Let's clear this up right off the bat (buh dum tssssss). This is a SUPERNATURAL anime. You wouldn't be able to tell that from any of the descriptions or genres it's under though. The first episode is decent, and the next two are excellent, appearing to be grounded in reality, albeit with some surrealistic elements that viewers will take as an interesting way of showing a character's thoughts. At episode 5 though, the show dives at a 90 degree angle straight into a metaphorical fantasy world. The rest of the show is spent wondering if certain parts are real or imaginary, or even what is going on. It's not until the last few episodes that it's confirmed that all of the surrealistic elements are indeed happening in the real world. The opening and ending sequences, and the soundtrack is really good. The break bumpers are really awesome too, though way too serious for this show. It is a decent show if you know what to expect going in. I would hardly call this 13 episode metaphor a masterpiece as its message didn't have much subtlety, only obfuscation. If you want a surreal anime with philosophical and psychological themes, watch Serial Experiments Lain. If you want good characters with deep psychological elements, watch Naoki Urasawa's Monster.
Review of Paranoia Agent
