Plot: What’s it about?
A young schoolgirl is on the edge of ending her life, but even after she plunges to her death, she hasn’t left the world behind. Soon enough, a classmate of hers receives an email from her, which the girls agree must be some kind of cruel prank. But when a young girl named Lain gets the emails and reads it, she almost believes the email could be real. The email tells of a place called The Wired, where minds and imaginations can run free, since they no longer remain burdened by mortal bodies and such. Perhaps Lain just wants to escape from her current situations and is looking for any kind of hope, but she puts some faith in the email’s words. Lain’s life at home is not a perfect one, as her father is often too busy to pay attention to her and her mother is so displeased with her place, she has become intolerable. Is The Wired a real place and if so, what is it like and how can Lain discover more about this realm? This synopsis covers the first episode only, as I refuse to spoil the further programs, since they need to be seen, as opposed to read about. But I assure you, the story unfolds on a grand scale, with complexities around every corner.
I was hooked on Lain after the first few minutes of the opening volume, as it just sucked me in and never let go. This is by no means the typical kind of anime or science fiction, as it takes a slower, more complex approach, which might not mesh with some viewers. Those who want simple action and little else will be let down, as this is more of a thinking person’s series, filled with small touches that form a larger picture. As the series spans thirteen programs (or layers, as they’re called here) and is spread over four discs, you’ll need to devote some serious time to see it all, but it is well worth the effort, to be sure. I know it seems like a lot of time for a single series, but rest assured, the time is never wasted and each episode is loaded with details & important events. I liken Lain to an anime version of The X-Files, with a dash of The Matrix and some other sci/fi elements tossed in, which works out to a good mix, I think. Easily one of the best written series I have seen, Lain is a must see for sci/fi fans and anyone into anime, as it offers an excellent story and some very complex characters & ideas.
This series might be animated, but it packs more of a punch than a lot of live action titles, so don’t let the anime banner scare you off. I happen to like anime myself, but even if you usually don’t watch animated releases, Lain should be one of the exceptions. This is as well written and executed as you could want from a series, very detailed and complex throughout. I’d say this is one of the finest examples of anime I have seen, perhaps not the very best, but a case could be made, without a doubt. This terrific and memorable series has been released in a couple incarnations, with single discs issued and a rare lunchbox edition, complete with soundtrack CD. This review covers Pioneer’s box set release, which contains all four volumes in one fell swoop. The case is much like other box sets out there, with a sturdy cardboard case that holds the discs, but this one has a nice touch that makes it stand out from the crowd. A very cool plastic blue shield slides into place over the box, which looks excellent, I think. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes science fiction or intense mysteries, especially in this gorgeous box set from Pioneer.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are shown in full frame transfers, as intended. I was quite stunned by the video here, as the images look rich and refined, some of the best anime visuals I’ve seen. I saw no debris or wear signs in the least, as the prints used are pristine, which means the other elements are never hampered. The colors look as intended, which means sometimes hues are rich and other times subdued, depending on the needs of the material. As the visuals can sometimes become rather dark, I was pleased to find accurate contrast here, with stark, well balanced black levels at all times. In short, this is a superb visual presentation in all respects, some fantastic transfer work from Pioneer on this series.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is not as impressive as the video, but it never disappoints, so no reason for worries on this issue. You can choose between the original Japanese language track or an English dub option, both presented in 2.0 stereo tracks. Of course, I recommend the Japanese track as the voice talent is superior, but I’m glad Pioneer included an English option, for those viewers who’d rather use that choice. The audio here is basic, but effective and I have no real complaints to lodge against either of the mixes. The voices sound clean and consistent, no volume errors or the like to mention, while the excellent musical score is also in top condition. The tracks sometimes open up with more dynamic presence, but don’t expect too much from this series in terms of audio. This disc also includes English subtitles, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You’ll find various hidden extras on each disc, but aside from those, the supplements are scarce here. You’ll find some conceptual drawings, soundtrack promo, a commercial for the series, and non-credits opening & ending sequences.
