 If you liked
Serial Experiments Lain
|
 ...then you might like
Perfect Blue
|
Both of them gives you the feeling of twisted reality. If you like that kind of anime, you probably like both Serial Experiments Lain and Perfect Blue.
They are both psychological and thriller anime. Both made on the same year too so you'd get the same feeling while watching one or the other. The only difference is that Serial Experiments Lain is more of a sci-fi series and the Perfect Blue movie is about an idol. Both have the same element where the characters cannot distinguish reality from fantasy/other world.
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Recommended by CommanderOfDeath
They both have a thin line between what is real and what is fake, where the protagonist begins to wonder just who they are. If you like shows where you can't tell the difference between what's real and what is just a dream or a trippy sequence that was put in for symbolism, these are the shows for you.
Similar in the dementia/psychological content and are good if you want to be in a vegative state after watching both of these. In my opinion, they also have a slight thriller feel to them.
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Recommended by Shura-shurato
They have the same concept of existence the second world (or personality) which is connected with our one. Perfect blue touches more individual case when Lain is focused on society.
- Both are psychological and dementia.
- We have a girl , living a normal life , until he sees things that are hard to believe , playing with his mind , he doubted its existence. Until finally he realizes reality.
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Recommended by OtakuNote87
Both present a fractured reality and protagonists whose personal conflicts are deeply rooted in the psychological. They share a creepy/ depressing atmosphere and relatively slow build-up.
both characters going through an identity crisis, both psychological suspense
ambos personagens passando por uma crise de identidade,ambaos suspense psicologico
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Recommended by Bruno_roen
Psychologically driven titles that focus on the main character's perspective as the line between reality and illusion disappears, leaving them to unravel a bizarre web of truths and deceptions. Both anime feature non-standard methods of storytelling so that the viewer is left guessing along with the protagonists, though enough is stated by the end for a conclusive ending to be reached. They were also both made in 1998 and take place during "the present", thus they both have a clear 90's stylization.
It should be noted that Serial Experiments Lain is more slowly paced than Perfect Blue (especially as the later is an 80
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In both anime, the protagonist is exploring another side of themselves. Both are pretty trippy psychological and slightly horror anime. The visuals are also pretty similar.
If you're interested in stories that deal with themes of identity and technology, you might like these anime. Both use non-traditional methods of storytelling (though Serial Experiments Lain definitely takes that to the extreme) and both of them contain elements of horror.
The break down of the psyche is a painful for those watching it happen. Just like in Serial Experiments Lain, we see the main character of perfect blue slowly descend.
The art styles of this show are very similar with its vivid coloring and ghoulish faces in certain scenes. I found myself wondering if the show was either directed by the same person, or done by the same studio. Both of pieces take a bit of deeper look to fully understand and leaves the audience with a lot of inexplicit story telling.
Both works have a dark, unsettling tone and serious art style. You will be wondering which events are all in the protagonist's head and which really happened. They also raise the question, "Which concept of the self is the 'real' self?"
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Recommended by kerberos242
Want to get existential crisis with depression ? Then watch it.
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Recommended by slingerstash
Serial Experiments Lain and Perfect Blue explored themes and topics that are way ahead of their respective times. SEL and Perfect Blue get better as time passes by. The themes and topics become more and more relevant to our present time.
Lain and Perfect Blue have a lot in common, starting with the theme of reality. Both make the audience question what is actually real, and both have storylines that might require rewatching to figure out. They are both highly psychological, and they are calm, but anxiety inducing, for the most part.
Both are avant-garde pieces centered in Dissociative Identity Disorder, with a non-conventional storytelling, unreliable narration and the blurring of reality and fiction.
Serial Experiments Lain and Perfect Blue are very different on many levels (mostly pacing, ost and themes).
However, it also shares some important similarities that might make the fan of one love the other as well.
-The main characters, while very different at first glance, really reminded me of each other the more I watched SEL. It is difficult to explain why without spoiling though.
-One of the main themes of Perfect Blue is the identity, something also very important to SEL. Both shows will make you question what exactly makes us who we are and both will show the mc undergoing an identity crisis
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Both 90's psychological masterpieces. If you love one, there's no doubt you'll love the other! Lain and Mima share the same English voice actress too! Say what you want about about sub vs dub but Bridget Hoffman's work adds to the eeriness both stories thrive off for me. Both have a lot of philosophy to unpack, and outstanding visuals which feel so authentic to the era and are sure to bring about nostalgia whether you were alive in the 1990's or not.
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Recommended by maragidynee
When you search in google for a good old anime titles, "Perfect blue" shows up at the first page, and I can admit that it was a very good anime movie. I also think that what most people say about this movie is correct, and most of it reviews say that this anime was "Strange, stylish and intelligent". Not many people know tho, that there is an anime from that times which was much more "Strange, stylish and intelligent" than most of anime we know these days, and it's called "Serial Experiments Lain" I can even say that things you'll see in this anime, are
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Although the plots are not similar, both anime share similar and heavy themes, such as blurring the line between reality and illusion, identity, etc. Both are quite surreal and mind-bending. In a way, these animes were way ahead of their time and are more relevant today than have ever been.
These shows are both psychological and they both have the same concept: What is reality? and what is not?
Both Lain and Perfect blue show you how can media, Internet and technology effect reality and our world. Also, They both came out in 1998...