Anything I say about this anime won't do it justice. The puzzle of a plot is something you have to piece together, but the ride it takes you on is almost better. Serial Experiements Lain is at least a decade before its time offering commentary on what the internet can be used for or could become.
I genuinely have no idea what was going on. I have my own interpretation but only watching it once but I'm sure it will change with every viewing or as I talk to others. Despite not knowing what happened this is actually one of the best parts. It provides enough to get a sense of the story but is so dense with so many different elements that one may never be able to truly piece it all together. At times it's prophetic about how the wired/internet could be used in terms of social media connecting us for better or worse. At others it plays like a story about ai rebelling against its creator and what truly defines existence. There are also religious themes explored, philosophizing about what makes something God and whether or not one exists in the first place. There is so much here to dissect and enjoy; a single viewing isn't anywhere near enough time to grasp the religious, psychological, and technological messaging.
Every character is unique. Lain is a shy girl struggling with multiple personalities. She wants to come out of her shell but people keep recognizing a different version of her from the wired. She's simultaneously falling deeper into the wired, trying to unravel the mystery of her other self and figuring out who "God" is. Arisu is the second most important character serving as Lain's connection to he human world. Even if you take away all of the surreal imagery and plot, the crux of the story is Lain and Arisu's relationship. Lain's motivation is often trying to protect her friend or mend their relationship after the wired Lain messes something up. Even though these two are the most important, everybody contributes something. Lain's family, the creator of the wired, the Knights, the two guys following Lain, everyone has an important role even if you aren't sure what it is. They're all memorable in one way or another, especially the titular Lain.
Serial Experiments Lain has to be one of the most artistic pieces of media I have ever seen. A clearly limited budget is used to maximum effect. The reused scenes and settings could detract from the artistic expression but the execution causes these limitations to actually add to the overall experience. The use of two distinct color palettes reflects the different tones throughout. The animation itself is rather clean, especially for 1998. It looks like something that would come out a decade later, missing the distinct style 90s anime tend to have. My only criticism is the resolution drops in quality for random scenes then will go back to normal.
The sound design was spectacular. The low budget likely contributed to the lack of music and sound; however, the absence of sound works in the anime's favor. Complete silence will be cut by sudden strings or a jarring sound effect. The music is often ethereal making you feel like you're traveling the wired yourself. The opening is one of the best I've ever heard. The English vocals make it catchy and memorable plus being paired with the soft instrumental matches the tone of the series perfectly. While I wasn't a huge fan of the ending its lyrics fit well with the themes of the show. The sound design really is phenomenal and one of the best parts of the show.
Serial Experiements Lain is one of the best anime I've watched in months. Decades ahead of its time in terms of both themes and animation, it has to be one of the best anime of the 90s. The puzzle of a plot gives you just enough on the first viewing to understand what's going on while still encouraging you to come back to figure out what happened. However, this can just as easily chase people off so be warned before watching. I strongly recommend this to anybody willing to work their mind to try and piece together this anime.
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Art: 9.5/10
Sound: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Overall: 9.6/10
