Paranoia Agent (2003-2005)

Is it wrong that I love Golden Bat beatings?

Genre: Animé Mystery Crime Thriller Serial (Japan)

Starring: Shôzô Îzuka (Mobile Suit Gundam), Toshihiko Seki (Vampire Hunter D)

Directed By: Satoshi Kon (Tokyo Godfathers; Millennium Actress)

Overview: A girl reaches wit's end on a deadline. A high school student gets painted into a corner when his popularity drops. These are among those who find themselves the victim of brutal assaults at the hands of a boy with a golden bat and rollerblades. Is he their saviour, or are they victims of a greater threat?

Performance:

When a show comes in it's original language with the option of the overdub, you can usually count on the fact that it'll be pretty decent. I myself am a purist when it comes to animé so I can tell you the voice acting was tremendous, but in English it's pretty swank too.
Rating: 8

Cinematography:

If you know your Animé, then you'll remember the simplicity of the 70s without all the fancy computer graphics and Avant-Garde moments. Then you'll see this and wonder why you've been clinging to the past so much. In almost every episode, we see a distinct style of animation, trips into fantastic dreamscapes, scene after scene of visual metaphor. Holy good goddamn, this had me asking why I wasn't watching more of it. Careful though, it's definitely not for kids.
Rating: 10

Script:

Each episode ends with a 'prediction' of what the next episode will hold. The poetic fashion this is written is testament to the rest of the dialogue. One episode is merely a gaggle of old women gossiping the most outrageous stories they can invent, another is about a boy whose mission it is to defeat Lil' Slugger, because he's a fantasy hero... in the vein of Final Fantasy. Oh, it's just so cool.
Rating: 8

Plot:

The trouble with animé is that sometimes you realize it's just way too young and had it gone to a more adult-themed place, it would be a hundred times better. The problem with that is the kids gets bored and don't get it. Then there's this, a story for adults that you really shouldn't show the kids because plots involving murder, mayhem, and child molestation are just a little too serious. That having been said, you should be able to appreciate this almost philosophically deep and obscure piece. It's almost Lynchian. And that my friends, is awesome.
Rating: 9

Mood:

It's an animé series that travels deep in the mire of obscurity. Though nowhere near as ambiguous as the experimental animé serial Lain, we have here a tale that's easy to follow, very mysterious and if you asked me to help define the overall theme I think 'the state of the post-modern psyche in this crazy world. There's definitely a whole mess of the all too different, and rather than ending up with something muddy or awkward, it streaks the serial with an understanding of the undercurrent of social dilemma that drives Lil' Slugger's bat.
Rating: 10

Climactic plots!

Overall Rating: 90% (Don't Be Afraid To Immerse Yourself)

Aftertaste:

After every episode I mourned its passing. Even the opening song and the credits at the beginning and the end moved me. I literally danced. If you like Animé, see this. Period.

Raa-eee-yaa Ra-Ra-ee-yo-ra
Marvellous mushroom shaped cloud in the sky
Raa-eee-yaa Ra-Ra-ee-yo-ra
The afternoon of the birds feeding in an alley

Raa-eee-yaa Ra-Ra-ee-yo-ra
Such a marvellous vapour trail
Raa-eee-yaa Ra-Ra-ee-yo-ra
The afternoon of the people passing on the popular street

Raa-eee-yaa Ra-Ra-ee-yo-ra
Flaming rain that I used to see in my dreams
Raa-eee-yaa Ra-Ra-ee-yo-ra
The afternoon that I woke up by the office window