a one-way mirror, conspiracies, and philosophical themes. However, whereas David Lynch films are usually purely interpretational, Serial Experiments Lain lays out the plot in a basic form, placing pieces throughout the episodes, and gently nudges you to fill in the blanks.
Lain's development throughout the show is captivating, and very reminiscent of Fight Club's insomniac narrator Tyler Durden. As the plot progresses, we are introduced to many alter egos of Lain, hinting at a possible dissociative personality disorder. The real-world, "childish" Lain has a shy attitude and bear pajamas. The "advanced" Lain, her Wired personality, is bold and questioning. Finally, the "evil" Lain is sly and devious, and does everything she can to harm Lain or the ones close to her. This confuses the viewer and heavily ties in with the theme of identity. All the supporting cast revolve around her, but are purely there to further advance Lain's story.
As with any show, the ending is paramount. Don't fret, Serial Experiments Lain delivers, with an ending I believe ties up the show nicely. There is no action-packed boss battle, or anything of the sort, but if you even expected that for a second, you're watching this for the wrong reasons. This show is purely psychological.
The animation was handled by the now-defunct Triangle Staff studios. The show has aged well, and is still as well-animated as it was in 1998. The environments are very ambiguous, as we see the world through the eyes of Lain, her strange delusions coming to life. The character animation design is superb, especially on Lain. All her split personalities are well-animated, and successfully convey the vision of the writers.
The sound work in the show is top-notch. The series' opening theme, "Duvet", was written and performed in English by the British rock band Bôa. The closing theme is ''Tooi Sakebi'' by Nakaido Chabo Rei'ichii. Both are gorgeous rock songs, which tie in well with the ''confused, shy teenager'' character of Lain. A recurring sound of humming power lines is a constant thoughout the series, and is synonymous with the area outside Lain's house. The use of music is kept to a minimum, preferring the use of minimalist, psychedelic sound effects. When music is used, it is commonly electronic, blood-pumping techno, connecting to the in-show nightclub, Cyberia. During the recap in episode 11, wailing, beatless, noisy guitar riffs are repeated, layering over each other. Each episode title is announced with an Apple PlainTalk whisper preset, which I thought was a small, but nice touch, fitting in with the theme of contemporary computer culture.
This show is captivating. If you enjoy cyberpunk, or mystery, or psychological anime, you will definitely enjoy SEL. Interpretational, yet crystal clear. I'm sure this show could be analysed a thousand times over. I'm sure there are many double meanings hidden throughout the episodes. One of the classics of the 1990's, pushing the envelope for animated art and storytelling. I can see why this is a cult classic. If you enjoy anime that makes you think, give it a try. It's definitely not for everyone, but I believe it deserves a spot in your list. Its willingness to question the meaning of contemporary life and the extraordinarily philosophical and deep questions it presents us with are mind-bending. Present day, present time.
