Can't pick out anything wrong. Didn't see any pixelation. It was smooth, and clear.

Audio was next to perfect. Both tracks where clear.

Audio was next to perfect. Both tracks where clear.

Overall I liked the series, it was good. Something I can see myself watching again. If your not into anything slower or confusing, I don't suggest it. But if you want a show that'll make you think, then this might be for you. One glitch on the first disk I had, after episode 6 it wouldn't play on my DVD Player, but on any other one I tried it worked fine. And the second disk was fine. Very good series, just not for everyone.

No pixelation on this set despite the weird episode distribution but this isn?t a high action series, hell it?s not an action series at all really.

The audio was good I don?t recall any problems in this department everything was loud and clear on my CD player?s sound system which I have my DVD player hooked up through.

The audio was good I don?t recall any problems in this department everything was loud and clear on my CD player?s sound system which I have my DVD player hooked up through.

This series was pretty weird and hard to make sense of and the fact that I was up all night watching it probably didn?t help me understand it. I will defiantly need to re-watch it to fully understand it. So only check this out if you don?t mind focusing and thinking about what?s going on.

The video was good.

Japanese dialogue was very good.

Japanese dialogue was very good.

This was my first anime's and still one of my favorites. It can be confusing at times, but it is always entertaining. An excellent series.

Despite the 9-4 episode distribution of this release, the video on even the 9-episode first DVD is very crisp, clean, and pixelation free. Granted, there isn't a lot of high-movement action in this series... but still, I didn't notice any problems throughout the series.

Outstanding audio. The English and Japanese vocal tracks are both loud and clear, and the opening and ending themesongs sound fantastic. The music in lain is very atmoshpheric, so it's nice to have the release sounding this great.

Outstanding audio. The English and Japanese vocal tracks are both loud and clear, and the opening and ending themesongs sound fantastic. The music in lain is very atmoshpheric, so it's nice to have the release sounding this great.

Serial Experiment lain is a very thought-provoking series. In the same vein as a David Lynch flick, BoogiePop Phantom, or even Dark City... the show is deliberately slow, creepy, and full of mystery. I definitely need to give lain another watch or two before I think I really appreciate its brilliance, but even upon first watch, I know I liked every minute of it. Review Hardware: DVD Player(s): Sony DVP-NS315 and Malata DVP-393 TV: Sony Trinitron 32" Flat Screen

ok I hadn't realized there are several releases of the imports for this one...now the one I got says on the back, FX logo, it's 2discs, with eng. and japanese dub and enligh subs (no chinese)., all coded, the disks have this # on them dvd-L001-1. so not sure what I have, I see sometimes there are Rips (getting to know the terms) of even the imports but do they also add the logos (see my review for now and then, here and there, same question, says fx on the box, different on the discs, indicates something else)....still this set I have is great but not sure if the review should be moved to the eng/jap dub/eng sub version listed on the site??? ==== my first 'import' purchase and what a great anime to take a chance with. I love this one. briefly to make I think this one was very good, I was surprised at the quality having heard various warnings about quality etc. but I have since bought a few more..I am pleased. crisp clean picture (now I am not a purist or professional analyzer just to state for the record), since I don't know what the us release looks like I have nothing to compare but I was pleased. I watch it on my panasonic (I said sony before, that is an error, sorry, have sony tv) dvd/vcr player on a 21 inch screen, ....I like to adjust my brightness and color for anime so it was just as good as any movie or show I would watch through my tv. I would give it a 5 but since I can't compare to see if maybe there is something different about this I have to be fair and give it a 4.5...but I think it's a 5 for the price and product.

audio seemed fine to me....what more can I say...there may have been a very slight buzzing (not the sound effects of the wire on the series) but that could be my dvd player too and with the volume up and listening to the dialogue I really didn't notice unless I was concentratiing on hearing it....the dub sounds fine and as for the anime production of the dub...I think the VA's did a very good job...I like to watch anime in english first because that is the language I speak...but I like to watch both japanese w/ eng. subs and english dubs...if I can't get something in english dubs that won't prevent me from seeing it. I find hearing it the language I speak helps me not get distracted trying to read the subtitles and I can get a feel for the emotions and what not of the story and characters....I always take a little time to get used to subtitles and sometimes subs are differcult to read, too small or too fast or blends with the color of the picture....this is just in general, not having to do with anime, just about things that are subtitled....

audio seemed fine to me....what more can I say...there may have been a very slight buzzing (not the sound effects of the wire on the series) but that could be my dvd player too and with the volume up and listening to the dialogue I really didn't notice unless I was concentratiing on hearing it....the dub sounds fine and as for the anime production of the dub...I think the VA's did a very good job...I like to watch anime in english first because that is the language I speak...but I like to watch both japanese w/ eng. subs and english dubs...if I can't get something in english dubs that won't prevent me from seeing it. I find hearing it the language I speak helps me not get distracted trying to read the subtitles and I can get a feel for the emotions and what not of the story and characters....I always take a little time to get used to subtitles and sometimes subs are differcult to read, too small or too fast or blends with the color of the picture....this is just in general, not having to do with anime, just about things that are subtitled....

Lain....well it's dark, it's a bit emotional, esp. if you can relate to the feelings expressed in this series about lonliness and uncertainity of one's exsistance. It's a slow story but that isn't a bad thing in this case, the mood is somber and thoughtful. it's interesting how the backgrounds are somewhat stark which adds to the feel of the series. I really like this one a lot and definitly is a keeper to see again but not so soon as it does linger with you a bit after....best watched in a darkened room late at night, maybe a candle lit.....maybe with a bit of saki too....and it's the kind of series you really need to see in whole.

The animation of Lain have a very sureal touch to it. If you are looking for Dragonball type color you won't find it here. wonderfully done

The FX release of Lain has very good sounding audio

The FX release of Lain has very good sounding audio

If you are looking for a chage of pace anime that will suck you in with story, subplots and "The what you can't see" Lain is for you. This is one of the best anime I have come across in many years

I've so far watched 7 of the 13 ep's, and found the video quality to be quite good, with nothing of any note to comment on. Just for your refference, I'm watching this on a relativly new, Sears/JVC brand, 27in. TV, on a newish Panasonic DVD player, with an S-Video jack hook-up.

Now, here's where my review differes from the rest, and the reason that the audio only rates a 2.5, and that is because even though the english dubbed sound is pretty good, it is slightly (and annoingly)out of sinc :( I first noticed this around ep. 5 (although, it could have been an ep. or two earlier when it first started) but at the time, the dialog was taking place in an area, where it just seemed to be an echo effect, but that, unfortunatly, was not the case, as I'm on ep. 7, of disc 1 (of 2) and the dialog sinc problem is still quite previlent. Now don't get me wrong, it's not like watching a badly dubbed Kung-Fu movie, where the voices and lip movements are insanly out of sinc, but, if you're like me, and tend to notice stuff (i.e. I've been known to spot a single frame glitch, that other's watching, couldn't see until I've rewound back to the spot and paused it. It's not like I consiously look for this stuff, I just somehow see it, and it bugs me...lol) then this will anoy you too, as the mouthes start moving before the dialog is uttered, and close before the dialog has finished, giving the voices a kind of echo effect (akin to watching someone hit something with a hammer from a grate distance, seeing the hammer strike, but not hearing the actual sound till a second later). ***GOOD NEWS :) Upon continuing the series, I was happy to find that the dialog delay problem was only preasent in about 3 of the 13 ep.'s (5,6,and 7, seemed to have the most noteable problems) So I've upped my audio ratting to average :)

Now, here's where my review differes from the rest, and the reason that the audio only rates a 2.5, and that is because even though the english dubbed sound is pretty good, it is slightly (and annoingly)out of sinc :( I first noticed this around ep. 5 (although, it could have been an ep. or two earlier when it first started) but at the time, the dialog was taking place in an area, where it just seemed to be an echo effect, but that, unfortunatly, was not the case, as I'm on ep. 7, of disc 1 (of 2) and the dialog sinc problem is still quite previlent. Now don't get me wrong, it's not like watching a badly dubbed Kung-Fu movie, where the voices and lip movements are insanly out of sinc, but, if you're like me, and tend to notice stuff (i.e. I've been known to spot a single frame glitch, that other's watching, couldn't see until I've rewound back to the spot and paused it. It's not like I consiously look for this stuff, I just somehow see it, and it bugs me...lol) then this will anoy you too, as the mouthes start moving before the dialog is uttered, and close before the dialog has finished, giving the voices a kind of echo effect (akin to watching someone hit something with a hammer from a grate distance, seeing the hammer strike, but not hearing the actual sound till a second later). ***GOOD NEWS :) Upon continuing the series, I was happy to find that the dialog delay problem was only preasent in about 3 of the 13 ep.'s (5,6,and 7, seemed to have the most noteable problems) So I've upped my audio ratting to average :)

This is a nice set, with a nice package and all, but, with that slight, but annoying, english dub. sinc problem to take into consideration, when desiding to purchase this set (that is, if you intend to watch it with the english dubbed track, if not, then, from the other reviews posted, it seems that the Japanese track and english subtitlings are pretty got, and worth the money :) I'd still recomened it, if little things don't tend to bother you.

Great video, R1 rip i am sure because of the english credits. No flicker or pixelation whatsoever.

Good audio, no skipping or anything of that sort.

Good audio, no skipping or anything of that sort.

Great series and a great release, for the price can't go wrong with this set.

Didn't notice any pixelation if there was any. Seemed like real r1 dvd quality.

This set has your normal 2.0 english and japanese tracks. The only difference is the quality, it is fantatic and even the dubbed has rich sound which is rare with imports.

This set has your normal 2.0 english and japanese tracks. The only difference is the quality, it is fantatic and even the dubbed has rich sound which is rare with imports.

Great quality and has cool extras. That includes sketches and creditless openings and closings. This story is a bit odd. It reminds me of the main idea of the matrix, ghost in the shell, and lawn mower man. It is depressing but original. A work of art but i think most will have a hard time with the story. You need a moderate amount of computer knowledge and it is sometimes difficult to fit together. Although the story is dark and depressing the ending turns it around and makes the anime a classic.

R1 rip. As mentioned before, it's a pity they put 9 eps on the first disc and 4 on the second. First disc: quality is good, but not perfect, as there are signs of compression, pixelation. It's not bad at all, and it certainly won't spoil your viewing pleasure, but I expected a little better from an FX set. Second disc: seems better, sharper, but it's not a _huge_ difference in my opinion. Probably looks even better on a TV, as I watched this on a PC monitor.

Seems perfect to me, although I only listened to the japanese audio track. I don't have a great audio setup though, but it sounds clear and sharp.

Seems perfect to me, although I only listened to the japanese audio track. I don't have a great audio setup though, but it sounds clear and sharp.

Packaging is ok, but nothing special. Watch the screenshots I posted so you can see the DVD menu's. There quite plain and not animated, but there's the OP/ED playing while you are navigating the menu's so that makes up a bit .. Don't expect a lot of extra's, the ones that are included are not that great. But then again, it's better than none. In general, I could say it's worth buying this set. Don't worry too much about video quality, it's more than good overall. If however you can afford to buy the R1/R2 DVD's, I'd advise you to do so.

I watched it on a calibrated PC monitor, at 1280x960. I have mixed feeling about the video for this FX release. If you have to put 13 episodes on 2 DVDs, how would you divide them? Well, FX thought different, he put eps 1~9 on the first disc (a DVD9) and the last 4 on the second (a DVD5)! Obviously he decided to re-encode everything on the first, using a CBR algorithm... again! The show stays around ~4600 Kbps all the time. If you check disc two, you see the bitrate jumping over 9000kbps on certain scenes (for example those with TV signal distortion and, of course, the OP theme). I suspect that those last 4 episodes are direct rips, with no recompression. And they look sharper. Well, don't worry, I'm not saying that the episodes on the first disk are cr*p, only that they could look a *bit* sharper, sometimes. I'm really nit picky here, but, on the other hand, if you compare the OP on the first disc with those on the second, you can see well the difference. Of course the resolution of a PC monitor helps a lot to notice it, I believe that on a normal TV set you won't see problems. What really annoys me is that there was all the space to make a perfect direct rip, without the need of any recompression at all. Why didn't he put 7+6 on two DVD9 I really don't know. So for me 4.8/5 for the first disc, 5/5 for the second.

I only listened to the Japanese dub, with headphones. Everything sounded really good and clear, with no distorsions or buzzings, and was always in perfect synch. 5/5

I only listened to the Japanese dub, with headphones. Everything sounded really good and clear, with no distorsions or buzzings, and was always in perfect synch. 5/5

A really strange anime, you have to watch it with attention to understand everything. The soundtrack is beautiful, I fell in love immediately with the opening while watching a trailer of Lain some years ago. And also the story is very intriguing!

What can I say its pretty much exactly the same as the Region 1 DVD

Nothing at all wrong with the audio either, at least not that I can tell

Nothing at all wrong with the audio either, at least not that I can tell

Not much else to say, another wonderful release by FX.