However, on Lain, the thing is that the storyline is very confusing and to be honest, after watching it for a few times, I am still somewhat lost on the story flow because it definitely did not follow a linear form of storytelling. It feels to me to be somewhat of an experiment of Abe, but some of the infusion of theories and philosophical ideas are stated in rather simple terms which will not cause it to be gibberish.

The thing is that Lain is often labeled as an experiment and is not a series that is readily easy for anyone to understand or learn. In that way, it is logical for those who get confused/sick for the first episode and gave up. It’s logical.

Oooh, Zettai Shounen’s really good, although it’s understandable how the pacing can put off some people, I guess I’ve gotten far too used to watching those kinds of series. It was the unusual pacing, atmospheric mood and music, and non-cardboard characters that appealed to me immensely. The fact that we were never told what exactly those mysteries were was, I think, intentionally done.

Word on Lain. I love that series, though I like Abe’s Texhnolyze more. I find it disheartening that some people found Lain to be gibberish, when it was perfectly understandable to me, despite me not being overly knowledgeable of the various philosophical ideas it was trying to convey.

@Blademaster: Realistic sci-fi? Hmm, it is very hard for me to find any one of them since it is not the genre I usually watch.

@Waffo: Music. I don’t remember much of the music in Zettai Shounen. Maybe, I should take a look again at the series.

PS. Anyone have other name of realistic sci-fi anime other than Planetes and Moonlight Mile?

@Kauldron: Already did, dude. It rocks.

@Psgels: Hmm, well, I always feel that there are few genres when mixed with slice of life that does not work it with me. In fact, I actually like slice of life with romance and school-focused. One example of perhaps romance will be Asatte no Houkou, and to me, despite some of its flaws, it is perhaps one of the best fall series. Hidamari Sketch, despite its bad graphics sometimes, is also a good school slice of life series.

@TheBigN: Spread the word, spread the word desu! Yes, that is what I tried to drive at, the very fact that you care more abotu the characters rather than the plot itself.

@Zeuslrae: Mushishi~ It took me a long time then to find it, and when I did, I actually finished it in one whole setting. It makes me wonder sometimes why it did not get more coverage than expected.

@Waffo: Arrr, that is perhaps the only slice of life that bored me, Zettai Shounen that is. I fell asleep watching 3-4 episodes, didn’t know what is going on and stopped watching. I guess it’s up to taste and perhaps it just hit some points that did not work out for me. Do tell me about why it is good if you come back, Waffo!

@Adalmin: Slice of very weird life, yes sire

@Usajigen: The problem with slice of life is clearly what you have stated: hit and miss. Slice of life cannot stand alone as its own as a genre, so it is perhaps more of a sub-genre which depends somewhat on the other context/genres that it is alongside with. It is sad but when one point is weakened, it does not bode well for the other points of the show.

@Ryan A: I wanted to write more extensively, but it seems like I might be infusing too much of my personal point than I already did, which is why I stopped. I have to admit that I did not like Honey and Clover, but it’s perhaps due to external sources because it is an excellent show in terms of slice of life.

@Pony Mark: arrr, that lolicon book

@Bata-kun: ho ho ho~ Sleep easily? ^+^

@Blademaster: The thing is that Lain is a cut of a very weird life in a story that sometimes does not make sense. It shows you a glimpse of life in terms of Alice, rather than Lain to be honest. It is really in essence how Lain sees Alice. Aria is really sweet too, which is logical why with the soundtrack, you might be touched through your heart.

Planetes is a must watch!

@Hayase: As explained, I must be embarrassed to say that I have never watched past ten episodes of H&C

@DrmChsr0: I am sure that many will have that as their favorite genre, if you have that genre

@Kos-jin: explained earlier in Blademaster, cyberpunk-ness works for me, especially when they went on Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious as well as social construction of embodiment. Wow wow, I am like in love with such stuff.

I have never gotten the chance to watch Niea_7 to be honest as well, but I have heard of it. ^^

…Wait, I do have one, and it’s called AWESOME. It’s so loosely defined, I can interpret it any way I like!

And shows in this Genre include Overman King Gainer, Nanoha series, Mahoromatic, FLCL, TENGA TOPPAN GURREN-LAGANN, Kanon, Code Geass(underlying statement notwithstanding), Air, the upcoming Clannad, Higurashi, 08th MS Team, etc, etc, etc.

See? Having only one genre is easy!

Slice of life is probably my second most favorite genre right now–behind mecha.

Ah…slice of life…in my opinion, the best gerne ever…but one that not that many people will watch…some of it anyway…

And…strangely enough…it’s one that made me cry more than others…ARIA especially…just don’t know why…

But…I’m shocked a bit…Lain’s a slice of life? Wow…

I recommend Binbou Shimai Monogatari…especially one who like story about in family…(2 sisters here in this case…)

And…darn…I want to see another more realistic Sci-fi…(watching Moonlight Mile right now…might consider watching Planetes…)

Lupus

You really nailed the soft spot of Trappy-tan, ne? =P

Impz

Nabokov is the author of “Lolita”, which talks about how there’s a disturbing connection between a man and a young girl. As far as I know, there’s some sort of Spanish theme in there somewhere, though I can’t remember where it’s at. (Most likely, it’s in the name of the girl, but I’m like 80% sure, seeing that I never read it.)