The Observation Deck: Serial Experiments Lane and Predicting the Internet

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

Oh, to be lost beyond the borders of reality…or something like that, idk. I’m not THAT good at poetry.

The internet era has brought with it the various quirks of instant communication, alternate personalities, and all of the feelings that go into such prospects. However, it is worth remembering that Serial Experiments Lain came out in 1998, right around the time Cowboy Bebop was giving its take on what futuristic societies would like like in the context of space travel and alien lifeforms.

However, Lain approaches technological development in a much more intimate and human way. It follows the namesake character Lain and her life in Japanese suburbia. After booting up her laptop one day, she decides to learn more about computers, of which her father is pretty much an expert. After Lain’s father sets her up with a brand new computer, she quickly becomes engrossed in the world of “the wired,” getting messages from her now deceased classmate along with several other strange events that quickly draw her into this new world.

I find it worth quickly noting that name “the wired,” along with the growth in size of Lain’s computer throughout the series seems reflect the idea that growth in the power of technology would likely mean a greater quantity of hardware, which in todays age has proven not necessarily to be the case, though this does have some other meaning that I will get into later on.

Everyone Loves Lain

By far the most important character in the series is Lain herself, not to mention the…different incarnation of her character that shows up. Her identity as vulnerable high school girl is one that feels relevant, at least initially. While she does have friends at school, her personality is generally a more reclusive one. On top of that, her family is often too preoccupied to give her any real attention, at least outside her dad noticing her newfound interest in computers. These things all leave Lain in a place of severe loneliness, making her turn to the world of the “the wired” much more understandable.

However, this setup is just that, a setup, for a much more existential view of the potential the internet and computers could have brought. Her continued involvement in the world of “the wired” and her increasingly strong computer eventually leads to finding out that it is possible to combine it with the real world. This ultimately leads to a very…lets call it Evangelion situation where Lain must manage this merger of the two worlds.

While I would not call anyone in the series a bad character per se, the only other one of any real importance is Alice, who’s concern for Lain gets her caught in the crossfire of this world-blending event. Her generally upbeat and agreeable attitude acts as a great foil to Lain, especially in the opening episodes next to a more depressed and less outgoing main character. However, her relationship with one of the teachers at the school does put her in a precarious situation and a serious source of internal conflict.

The Colors of a New World

Lain ‘s brand of existential paranoia as it relates to an increasingly more connected online and real world is backed up beautifully by its sense color and setting. One detail that stood out for me as the series went on is the coloring of shadows. rather than a standard black, the animators often opt for a purple mixed with blood red. This is most prominent in scenes depicting the street leading to Lain’s house. This color combination arguably does more to create the unsettling and mysterious atmosphere the show seems to be building towards in its first half.

Another element that progresses that same goal is Lain’s room, which by halfway through the series looks more like a stereotypical mad scientist lab than anything resembling a livable space. Slowly but surely her computer comes to take almost the entire space, save for her bed. What was once a mostly hollow, white-walled space becomes transformed into a mechanical nightmare, and also serves a microcosm of the events of the series.

The limited animation techniques most often associated with modern anime also serve as a boon to the overall story and tone. Many scenes end with frames lingering on eerie landscapes or demented facial expressions such as those of the beings found within “the wired.” Though characterized by some fans as lazy, the unnerving atmosphere these scenes help create a sense of confusion about how time and space operates in the show’s universe.

Where are We All Going?

The more psychedelic approach Serial Experiments Lain takes to its worldbuilding and storytelling is fairly entertaining in and of itself. However, what makes the series a timeless classic is the endpoint it reaches, specifically as it relates to the nature of religion and human consciousness.

Much of the series’ build-up involves a lot of vague illusions to Lain’s status as a deity. This obviously confuses Lain, especially after she finds out that another version of herself seemingly exists in “the wired.” She is eventually forced to confront this other version along with another entity who seems to be something of a deity in the digital realm, and it is from this point on that Lain tries to figure out what any of it really means.

As someone who doesn’t have a degree or any real education on the topic of religion and psychology, it does not do me much good to try and sit here and lie to anybody who ends up reading this about the show’s meaning. What I can say with some degree of confidence is that it seems the show attempted to answers these topics with a fair degree of nuance, as it takes up the last few episodes to do so. Though the internet has not literally merged with reality, it has become an integral part of everyday life, reaching the point of fundamentally altering the nature of communication and belief. In that sense, Serial Experiments Lain was far beyond its years.

Conclusion

Serial Experiments Lain is an engaging watch, but also not one to go into lightly. The show does little to no handholding narratively and most of meaning is going to come visually outside of a select few character conversations later on. That being said, it is absolutely worth the watch, even if it is only taken a few episodes at a time.

91/100

How do you all feel about Serial Experiments Lain? Let me know down in the comments.

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Originally published at http://animatedobservations.com on September 29, 2023.