I've been thinking a lot about the moral implications of writing "high-profile" reviews a lot lately. It seems absolutely ridiculous that one review could have so much weight in, truly, the future of a band. I think in some cases it is very true though. Many artists know this. Even Kanye West, seemingly surprised, profusely thanked all of the "magazines" that gave him good reviews. I'm positive that those reviews factored into album sales. In the current musical climate, there is simply too much music to NOT read reviews as recommendations that will help you sift through the pile. In the case of pitchfork, many artist who had low profile beginnings, got excellent scores on the website and ended up getting major label contracts because of the hype generated around them from a single review (surfer blood, etc). I do believe that Trail of Dead has suffered because of Pitchfork. I think their reviews are incredibly pretentious, opinionated, and caught up in appearances and trends. However, I still read them because they are informed and interesting takes on music that other sources can't offer. Anyway, in order to truly be an esteemed critic, you would have to have no qualms about crushing the dreams and aspirations of others for the sake of others, based on your opinions of it. This disturbs me. I always think of that line from Rattatoille-
"The worst piece of art is still infinitely more valuable than the best piece of criticism."
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Anime Review: K-ON!
Score: 8
Disclaimer: This is a review of both seasons of K-ON!.
Why did I decide to watch this series? Like many people who now either absolutely love or despise it, I watched out of curiosity. I wanted to see if a moe anime show like this could really sink its hooks into me. I can say now beyond a shadow of a doubt that the answer to that question is a resounding yet somewhat embarrassed yes. This show is a textbook definition of guilty pleasure- something that you derive great pleasure from despite knowing it is comprised of the most superfluous ingredients. In this case, I am discussing an anime series that is considered by some to embody many of the problems of the anime genre. The purpose of the show is undoubtedly watching cute girls hang out and get into funny situations. The appeal of the show is the girls. The show is discreetly targeted at obsessive "otaku" types who drool over their favorite anime girl, yet provides almost no moments of overt "fan-service", leading one to be able to view it with a complete sense of innocence. This is probably the reason why it is so popular: It seamlessly masks it's questionable purpose with sincere, heartfelt character interactions, loving attention to detail, and even gasp!… astonishing subtlety.
Make no mistake, the overarching "plot" of K-ON! is paper thin. Basically, some high school girls decide to start a band in their after school music club. The show chronicles the various adventures and exploits of these five girls as they progress through high school and gain recognition for their music. However, more than anything, it is just them goofing off- they have an unbelievably bad work ethic but somehow (humorously) become virtuoso musicians very quickly. For a show that claims to be largely about music, this is somewhat of a misnomer. Sure, there are moments of the show that cleverly make nods to the music industry and to the rock and roll culture and artistic process, but these are far outweighed by the moments of idle chatting, having tea, laughing, and thinking about possibly practicing. As you might guess, this starts off being extremely boring. However, once you get past the first few episodes and ease into the flow of things, the show begins to reveal its true strengths- its characters and it's easy-going, amiable air.
The series excels here because it's characters are so likable and the way that they interact is realistic, full of funny and heartfelt moments, and just plain amusing. Like any show with multidimensional characters, you don't really get the appeal right away. For me it took nearly 13 episodes. I only really started to realize I was having a great time once the first season was coming to a close. It was one of those moments where I realized I had a huge grin on my face whenever I was watching- which is a great compliment to any show. Despite the show being slow moving and low on actual substance, I found myself eager to return to the laid-back and sunny world of K-ON! to spend time with Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Mugi and Azusa. The subtle way in which they change from cookie cutter character archetypes to believable and lovable people is the single best thing about the show. By the end of it all, you will be truly sad to part with them.
Another thing that really helps the show is that is is expertly crafted- with animation quality similar to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and subtle differences in characters movements and facial expressions, the art is neat and consistent if not exactly astonishing. There are some very beautiful set piece moments, many of which are found in the afternoon-sun-drenched school halls. In fact, the school itself has an astonishing amount of atmosphere and believability, giving it a sort of character of it's own.
Like I said, for a show centered around the idea of a school band, the music is not what you might expect. This is not a rock and roll soundtrack ala FLCL. The only times you ever really hear the band play is their big performances, which are few and far between. Their songs are good J-Pop style rockers but don't even appear in their full versions usually. In addition, there are the OP and ED themes, which are extremely catchy and spastic. The kind of things that literally will not leave your head. It was for this reason that I downloaded the soundtracks and came to realize that the music is actually quite good. Long story short, I'm a little confused on why all of these great rock songs were composed for the show and then used as minimally as possible, in favor of the generic sounding background music that accompanies most scenes. I realize that the non-intrusive music contributes to the relaxed drawl of the show but it just seems like untapped potential.
Similarly, my single biggest gripe with K-ON! is that while the show is likable with its lack of urgency and tendency to play around, I wish there would have been more progression and emphasis on the group as a band. It would have been nice to see them actually write and compose the songs, practice and record together, see their live interplay, and witness all of the struggles and obstacles that musicians encounter. Instead, we get lots of tea parties, shopping, sleepovers, school activities and walking around chatting it up. I guess you could make the argument that the band is just a hobby to them and thus they do not dedicate much time to it but dammit, like Azusa, I wish they would!
To conclude, K-ON! impressed and entertained me. I am legitimately psyched for the movie (which they better be f'ing making). In the end, the show is like the the cakes that the girls of the light music club enjoy so much- light and sweet without much nutritional value, yet totally worth it. And for the record, this show does not represent anything wrong with the anime genre. These are not generic characters just acting out moe cliches. In fact, the show is relatively light of cliches compared to highly regarded shows such as say, Azumanga Daioh. So, call me part of the problem or whatever, but I found K-ON! to be good fun. Give it a try and you might just find it to be your cup of tea… sorry;)
Disclaimer: This is a review of both seasons of K-ON!.
Why did I decide to watch this series? Like many people who now either absolutely love or despise it, I watched out of curiosity. I wanted to see if a moe anime show like this could really sink its hooks into me. I can say now beyond a shadow of a doubt that the answer to that question is a resounding yet somewhat embarrassed yes. This show is a textbook definition of guilty pleasure- something that you derive great pleasure from despite knowing it is comprised of the most superfluous ingredients. In this case, I am discussing an anime series that is considered by some to embody many of the problems of the anime genre. The purpose of the show is undoubtedly watching cute girls hang out and get into funny situations. The appeal of the show is the girls. The show is discreetly targeted at obsessive "otaku" types who drool over their favorite anime girl, yet provides almost no moments of overt "fan-service", leading one to be able to view it with a complete sense of innocence. This is probably the reason why it is so popular: It seamlessly masks it's questionable purpose with sincere, heartfelt character interactions, loving attention to detail, and even gasp!… astonishing subtlety.
Make no mistake, the overarching "plot" of K-ON! is paper thin. Basically, some high school girls decide to start a band in their after school music club. The show chronicles the various adventures and exploits of these five girls as they progress through high school and gain recognition for their music. However, more than anything, it is just them goofing off- they have an unbelievably bad work ethic but somehow (humorously) become virtuoso musicians very quickly. For a show that claims to be largely about music, this is somewhat of a misnomer. Sure, there are moments of the show that cleverly make nods to the music industry and to the rock and roll culture and artistic process, but these are far outweighed by the moments of idle chatting, having tea, laughing, and thinking about possibly practicing. As you might guess, this starts off being extremely boring. However, once you get past the first few episodes and ease into the flow of things, the show begins to reveal its true strengths- its characters and it's easy-going, amiable air.
The series excels here because it's characters are so likable and the way that they interact is realistic, full of funny and heartfelt moments, and just plain amusing. Like any show with multidimensional characters, you don't really get the appeal right away. For me it took nearly 13 episodes. I only really started to realize I was having a great time once the first season was coming to a close. It was one of those moments where I realized I had a huge grin on my face whenever I was watching- which is a great compliment to any show. Despite the show being slow moving and low on actual substance, I found myself eager to return to the laid-back and sunny world of K-ON! to spend time with Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Mugi and Azusa. The subtle way in which they change from cookie cutter character archetypes to believable and lovable people is the single best thing about the show. By the end of it all, you will be truly sad to part with them.
Another thing that really helps the show is that is is expertly crafted- with animation quality similar to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and subtle differences in characters movements and facial expressions, the art is neat and consistent if not exactly astonishing. There are some very beautiful set piece moments, many of which are found in the afternoon-sun-drenched school halls. In fact, the school itself has an astonishing amount of atmosphere and believability, giving it a sort of character of it's own.
Like I said, for a show centered around the idea of a school band, the music is not what you might expect. This is not a rock and roll soundtrack ala FLCL. The only times you ever really hear the band play is their big performances, which are few and far between. Their songs are good J-Pop style rockers but don't even appear in their full versions usually. In addition, there are the OP and ED themes, which are extremely catchy and spastic. The kind of things that literally will not leave your head. It was for this reason that I downloaded the soundtracks and came to realize that the music is actually quite good. Long story short, I'm a little confused on why all of these great rock songs were composed for the show and then used as minimally as possible, in favor of the generic sounding background music that accompanies most scenes. I realize that the non-intrusive music contributes to the relaxed drawl of the show but it just seems like untapped potential.
Similarly, my single biggest gripe with K-ON! is that while the show is likable with its lack of urgency and tendency to play around, I wish there would have been more progression and emphasis on the group as a band. It would have been nice to see them actually write and compose the songs, practice and record together, see their live interplay, and witness all of the struggles and obstacles that musicians encounter. Instead, we get lots of tea parties, shopping, sleepovers, school activities and walking around chatting it up. I guess you could make the argument that the band is just a hobby to them and thus they do not dedicate much time to it but dammit, like Azusa, I wish they would!
To conclude, K-ON! impressed and entertained me. I am legitimately psyched for the movie (which they better be f'ing making). In the end, the show is like the the cakes that the girls of the light music club enjoy so much- light and sweet without much nutritional value, yet totally worth it. And for the record, this show does not represent anything wrong with the anime genre. These are not generic characters just acting out moe cliches. In fact, the show is relatively light of cliches compared to highly regarded shows such as say, Azumanga Daioh. So, call me part of the problem or whatever, but I found K-ON! to be good fun. Give it a try and you might just find it to be your cup of tea… sorry;)
Anime Review: Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
Score: 9
I'll say this up front: I am a fan of Gainax productions. To me, their special brand of bizarre yet curiously heartfelt storytelling and outrageous art/animation form a style that is quintessentially "anime" and wholly unique. To me, Gainax's productions represent an apex of modern animation and stretch the limitations of what is expected from an anime series. That being said, while Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is certainly not the best Gainax series, it is a hugely entertaining series that conveys everything that makes the studio so special.
Right off the bat, the most notable thing about Abenobashi is that it is freaking HILARIOUS. By far the funniest anime series I have seen. The humor will definitely appeal most to those with a knowledge of film, the anime genre, and video games. The story follows two kids who, in each episode, are transported to a different universe based on a piece of popular culture. There is a film noir universe, an adventure game universe, a kung fu universe and many more. A big part of the fun of the series is seeing where they will go next. The jokes in the episodes heavily riff off of the established conventions of the genre and it makes for some very entertaining stuff, provided you have an at least partial appreciation of what is being parodied.
This is truly a series for anime aficionados, as many of the parodies are targeted at various staples of the anime genre. There is even obvious spoofing on the "Gainax style". The show does not take itself seriously at all. There is rampant fan service, slapstick comedy, and goofy nonsensical plot devices at every turn. Plain and simple, if you are looking for something serious, this will not be your cup of tea. If you can enjoy the goofiness, which is easy to do because it is so well written, then you will have a great time. I literally had a huge grin on my face about 90% of the time watching this show and laughed out loud frequently.
As far as actual plot goes, it is sort of just a pretext for the parodying. Two kids get trapped in a inter-dimensional vortex and attempt to get back home. There is a bit more to it than that, but honestly not a whole lot. The tone of the series switches between two distinct settings- dramatic slice of life in the beginning, middle, and end episodes, with all out silliness the rest of the time. The dramatic sections move the plot along and in the rest, the plot is completely thrown out the window to make room for bizarre scenarios starring the same characters that appear in the serious bits. This actually sounds a lot more jarring than it is. Once again, if you just go with it and not to find logic, you will have a great time. The shift of tone can be compared in many ways to another Gainax series, FLCL. In many ways, Abenobashi can be seen as the spiritual successor to FLCL. Honestly, if you haven't watched FLCL by now, then you should be slapped in the face. It is a shame that this series does not get anywhere near the same amount of love, but it makes sense, as it is much more geared toward the anime fan where as FLCL can be enjoyed, if not really understood, by anyone. Anyway, like FLCL, the plot itself is not the real draw. Instead, it is the style and energy that the series exudes that keeps you watching.
Technically speaking, this is the fastest and loosest you will see Gainax play a series outside of the very recent Panty and Stocking (which I have yet to see). When the series morphs into full on comedy, the animation follows suit and can range in everything to super-deformed miniature characters to caricature-like faces of iconic film stars. The animation itself also ranges from comically under-animated to ultra-fluid and high quality. I really like when a series is willing to alter the style of art and animation to fit the mood of a scene instead of picking a baseline and sticking with it. This is another quality that this series and FLCL both have. In summation, the art and animation are highly entertaining, frenetic and oozing with character.
Speaking of character, I would,t usually make special note of this but the English voice cast is off-the-charts amazing. Be warned- they speak in southern accents, which is supposed to roughly translate to an Osaka accent in Japan. At first, I was extremely leery of this. However, after the second episode I realized that this was an excellent decision on the part of the English translation staff. The two main characters, Sashi and Arumi's funny southern twang perfectly suits the content of the series and enforces the idea that they are from a bit of a backwater place in Japan. Special props to the English dub folks in general, really. It must have been a daunting job to convert the quick fire Japanese jokes into English and make them not only understandable but even funny! I feel like they must have taken some liberties with the original dialogue to make it work but they did an outstanding job of it. Unfortunately, the music is mostly forgettable despite being composed by Shiro Sigisu, who's body of work includes the End of Evangelion, probably one of the very best film soundtracks ever. He just didn't really seem to take this project very seriously. He even reuses a track from Eva in an early episode. Whatever. The end theme is nice at least.
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is pretty inconsequential stuff. It is to anime as "Airplane!" is to the disaster-film genre. It's a parody, but a hugely entertaining one that may just be considered essential viewing in it's own right. It's just really nice to see an anime that is not afraid to acknowledge that in many ways, anime can be completely stupid. Yet it is more of a celebration of this stupidity as opposed to a ridicule. All good parodies share this fundamental understanding. And aside from that, It's just a good series. The characters are likable, the plot is easy to follow (aside from a trademark Gainax ending which I won't spoil), there is just enough actual substance to support all of the silly non-sequiturs, and the art direction gives the impression of a highly skilled and talented studio cutting loose and just having fun. It's a love letter to anime, film, video games and nerd culture in general. While Gainax has certainly produced better and more important work (Eva, FLCL, Gurren Laggan), it has never been this freewheeling and outright hilarious. I absolutely, wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is a bit tired of stodgy, self important anime and just wants to laugh. Isn't that everyone?
I'll say this up front: I am a fan of Gainax productions. To me, their special brand of bizarre yet curiously heartfelt storytelling and outrageous art/animation form a style that is quintessentially "anime" and wholly unique. To me, Gainax's productions represent an apex of modern animation and stretch the limitations of what is expected from an anime series. That being said, while Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is certainly not the best Gainax series, it is a hugely entertaining series that conveys everything that makes the studio so special.
Right off the bat, the most notable thing about Abenobashi is that it is freaking HILARIOUS. By far the funniest anime series I have seen. The humor will definitely appeal most to those with a knowledge of film, the anime genre, and video games. The story follows two kids who, in each episode, are transported to a different universe based on a piece of popular culture. There is a film noir universe, an adventure game universe, a kung fu universe and many more. A big part of the fun of the series is seeing where they will go next. The jokes in the episodes heavily riff off of the established conventions of the genre and it makes for some very entertaining stuff, provided you have an at least partial appreciation of what is being parodied.
This is truly a series for anime aficionados, as many of the parodies are targeted at various staples of the anime genre. There is even obvious spoofing on the "Gainax style". The show does not take itself seriously at all. There is rampant fan service, slapstick comedy, and goofy nonsensical plot devices at every turn. Plain and simple, if you are looking for something serious, this will not be your cup of tea. If you can enjoy the goofiness, which is easy to do because it is so well written, then you will have a great time. I literally had a huge grin on my face about 90% of the time watching this show and laughed out loud frequently.
As far as actual plot goes, it is sort of just a pretext for the parodying. Two kids get trapped in a inter-dimensional vortex and attempt to get back home. There is a bit more to it than that, but honestly not a whole lot. The tone of the series switches between two distinct settings- dramatic slice of life in the beginning, middle, and end episodes, with all out silliness the rest of the time. The dramatic sections move the plot along and in the rest, the plot is completely thrown out the window to make room for bizarre scenarios starring the same characters that appear in the serious bits. This actually sounds a lot more jarring than it is. Once again, if you just go with it and not to find logic, you will have a great time. The shift of tone can be compared in many ways to another Gainax series, FLCL. In many ways, Abenobashi can be seen as the spiritual successor to FLCL. Honestly, if you haven't watched FLCL by now, then you should be slapped in the face. It is a shame that this series does not get anywhere near the same amount of love, but it makes sense, as it is much more geared toward the anime fan where as FLCL can be enjoyed, if not really understood, by anyone. Anyway, like FLCL, the plot itself is not the real draw. Instead, it is the style and energy that the series exudes that keeps you watching.
Technically speaking, this is the fastest and loosest you will see Gainax play a series outside of the very recent Panty and Stocking (which I have yet to see). When the series morphs into full on comedy, the animation follows suit and can range in everything to super-deformed miniature characters to caricature-like faces of iconic film stars. The animation itself also ranges from comically under-animated to ultra-fluid and high quality. I really like when a series is willing to alter the style of art and animation to fit the mood of a scene instead of picking a baseline and sticking with it. This is another quality that this series and FLCL both have. In summation, the art and animation are highly entertaining, frenetic and oozing with character.
Speaking of character, I would,t usually make special note of this but the English voice cast is off-the-charts amazing. Be warned- they speak in southern accents, which is supposed to roughly translate to an Osaka accent in Japan. At first, I was extremely leery of this. However, after the second episode I realized that this was an excellent decision on the part of the English translation staff. The two main characters, Sashi and Arumi's funny southern twang perfectly suits the content of the series and enforces the idea that they are from a bit of a backwater place in Japan. Special props to the English dub folks in general, really. It must have been a daunting job to convert the quick fire Japanese jokes into English and make them not only understandable but even funny! I feel like they must have taken some liberties with the original dialogue to make it work but they did an outstanding job of it. Unfortunately, the music is mostly forgettable despite being composed by Shiro Sigisu, who's body of work includes the End of Evangelion, probably one of the very best film soundtracks ever. He just didn't really seem to take this project very seriously. He even reuses a track from Eva in an early episode. Whatever. The end theme is nice at least.
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is pretty inconsequential stuff. It is to anime as "Airplane!" is to the disaster-film genre. It's a parody, but a hugely entertaining one that may just be considered essential viewing in it's own right. It's just really nice to see an anime that is not afraid to acknowledge that in many ways, anime can be completely stupid. Yet it is more of a celebration of this stupidity as opposed to a ridicule. All good parodies share this fundamental understanding. And aside from that, It's just a good series. The characters are likable, the plot is easy to follow (aside from a trademark Gainax ending which I won't spoil), there is just enough actual substance to support all of the silly non-sequiturs, and the art direction gives the impression of a highly skilled and talented studio cutting loose and just having fun. It's a love letter to anime, film, video games and nerd culture in general. While Gainax has certainly produced better and more important work (Eva, FLCL, Gurren Laggan), it has never been this freewheeling and outright hilarious. I absolutely, wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is a bit tired of stodgy, self important anime and just wants to laugh. Isn't that everyone?
Anime Review: Serial Experiments Lain
Score: 6
Serial Experiments Lain is a difficult anime to grade on a scale. While the philosophical ideas that the series focuses on- instrumentality, cybernetic integration, loss of identity through prolonged interaction with the digital world- are thoroughly thought provoking and interesting, the execution of these ideas are inconsistent. This is a case of a series being a bit too ambitious for it's own good. The concepts to make the series work are all in place but it lacks a solid foundation to give it that push into the realm of excellence. It is a series that seems to constantly present fascinating ideas only to have their potential squandered by poor storytelling, downright ugly artwork and and a lack of all but a couple interesting characters.
Serial Experiments Lain has gained a distinct following and reputation for being a true mind-screw and an underrated prophetic gem of 90's anime. If there is one thing that everyone seems to agree on, it is that Lain is "weird". It is extremely difficult to understand and follow on the first view- almost impossible in fact. This is due mostly to the fact that nothing is ever really clearly explained. The dialogue that moves the story along is extremely limited and what is said seems to constantly dodge the questions that the viewer is desperately seeking the answers to. I realize that this style of storytelling can be very effective. Some of my favorite stories work the same way. However, in these stories there is something else driving the story and keeping me interested while the questions keep me guessing. Lain has no such other drawing force to speak of. Aside from untangling the convoluted plot, there is no real aspect of the series to get any enjoyment of fulfillment from.
Despite being a relatively short series (13 eps), it crawls along at a snails pace and seems to take forever to get through. This would not be so bad if by the time the end had come, you didn't feel like the same story could have been told just as effectively in half the time. There is just so much empty space in the story. Large sections which seems to be dedicated to creating a specific atmosphere and subtly describing the character of Lain are drawn out too long with no real payoff at the end. The best parts of the series come when the speed of things picks up and we get to see some truly bizarre spectacles. Specifically, the more horror-oriented scenes are really great and will make you chuckle at the freakiness of it all. However, when the story slows back down, you'll end up scratching your head at the stilted and uninformative dialogue waiting for the next bit of surreal immersion.
Aside from the awkward delivery of the story and poor pacing, the biggest problem with Lain is the art. Technically speaking, this is probably some of the worst animation I have ever seen. In fact, there were times when I struggled to even classify it as animation at all. There is very little actual character movement to speak of. When characters are in motion, their motions are extremely limited and stiff. There is absolutely no style or flare to the animation and it just comes off as either lazy or budget/time-restricted. The actual art style has a bit more style than the animation and there are certainly some moments of brilliance when the muted palette and recurring theme of droning electronic equipment create a sense of self-inflicted isolation. Once again, the idea is solid and interesting. Yet due to uneven followthrough, the whole thing becomes a mess. The character designs are not appealing and do not have a very distinct look aside from Lain herself. It is very difficult to enjoy an anime series when you are almost constantly wishing that things were not so damn ugly. Music is sparse and minimalistic. It is usually not even noticeable although it does work very well for a few specific scenes near the end.
I really have no problem with the plot of Lain, when all is said and done. There are some fascinating and valid ideas being presented and the overarching plot has plenty of relevance to the modern world and science-fiction validity. If executed more masterfully, this series could have been great. It really seems unfinished in a lot of ways. There was plenty of room to flesh out concepts that were just hinted and develop actual characters that have purpose. What Lain fails to do is follow through with it's seemingly vast possibilities and intentions. A lot of times a series will set out to accomplish something simple and succeed admirably by not putting too much on it's plate. Lain is the opposite of this, where is series is so desperate to get across a myriad of themes, ideas and concepts that it misses the mark by a long shot and ends up the territory of incoherent curiosity.
Serial Experiments Lain is a difficult anime to grade on a scale. While the philosophical ideas that the series focuses on- instrumentality, cybernetic integration, loss of identity through prolonged interaction with the digital world- are thoroughly thought provoking and interesting, the execution of these ideas are inconsistent. This is a case of a series being a bit too ambitious for it's own good. The concepts to make the series work are all in place but it lacks a solid foundation to give it that push into the realm of excellence. It is a series that seems to constantly present fascinating ideas only to have their potential squandered by poor storytelling, downright ugly artwork and and a lack of all but a couple interesting characters.
Serial Experiments Lain has gained a distinct following and reputation for being a true mind-screw and an underrated prophetic gem of 90's anime. If there is one thing that everyone seems to agree on, it is that Lain is "weird". It is extremely difficult to understand and follow on the first view- almost impossible in fact. This is due mostly to the fact that nothing is ever really clearly explained. The dialogue that moves the story along is extremely limited and what is said seems to constantly dodge the questions that the viewer is desperately seeking the answers to. I realize that this style of storytelling can be very effective. Some of my favorite stories work the same way. However, in these stories there is something else driving the story and keeping me interested while the questions keep me guessing. Lain has no such other drawing force to speak of. Aside from untangling the convoluted plot, there is no real aspect of the series to get any enjoyment of fulfillment from.
Despite being a relatively short series (13 eps), it crawls along at a snails pace and seems to take forever to get through. This would not be so bad if by the time the end had come, you didn't feel like the same story could have been told just as effectively in half the time. There is just so much empty space in the story. Large sections which seems to be dedicated to creating a specific atmosphere and subtly describing the character of Lain are drawn out too long with no real payoff at the end. The best parts of the series come when the speed of things picks up and we get to see some truly bizarre spectacles. Specifically, the more horror-oriented scenes are really great and will make you chuckle at the freakiness of it all. However, when the story slows back down, you'll end up scratching your head at the stilted and uninformative dialogue waiting for the next bit of surreal immersion.
Aside from the awkward delivery of the story and poor pacing, the biggest problem with Lain is the art. Technically speaking, this is probably some of the worst animation I have ever seen. In fact, there were times when I struggled to even classify it as animation at all. There is very little actual character movement to speak of. When characters are in motion, their motions are extremely limited and stiff. There is absolutely no style or flare to the animation and it just comes off as either lazy or budget/time-restricted. The actual art style has a bit more style than the animation and there are certainly some moments of brilliance when the muted palette and recurring theme of droning electronic equipment create a sense of self-inflicted isolation. Once again, the idea is solid and interesting. Yet due to uneven followthrough, the whole thing becomes a mess. The character designs are not appealing and do not have a very distinct look aside from Lain herself. It is very difficult to enjoy an anime series when you are almost constantly wishing that things were not so damn ugly. Music is sparse and minimalistic. It is usually not even noticeable although it does work very well for a few specific scenes near the end.
I really have no problem with the plot of Lain, when all is said and done. There are some fascinating and valid ideas being presented and the overarching plot has plenty of relevance to the modern world and science-fiction validity. If executed more masterfully, this series could have been great. It really seems unfinished in a lot of ways. There was plenty of room to flesh out concepts that were just hinted and develop actual characters that have purpose. What Lain fails to do is follow through with it's seemingly vast possibilities and intentions. A lot of times a series will set out to accomplish something simple and succeed admirably by not putting too much on it's plate. Lain is the opposite of this, where is series is so desperate to get across a myriad of themes, ideas and concepts that it misses the mark by a long shot and ends up the territory of incoherent curiosity.
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