Batter Up!
Paranoia Agent (or Mōsō Dairinin) is a 2004 mystery thriller anime created by the late Satoshi Kon (who directed classic anime films like Paprika and Perfect Blue) and animated by Madhouse.
A mysterious street assailant suddenly appears one night in the city of Musashino, Japan. Victim accounts describe him as a boy of grade-school age wearing inline skates and wielding a crooked baseball bat. Thus, townsfolk have given him the nickname “Lil’ Slugger” (or Shonen Bat). Each episode follows the lives of his victims, and the two police detectives investigating the case, Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa. As more people fall victim and the case gets deeper, Ikari and Maniwa learn that Lil’ Slugger isn’t a normal street assailant and, perhaps, might not even be human.
Much like a lot of Kon’s work, this anime is trippy. It uses a lot of bizarre imagery and animation that scrambles your brain. However, I believe that it works well with the confusing nature of the show. Even though some of the animation is outlandish, it’s still executed beautifully and looks pretty smooth. The episodes themselves vary in quality story-wise. Some will be incredibly gripping and leave you wanting more. On the other hand, some are incredibly stupid and make you want to stop watching. Luckily though, the majority of episodes are the former. That being said, I enjoyed this anime a great deal. My favorite thing about it is the portrayal of Lil’ Slugger as this enigmatic, phantom-like entity that no one knows who or what he is. I especially like the juxtaposition of him being so mysterious while his design is so plain.
I would give you my thoughts on some of the episodes, but you should experience them for yourself. If you’re a fan of mystery, psychological horror, and trippy visuals, I’d highly recommend this anime.
Jacob Hanson
Student Writer - 2022
Hello. My name is Jacob Hanson (you can call me Jake if you like). I am going for my Bachelors in Digital Production at Gulf Coast State College. I like drawing, video games, and most of all, anime and manga (that’s Japanese cartoons and comics for those not in the know). I have an anime review blog called “Jake’s Anime Corner” where I review anime and manga that might be a little more obscure than others (So no Demon Slayer or Attack on Titan. Sorry :P). If you want to find some new anime to watch, why not give it a read. You might find your next favorite show.