"Môsô dairinin" (2004) TV series

Director:

Satoshi Kon

Writer:

Satoshi Kon (story)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

28 May 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Mystery

Plot:

We follow different fates in modern Japan. Each episode ends with an asault by a boy with a golden bat. Throughout the animation series we learn more about the boy.

Plot Keywords:

Split Personality | Twist | Double Life | Good Cop Bad Cop | Anime

Cast

Jonathan Klein	...	Additional Voices (13 episodes, 2004)
Shôzô Îzuka	...	Keiichi Ikari (7 episodes, 2004)
Toshihiko Seki	...	Mitsuhiro Maniwa (7 episodes, 2004)
Mamiko Noto	...	Tsukiko Sagi (6 episodes, 2004)
Ryûji Saikachi	...	Old Man (6 episodes, 2004)

Also Known As:

Paranoia Agent (International: English title) (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Japan:316 min (13 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:TV-14 (two episodes) | USA:TV-MA | UK:18 (episode 8) (heavily cut) | New Zealand:M | Australia:MA (some episodes) | South Africa:13V (DVD volume 1) | South Korea:15 (DVD volume 2) | Australia:M

Company:

WoWow

Trivia:

This series is shown on satellite networks in Japan as it was deemed unsuitable for prime time network television.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lil' Slugger is about to attack Hirukawa, the shot of the golden bat tip hovering over the ground features the infamous bend a lot closer to the tip than usual.

Quotes:

Lil' Slugger: I'm home.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#34.4)" (2005)

First episode is looking promising

I only watched the first episode of this series, ("Paranoia Agent" in English), and it is looking good. The animation, as is always the case with Satoshi Kon productions is excellent. Characters have way more depth than too many of those silly redundant anime. For those of you familiar with Kon's world, you will notice some characters common to his world: the homeless, the working folk, the psychotic killer.

The mood of the show at the beginning is similar to that of the excellent "lain" series. Despite this it is very original in its treatment, though some element or "camera" angles are very much like any (live-action) thriller, in the same way that "Perfect Blue" reflected a classic thriller style. There are also some fantasy bits which will arise in the show if I must believe the walking-talking Maromi doll (a doll designed by the main character of the first show). From the looks of it, this is very much worth seeing.