Serial Experiments Lain

Paranoia Agent is yet another entry into the "Mindfuck" genera of late night anime shows that Lain pretty much pioneered. While Paranoia agent is quite a bit more humorous with more emphasis on animation than direction (whereas Lain overcomes its lack of animation with direction) both shows feature a fair amount of social critique and are both quite unconventional in their execution. Paranoia Agent may not have quite the same atmosphere as Lain or Boogiepop Phantom and may feel a bit mroe linear to die hard fans of this genera of anime, both films are quite different from the normal anime mold and would appeal to fans of off beat works.

Lain and Paranoia Agent both have themes that run much deeper than is expected of in most anime, that while not the same I feel are in ways convergent, both in how they convey them and in their message.

In their sense of dissociation from reality, and in their alternative approach to storytelling within the anime medium, "Serial Experiments Lain" and "Paranoia Agent" are similar. You may not find you like them both, but the interaction between the two will prove enlightening.

Both series have the same weirdness in it, though while Lain is obviously the one harder to understand and alot complexer, Paranoia Agent is more humorous. Even though the series differ alot, there is a same atmosphere in both series and are a tad noir.

Plot wise there are few similarities, but Lain and Paranoia Agent have a similar feel to each other. Both require that you really pay attention to all the details in order to understand what's really going on.

Little to no action in both shows, yet they do feature some violence (more so with Paranoia Agent than Lain.)

Paranoia Agent definitely has the same creepy feel to it. Both shows deal with another plane of reality, and will keep you interested. I love how everything ties together in Paranoia Agent; it's definitely a good watch.

Serial Experiments Lain and Paranoia Agent can be enjoyed for many of the same reasons. If you enjoy a good mindfuck anime or something a little more intelligent, then I would suggest giving another weird anime a try and watching Paranoia Agent. You won't be disappointed.

Perception and reality: the divergence between what one perceives and what might exist is at the heart of both series. Paranoia Agent follows a more psychological approach to unravel the relation between these vectors while Serial Experiments Lain has a more philosophical take. It is likely that those who enjoy abstract deconstructions of identity will appreciate these exercises in surreal existentialism that are Lain and Paranoia Agent.

Both have a heavy atmosphere. Lain is a bit darker while Paranoia Agent is at times simply creepy. Yet both are quite mysterious and try to keep us up with the story throughout all of their mind-boggling events.

Both Paranoia Agent and Lain are mindbusters that will really make you think about life and the world around you. They are intriguing in that at first you have no idea what is going on but over time all the pieces of the "puzzle" come together to reveal the bigger picture. Both anime may also require more then one viewing to fully understand the message.

Two looks into escapism wrapped around a story. In Lain, the characters are attempting escape everyday life by creating a second "cyber life". Where's in Paranoia Agent, characters are looking towards an anime or even injury for their escape. Come for the story, stay for the messages rapped in the story and complex symbolism.

Parnoia Agent and Serial Experiment's Lain both bring up deep philosophical questions through crazy impossible situations. Both stories use symbolism that is very Japanese. If that's your thing, check out this anime.

Here are two series that will exhaust the psyche of its viewer! Both are great at confusing those who watch them, asking many questions that there are no obvious answers to and are quite surreal in animation - it's not always clear if what you're seeing is what is really happening or a creation of the mind of its characters. If you like a more psychological approach to your anime then they are definite must views.

Both series have the same disturbing, disquieting, creepy kind of feeling that endures a while after watching it. In the case of PA, the freak out starts from the very strange intro to the disturbing ending sequence, with Lain the feeling goes along the episode with the creepy sound of the power lines (or was it the wired???). If for some twisted and sick reason you enjoyed Paranoia agent you'll also enjoy Lain.

If you liked the mystery and darkness of Lain you would also like Paranoia Agent. After watching both series, I got that creppy someone is behind me feeling. I liked asking myself questions of what was real or not, which both series were able to please. I feel they both relate quite the same in mood, which makes one recommend the other.

Both shows follow the same basic idea.

BACKGROUND STAGE:The first episode shows an average situation and quickly present the conflict or chaos that the story is formed around.CONFUSION STAGE: From then on, all the other stories explain and reinforce the conflict in as many ways as possible carefully avoiding ANY INFORMATION that would lead to you giving reason to what is going on.ANSWER STAGE: Hovever, with the last quarter of the episodes left, they begin to give you bones of information to calm your suspense. And they both end by giving you the answer to your first question and nothing else... and I assure you... you will have more questions.

There are two things to take into consideration:

• Serial Experiment Lain was made in 1998 and therefore the creators felt less obliged to give any support to the viewer during the confusion stage, which leads to a longer confusing period where you seem to  know even less the more you watch. However its answer stage is longer and muchmore rewarding.
• Paranoia agent was made in 2004, a time where viewers require more constant stimulation, for this reason the confusion stage is full of more details and sub-stories that compel you to watch the show further. Sadly, the answer stage is less interesting than Lain and annoyingly insufficient.

IN SHORT: Serial Experiment Lain is a more hardcore suspense show than Paranoia Agent.

Paranoia Agent and Serial Experiments Lain fall under the "MindF***" genre, and have very deep, meaningful things to say while using abstract and non-linear methods to say it.  While touching on different subjects, they have a similar, highly metaphorical delivery and rely heavily on the viewer to interpret and connect pieces of the story.  They also take fantastical creative license with the plot, placing characters in strange and sometimes disturbing situations. If you enjoyed the mental journey in one of them, you will, at the least, appreciate the other.

Both Ergo Proxy and Lain question the use, ethics and reality of physical and synthetic existences. Both have a moody atmosphere and very confusing plot. When is artificial intelligence no longer artificial?

Serial Experiments Lain and Ergo Proxy are two of a rare kind. They both have an intelligent plot and well-portrayed characters that have flaws and act like actual people. Neither Ergo Proxy nor Lain is a 'happy-go-lucky' anime and I do belive that if you like intelligent and mature series you will enjoy both.

Lain and Ergo Proxy are insistent in their constant interrogations. They are both intelligent series that demand more than one viewing, Lain is considerably more risqué in that it twists narrative conventions to the point they no longer apply while Ergo Proxy channels its intellectuality via the plot itself, even if it lags a bit at the end.

Both series are set in high-tech worlds, and deal with the relationship between humans and machines. Also, both have strong-willed independent female characters in leading roles. Whoever enjoyed pondering about the philosophical issues raised in one will surely find a treat in the other.

Both Ergo Proxy and Lain deal with philosophical topics and show the main character's search for the truth, while she discovers a completely new world that she must learn to deal with. The stories unfold in a very dark environment, though at times a technical or historical explanation (in order to understand the plot) is shown in a light manner. The characters evolve and slowly show more of their deep psychologies throughout the anime.

Let's be honest --- Lain has identity issues. She must sort through these issues as the series progresses. Ergo Proxy, while set in a more futuristic environment, has several characters with their own identity problems, so you get the same philosophical undertones in both series.

I think you would like Ergo Proxy if you watched Serial Experiments Lain because it also deals with some philosophical ideas like Descartes’ idea “Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum”, the Pinocchio epic of becoming a real human being and other ideas that I’m not going to say because I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Have fun watching it :)

It shares that unique ambient only achieved by submerging the viewer in a puzzling story-telling. Both series share a kind of inner search. If you liked one of them, you'll be sure to love the other.

It's a smart anime for smart people, it can be too slow at certain times, but that is required to create the suitable ambient for the story to develop. And it's always fun to see series that goes against the typical in our "instant enjoy" society.

Two great works of art

When you like one you will like the other because the both are very filisophic and they look up the boundries of the difference between virtual or artifisial life and real lif. Non of the series have much action and the conversation is the most important part of both.

These are two philosophic animes, which both "plays" with metaphysics. The result just happened be a depressed atmosphere as well.

Both Ergo and Lain are immensely similar in several ways.

They both have deep, complex stories that slowly unwind, often not revealing themselves until the very end; they both tackle complex issues like mans place in the world and "god's" role for man and vice-vers; and they both deal with female leads who explore their relationships with others but also explore their relationships with the world.

Lastly, Ergo Proxy is perhaps more violent than Serial Experiments Lain, but they both exist in the same dark, somber atmosphere.

Serial Experiments Lain and Ergo Proxy are both phychological type, with not defined plots and makes you think to draw your conclusions.

I recommend both for maure poeple, and those who like a good storyline and plot.