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Serial Experiments Lain

  • TV Series
  • 1998
  • TV-14
  • 24m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,635
138
Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
Trailer for Serial Experiments: Lain - The Complete Collection
Play trailer1:52
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Adult AnimationAnimeCyberpunkHand-Drawn AnimationPsychological DramaPsychological HorrorAnimationDramaHorrorMystery

Strange things start happening when a withdrawn girl named Lain becomes obsessed with an interconnected virtual realm known as "The Wired".Strange things start happening when a withdrawn girl named Lain becomes obsessed with an interconnected virtual realm known as "The Wired".Strange things start happening when a withdrawn girl named Lain becomes obsessed with an interconnected virtual realm known as "The Wired".

  • Creator
    • Yasuyuki Ueda
  • Stars
    • Kaori Shimizu
    • Bridget Hoffman
    • Dan Lorge
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,635
    138
    • Creator
      • Yasuyuki Ueda
    • Stars
      • Kaori Shimizu
      • Bridget Hoffman
      • Dan Lorge
    • 101User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes13

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season

    Videos2

    Serial Experiments: Lain: The Complete Collection
    Trailer 1:52
    Serial Experiments: Lain: The Complete Collection
    Serial Experiments Lain
    Trailer 1:43
    Serial Experiments Lain
    Serial Experiments Lain
    Trailer 1:43
    Serial Experiments Lain

    Photos119

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    + 113
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Kaori Shimizu
    • Lain Iwakura
    • 1998
    Bridget Hoffman
    Bridget Hoffman
    • Lain Iwakura
    • 1998
    Dan Lorge
    Dan Lorge
    • Additional Voices
    • 1998
    Randy McPherson
    Randy McPherson
    • Additional Voices…
    • 1998
    Ali Moriizumi
    • DJ (Present Day announcer)
    • 1998
    Ayako Kawasumi
    Ayako Kawasumi
    • Mika Iwakura
    • 1998
    Yôko Asada
    • Arisu Mizuki
    • 1998
    Patricia Ja Lee
    Patricia Ja Lee
    • Mika Iwakura
    • 1998
    Emilie de Azevedo Brown
    Emilie de Azevedo Brown
    • Arisu Mizuki
    • 1998
    Chiharu Tezuka
    • Reika Yamamoto
    • 1998
    Manabi Mizuno
    • Juri Kato
    • 1998
    Lenore Zann
    Lenore Zann
    • Reika Yamamoto
    • 1998
    Dari Lallou
    • Juri Kato
    • 1998
    Ryûsuke Ôbayashi
    • Yasuo Iwakura
    • 1998
    Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
    Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
    • Lain's NAVI…
    • 1998
    Barry Stigler
    • Yasuo Iwakura
    • 1998
    Rei Igarashi
    • Miho Iwakura
    • 1998
    Brianne Brozey
    Brianne Brozey
    • Taro
    • 1998
    • Creator
      • Yasuyuki Ueda
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews101

    8.020K
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    Featured reviews

    9Jithindurden

    An experiment it is

    Something that could have only came when the internet was still mysterious in its working. But that doesn't change how philosophical and experimental it is, and beyond all focuses on emotions through an archetype that gets sidelined and turns into a unique experience. Even though it ends as a bit of a failed attempt to be Neon Genesis Evangelion this is still an amazing feat in visual media for executing something like this and not just dying in the minds of the brilliant people who made it.
    9mahmus

    You may not understand it, but sure as hell feel it.

    Boy, how I remember my first time wathing this.

    I had no idea what I had just watched (I'm still not entirely sure I do), but whatever it was, I loved it.
    10Mulliga

    Woefully unknown piece of anime

    "SE: Lain" is a great anime series. It's not godly perfect or anything, but it gets up there...way up there. From the killer opening title sequence (with a great opening song, by the way) to the strange "previews" (they only consist of a girl talking and her body parts - I'm not kidding) for the next show, "Lain" certainly has a fairly unique style. But it goes beyond style and gets into substance.

    The story is simple at first and seems half-predictable in these post-"Matrix" times. After a classmate seemingly commits suicide, Lain gets e-mail from the dead girl. Apparently, her consciousness is still on the net...or is it? From then on, things get weird, complicated, and interesting.

    Splicing in elements of Matrix-style cyberpunk, X-Files conspiracy, and the David Lynch-esque surreal, "Lain" is, like the Wired world it portrays, a synthesis of disparate ideas and personas, all thrown into a blender for the viewer to interpret. The interpretation's the thing, and those looking for action or comedy may come away slightly disappointed. After 13 episodes, there will probably be more questions than answers, but isn't real life like that, anyway?
    Rirath_com

    Masterpiece of Anime and Animation

    Lain is by far one of my favorite animes of all time. The story is deep, well thought out, and very entertaining throughout. The characters develop perfectly, the atmosphere is incredible, and the story is flawless. Some of the story is left slightly open ended, leaving the viewer to fill in his or her own conclusions.

    Tech heads will relate to this story effortlessly. The Wired is easily a souped up version of our own Internet, and the history isn't outrageously far from our own and well explained. The parallels between our world and this fictional world really make things interesting. This series really hits a sweet spot for sci-fi technological dramas.

    Every anime fan should see this series, but be prepared for a brain twister. I've watched it a good five times and I can honestly say I still find new tidbits of the story every time. You just can't sit back and put your brain on cruise control; You must make an effort to follow the story or it will leave you mercilessly lost and confused.

    And remember folks, this is fiction. You have to be willing to suspend belief a few times and accept the universe of the work at hand. Those unwilling or unable to do this, need not apply. Think of it as a deep mystery novel. Even when following the concrete parts of the story with great attention, there's enough misdirection to leave you wondering what if... and that's half the fun.

    If you simply can't accept that the story isn't handed to you neatly gift wrapped, and that you may have to fill in the details from your own imagination, then go watch a simpler anime. This isn't for you. If you like the confusing story of animes like Neon Genesis Evangelion, or Boogiepop Phantom then you'll love this. If you live and breath technology, you'll only love it that much more. All in all, this is a masterpiece of animation.

    • Rirath_com
    8shusei

    One of the most strange Japanese anime serial

    Generally speaking,Japanese anime products,as its by-product known as "otaku" culture, are full of contradictions. First of all, anime's "artistic" level has never been adequately estimated in its homeland(namely by audience, critics and mass medias) and usually "discovered" by foreigners(most sad example is "Inoccence--Ghost in the shell", Mamoru Oshii's best and probably last artistic film). Secondally, anime's highest level in dramaturgy had been achieved before it was "discovered" by world film festivals and foreign audiences(French people is said to have believed "Candy Candy"'s not a Japanese serial, because it was so sophisticated).

    "Serial experiment Lain" is a accidental postmodern masterpiece,made after anime's classical achievements("accidental", because no one had intended to make a work of art). "Lain" uses plenty of postmodern devices: citation from purely historical materials,stylish eclecticism,"open" ending or circular structure and showing its own media's limitation(many scenes are openly "two dimensional" and look like rather abstract "picture").

    Having been made in the time of imitation and citation of past anime "classical "serials of 80s and later 70s, "Lain" is superb in its originality and the sense of the contemporary.After seeing this serial, "Evangelion" seems to be boring and too long(experimental works must be not so long as ordinary "genre" works,it is the rule from the time of silent era).

    I recommend to compare this serial with "Kairo" by Kiyoshi Kurosawa,the latter will seem to be some kind of a little out-dated remake of this serial.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There are numerous references to Macintosh and Apple Computers: The phrase "To Be Continued", with a colored "Be" is shown at the end of most of the episodes. This is a reference to BeOS, whose logo has similar coloring. The Be company was founded by Jean-Louis Guasse, a former Apple executive. The Navis use an operating system named Copeland, which was the codename for Apple's MacOS 8. Navi's operating system has a graphical user interface (GUI) similar to that of MacOS. Arisu's Navi resembles the original Apple iMac. The series slogan "Close this world. Open the NeXT" is a reference to the NeXT company, founded by Steve Jobs in the late '80s and purchased by Apple Computer in December 1996. All of the Navis shown in the series use one-button mice as Macintosh computers do. The electronic voice heard saying the episode titles is the "Whisper" voice from the MacOS Speech Control Panel, a program that permits text-to-speech. The child's Navi that Lain used to use was modeled after the 20th Anniversary Macintosh. The HandiNAVI, the handheld computers which both Lain and Arisu used was based off the Apple Newton, the first PDA. Navis and Macintoshes are both built by companies named after fruit, Tachibana (a type of orange) and Apple, respectively.
    • Quotes

      Lain Iwakura: No matter where you are, everyone is always connected.

    • Connections
      Featured in AMV Hell 3: The Motion Picture (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Duvet
      Performed by Boa

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 13, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Languages
      • Japanese
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Експерименти Лейн
    • Production companies
      • Pioneer LDC
      • Triangle Staff
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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