A darkly comic thriller about a series of vicious street attacks on stressed-out Japanese citizens... said attacks being committed by a young boy on inline skates, wielding a dented bat. This being a Satoshki Kon effort, things are not entirely what they seem, and as the series marches towards its conclusion the supernatural begins to creep into the frame, and Kon's potent social commentary is wielded with painful force. Oh yeah, and its final episode contains probably the single most triumphant moment in anime series history--shortly followed by the single most tear-jerking moment in anime series history. Kon has always been an able stirrer of the mind, but here he proves himself to be an able stirrer of the heart, as well. I could go on and on (particularly about the art and the structure of the episodes), but this is an anime better seen fresh. So get to it.
