DVD | Paranoia Agent

Volume 1 of Satoshi Kon’s Paranoi Agent is subtitled Enter Lil’ Slugger, and in essence sounds more like an introduction to the series rather than any serious anime.

But it’s not. If anything the 4 episodes contained on this first DVD are way to few, and by the end of episode 4 you’re gasping for more, though initially you’re not sure why.

Each episode deals with a different character, but are all linked through a continuous story line, and as the title suggests, the main subject matter is paranoia. In the first episode it’s the fear and immense pressure felt by the designer of a hit TV character, who has to come up with another animated gem, in the second episode it’s a popular student who has to deal with becoming an outcast and placing his paranoia on the new kid in school.

Each episode has a slightly different feel, but all have a dark sinister side, and the question at the end is not only who is Lil’ Slugger, but is he a menace or messiah?

Whilst Paranoia Agent was a struggle to watch at times, it is well worth the effort, and will have you hooked by the end of the DVD. The thing I really love about anime, is that you never know exactly what you’re gonna get, but you know it’s going to be different! From a Western perspective, the Japanese seem to have a very different, somewhat whacked view on life, and this is reflected in most anime, and the cool thing is, the more you allow your self to reflect on other cultures, the more diverse and interesting you become.