Serial Experiments Lain

[Graag]

"Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away)
Mamoru Oshii (Jin-Roh, although he wasn't director on this one)
Boogiepop Phantom
Grave of the Fireflies
Angel's Egg, Utena the movie
Key: The Metal Idol
Haibane Renmei. This is the work of yo****oshi ABe."

Whew. That'll keep me busy! Thanks.

[Wraith]

--"No Lain this week. Just 4 episodes of Crest of Stars or whatever it is called."

Another good series, based on a series of novels. Almost Space Opera, but not quite. There are the galactic empires and massive battles and so on, but Crest of the Stars is mostly about two people, Lafiel and Shinto, in the midst of all this. The second series (not quite a second season, but a sequel) Banner of the Stars will be out on DVD in the US this year as well.

--"I took it as an offshoot of the cyberpunk genre (i.e., Western)"

I'll agree with cyberpunk influenced, but I don't place it in the cyberpunk genre. Some of the common elements of cyberpunk just plain aren't there. On the other hand, the representation of the Wired is obviously influenced by cyberpunk works.

--"But the thing that really makes me confused is why is the girl's name LAIN if she's Japanese?"

Import name. The Japanese use a fair number of Western names, like Alice in the above quote (although it warps to Arisu in their symbology).
I suspect the authors left it Lain instead of forcing it into the Japanese syllabary to highlight her apartness.

--"The theme song is amazing."

Oddly enough, that's what's playing on my computer right now
Boa is a pretty solid band. I've had a chance to hear them live in concert (got them to sign a limited edition Lain soundtrack too).

--"Whew. That'll keep me busy! Thanks."

There's always more... Oshii and Miyazaki have both worked on a large number of films.
Careful on Utena the Movie, btw. It comes after a TV series that you should probably watch first. CPM is only now getting around to finishing their DVD release on that, but the first story arc, The Student Council Saga, is complete. They're working on The Black Rose Saga now.

Unfortunately, Miyazaki is trying to retire. I say trying, since he's ending up directing another movie, although he wasn't planning to. There's not really anyone around who can replace him.
Overall, I expect there to be fewer of the top quality art titles coming out over the next decade. There just aren't many of the newer generation of directors and so on that come close to Oshii or Miyazaki. Only ones I really have hope for right now are the yo****oshi ABe/Tokoro Tomokazu combination (NieA_7 as well as Haibane Renmei).

Wraith
"I just abandoned my body. I still live here..."
-- Serial Experiments: Lain