16 votes

Serial Experiments Lain

Tags: ask

Any of you guys ever watch it? It had its 20th anniversary two months ago and I was surprised to find out how many people hadn't heard of it, even in my group of weebish friends. It's definitely strange, but it's also really exciting to try and figure things out or anticipate what happens next when you're watching. It has a weird mix of mystery and philosophy that's paced slowly but keeps you invested. It's pretty hard to explain in a meaningful way.

Maybe some of you haven't been exposed to it yet, or haven't given it a shot. If you have the time, check it out--even if you're not a huge anime fan. Given how diverse the front page of Tildes is, you may be just that until you get hooked on Lain.

10 comments

  1. Andrewski
    Link
    Yeah, I'm really into cyberpunk anime and I definitely enjoyed Serial Experiments Lain. I will say it's stranger than a lot of other anime I've watched, which isn't a bad thing.

    Yeah, I'm really into cyberpunk anime and I definitely enjoyed Serial Experiments Lain. I will say it's stranger than a lot of other anime I've watched, which isn't a bad thing.

    4 votes
  2. kgz
    Link
    Let's all love lain.

    Let's all love lain.

    4 votes
  3. biox
    Link
    My absolute favorite anime of all time is Serial Experiments Lain - a masterpiece in its' own right. I recommend any fan of psychological anime to watch it. Even if you just like trippy bright...

    My absolute favorite anime of all time is Serial Experiments Lain - a masterpiece in its' own right. I recommend any fan of psychological anime to watch it. Even if you just like trippy bright pastel-ish visuals, I'd recommend it on that merit alone. It makes you feel real isolation and heartbreak, but above all it's a story of self discovery. That show has helped me immensely in life.

    4 votes
  4. demifiend
    Link
    I've heard of it, but never got around to watching it. Ended up watching Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex instead.

    I've heard of it, but never got around to watching it. Ended up watching Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex instead.

    2 votes
  5. panic
    Link
    I was a bit obsessed with Serial Experiments Lain for a while in middle school (forum profile pics and everything). I need to watch it again sometime!

    I was a bit obsessed with Serial Experiments Lain for a while in middle school (forum profile pics and everything). I need to watch it again sometime!

    2 votes
  6. talklittle
    Link
    Years since I watched it, but I really liked the atmosphere. A lot of down time, as in many scenes with very little dialogue. And this constant sense of "something's not right." Lain's quiet,...

    Years since I watched it, but I really liked the atmosphere. A lot of down time, as in many scenes with very little dialogue. And this constant sense of "something's not right." Lain's quiet, awkward personality was charming to adolescent me.

    1 vote
  7. [3]
    aethicglass
    Link
    Oh wow that totally takes me back. I think the last time I watched it was back in 2003 or so. Really likes it. Also reminds me of another that I watched right in the same time period. I think it...

    Oh wow that totally takes me back. I think the last time I watched it was back in 2003 or so. Really likes it.

    Also reminds me of another that I watched right in the same time period. I think it was called Golden Boy. There was a kid on a skateboard with a bat shapes like 'ku'. It was decently dark.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      gerikson
      Link Parent
      That’s Paranoia Agent, it’s excellent. https://myanimelist.net/anime/323/Mousou_Dairinin Anything by Satoshi Kon is worth checking out!

      That’s Paranoia Agent, it’s excellent.

      https://myanimelist.net/anime/323/Mousou_Dairinin

      Anything by Satoshi Kon is worth checking out!

      1 vote
      1. aethicglass
        Link Parent
        Yea! That's the one! Haha awesome, thanks!

        Yea! That's the one! Haha awesome, thanks!

        1 vote
  8. harrygibus
    Link
    Not a huge consumer of Anime, but I was turned on to this by Morgan Webb back in the TechTV days. I really enjoyed it for its art style and story.

    Not a huge consumer of Anime, but I was turned on to this by Morgan Webb back in the TechTV days. I really enjoyed it for its art style and story.

    1 vote