Môsô dairinin
Tags: comedy, psychological, horror, plot twist, psychedelic, satire, suspenseful

Plot synopsis:
Tsukiko Sagi, a shy character designer who created the immensely popular pink dog Maromi, finds herself under pressure to repeat her success. As she walks home that night, she is attacked by an elementary school boy on inline skates. Two police detectives, Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa, are assigned to the case. They suspect that Tsukiko is lying about the attack, until they receive word of a second victim.
Soon the attacker, dubbed Lil' Slugger (Shōnen Batto in Japanese, meaning "Bat Boy"), is blamed for a series of street assaults in Tokyo. None of the victims can recall the boy's face and only three distinct details are left in their memories: golden inline skates, a baseball cap, and the weapon: a bent golden baseball bat. Ikari and Maniwa set out to track down the perpetrator and put an end to his crimes. Their hunt is unsuccessful, however, and the investigation eventually leads to both men losing their positions as police detectives.
As the attacks continue, it is revealed that they are not random. Instead, Lil' Slugger seems to target people in crisis, and the attacks, though violent, lead to some improvement in the life of the victim. Maniwa becomes convinced that Lil' Slugger is a supernatural force, driven to rescue the desperate from their tragedies through violence. He becomes obsessive, broadcasting his warning about Lil' Slugger via shortwave radio and seeking a way to kill the supernatural assailant.
As public fear of Lil' Slugger intensifies, so do his (supposed) attacks, and the line between truth and fiction becomes blurred. At the same time, public anticipation for the launch of the Maromi television series reaches a fanatical high, almost as if the fear of one is feeding (and feeding off) the anticipation for the other.
Things come to an end on the night that the Maromi show is set to air. Ikari, now a private security guard, and Maniwa, now a wandering "knight", attempt to battle Lil' Slugger, now an incredibly powerful force. They confront Tsukiko, and she confesses that Maromi was based on a real puppy that Tsukiko had in childhood, whose leash she had one day accidentally dropped, allowing the puppy to run into traffic where it was killed. Instead of taking responsibility for the puppy's death, young Tsukiko invented a story about a bat-wielding, skate-wearing puppy killer – Lil' Slugger's first "attack".
Ultimately, Lil' Slugger is a paranormal figment of Tsukiko's guilt and fear, brought inexplicably to life when the adult Tsukiko desperately needed to escape her responsibilities and then fed and nurtured by the fear of the populace. In a way, Tsukiko does fulfill her job by creating a character (Lil' Slugger) that becomes just as big a sensation as Maromi. When Tsukiko finally confesses the truth, and in doing so accepts the guilt for the death of Maromi, Lil' Slugger is defeated.

Review: (Actually, I was still saying that more than halfway through this series, but that didn't stop me from watching it almost completely straight through.)Satoshi Kon has a distinctive style of delving into people's heads and meshing reality with fantasy.
After first viewings of his works, I always get the feeling I'm going to have to go back several times and figure out everything I didn't catch.On the whole, this series is very deep and dark, but there are many humorous moments.
Its a great 13 episodes with an emotional and powerful climax thats a metaphor for life itself.A MUST SEE for anyone in general, even if you don't like anime, this is a masterpiece..
I began watching Paranoia Agent when it premiered on Adult Swim late night a couple of months ago.
Needless to say, this show has freaky moments and it will leave you questioning the sanity of the characters, as well as your own.The story begins with a doll maker named Tsukiko, who constantly feels pressure at her work place from her boss, her fellow co-workers, everyone.
Besides almost suffering from nervous breakdowns and strings of paranoia, they all have one other thing in common: their assailant is the same person who attacked Tsukiko, Lil' Slugger, the kid with golden Rollerblades and a golden bat.
For those who like their anime a bit darker, and as intertwined as ivy that grows up the side of a college school building, then this is for you!Just so you know, the American release of this series is called: PARANOIA AGENT.
If you see it in the store, I'd get it, because once it gets out about how cool this series is, you might not be able to get it!Having seen "Perfect Blue" and "Magnetic Rose", and trying to get a hold of "Millenium Actress", and "Tokyo Godfathers", I'm interested in any work produced by Satoshi Kon. I love how his work makes the story twist a bit more than the usual, and makes you think harder.The story, which revolves around a character who only becomes known as "Shonen Bat".
A simply stunning anime, "Paranoia Agent" is a thoughtfully thought out trip into psychosis and the darker aspects of the human psyche.
With a no holds barred approach to its philosophical and occasionally violent story telling, it highlights the very best that is achievable through the medium of anime with a plot line that is as dark as it is witty and as disturbing as it is intelligent.
"Paranoia Agent" is one of those few serial creations that will have you hooked from the very first episode and have your mind salivating for more once it concludes, it is supremely assured from its style to its substance and will toy with your mind in the best possible ways.Set over thirteen episodes of crisply created animation, "Paranoia Agent" is a paranormal, psychological thriller which charts two men in the Tokyo Police Force investigated the sudden spates of attacks of members of the public by an entity known as "lil slugger".
With the first attack having taken place on the creator of popular creator of the sensationally cute dog "Mamori", we discover that "lil slugger" is a metal bat waving, rollerblading teenager.
As the investigation progresses and the police become more attached to the case and more victims fall at the hands of this crazed child things take a decidedly more "surreal" turn as things become complicated.Successfully fusing style, ideas, intrigue and compelling characters, Satoshi Kon has created not just one of the best anime's in recent times, but also one of the most sublime series in recent times.
Satoshi Kon has not merely created something that every fan of anime must surely possess in their collection, but something that certainly deserves wider recognition and broadcasting than that what is has achieved already.
This is thought provoking entertainment that rivals recent animated hits like "Broken Saints" and leaves many others reeling in its wake, but "Paranoia Agent" must be seen to be believed and understood.
I only watched the first episode of this series, ("Paranoia Agent" in English), and it is looking good.
For those of you familiar with Kon's world, you will notice some characters common to his world: the homeless, the working folk, the psychotic killer.The mood of the show at the beginning is similar to that of the excellent "lain" series.
This is what we've all come to expect from the late great Satoshi Kon creator of such lovely films as Perfect Blue and Paprika.
In this event we have a whole anime series called paranoia agent which is a playground for sex, violence and insanity.The story starts out with a girl that is attacked by an unknown assailant and then the story goes along to reflect the minds of society's 'victims' leading to a very odd but spectacular climax.The voice acting is well done on both ends.
what was that about?" The story also starts to flow off on a rather odd tangent that I feel was a tad unnecessary.In the end Paranoia Agent is a masterwork with minor but noticeable flaws..
In Paranoia Agent, a mysterious boy starts attacking people with a baseball bat, to put it simply.
Satoshi Kohn has made a lot of great anime film's like, "Tokyo Godfather's" and"Millennium Actress".
But in 2004, he created an anime show titled, "Paranoia Agent".The story is about a kid named, Lil Slugger, that goes around Tokyo assaulting people at night with his golden Baseball Bat. Now, the Police have to stop Lil Slugger.The story is great and what make's this show really great is that, in each episode, the people that get assaulted are facing problem's in reality.
Also, some episode's have good scare's.The only problem I have with this show is that episode's 8, 9 and 10 were mostly filler episodes.But overall, "Paranoia Agent", is a great anime show to watch.
There is a filler that is fairly out-of-place, but if you are one that pays close attention to details, this will be the best filler you have ever seen, even better than a mainstream anime's canon episode.
When I first heard of this series, I was doubting myself whether Satoshi Kon's "Paranoia Agent" would be worth my time.
I thought that Satoshi Kon was just wasting his time making the anime.
It was pretty pointless and too twisted.Curious, I started to watch the first episode of "Paranoia Agent".
The main character, Tsukiko Sagi, is the first to get attacked by Sh&#333;nen Bat (Lil' Slugger in English).
Folowing next is a series of attacks, also conducted by Lil' Slugger, which are aimed at random people.
The journey continues up until episode 13.Viewers are also encouraged to come up with their own theories: Why is Lil' Slugger attacking the victims?
Just like other Satoshi Kon films, this series also contains many symbolisms, which help us viewers to understand more about the story.My last word is, if you like psychological thrillers, then "Paranoia Agent" is a must-watch.
The story may be way too complex and seem like it's going nowhere, but once you start watching it you'll become addicted and try to solve the mystery too..
This 13 episode anime series is really really GOOD!
Each episode centers on a different character; in the special features, Satoshi Kon calls it Character Relay.
When I first got to watch this show on Adult Swim,It was really killer,I have to say that out of all the anime that Satoshi Kon has created,this one is an ace in the hole.
His reasoning for making half his characters look like disturbing cast offs from glorified passatta adverts is anyone's guess, and for me personally his stories lack the depth that is so often accredited to them.
Paranoia Agent is a good example of this kind of over-hype.A similar thing occurred to me when I watched Perfect Blue on its release.
This is exactly the same as Paranoia Agent.Story 5/10The series starts out rather promisingly.
The albeit very bland (frankly pathetic) main character gets attacked by what becomes know as "shounen bat" or "lil' slugger", or various other things.
Struck down whilst under severe pressure at work (she is a character designer who has only had one idea since she was a little girl), she begins a trend for such attacks on similarly distressed people.
The series is barely held together through its loosely connected and tiresomely formulaic middle-episodes which ultimately amount to an "etc" to what has gone before.I read an interview with Satoshi Kon which described the 'budding idea' of Paranoia Agent as a collection of ideas left over from his films.
). In a way I am glad I finished watching it, though perhaps not so glad that I started it.To be fair, the last episode was a lot better than I had expected.
I had very high expectations when I started watching paranoia agent.
Please fan-boys don't misguide people looking for a good anime and not a piece of crap!!
Then you have about 10 characters total who are in multiple episodes (The girl who invented Mamori, Lil' Slugger, etc.).Don't get me wrong, though.
Hi everyone!I just finished watching paranoia agent and it was great!
And most of the times episodes were completely and didn't even feature lil slugger to the end.
And I also consider myself to be anime appreciator, Cowboy Bebop is one of my most favorite I already watched it for more than 5 time.But Paranoia agent is too much for me, not because it is too deep, or too thoughtful,or too intelligence but because it is too stupid and ridiculous.
"Paranoia Agent" along with shows as "The Maxx" "Twin Peaks" "Riget" and "Broken Saints" is one of my favorite series, and along with "Cowboy Bebop" it is one of the best anime series ever made.The plot of "Paranoia Agent" manages to be surprising and deep, without being pretentious or forced: In many ways, this show reminds me "Twin Peaks" since both shows start with an unusual mystery, but instead of being solemn or super-serious as shows as "Lost" or "The X-Flies" in Paranoia Agent, the thrills and the mystery are combined with the appropriate quantity of comedy and heartwarming moments,and even some bits of cutesy (Though while the plot advances, this cutesy turns dark and creepy) If you like television shows as "Twin Peaks" or "The Maxx" you should definitely give this a look.
This series is something that should be watched in whole, and most people who rate it badly have either not watched all of the episodes or couldn't figure out the meaning of the ending.
Towards the beginning, Lil' Slugger is shrouded in mystery and nobody can even begin to guess where the series goes.
While some parts of the series that hint at its overall plot are a bit random (dolls coming to life and blurting out information), the viewer is kept guessing until the last few episodes, where the pieces finally start coming together.
There's no gratuitous nudity, no fanservice, no sexual innuendo, no awkward teen hero.We are given one Miss Tsukiko Sagi, creator of Moromi, a popular dog character that everyone loves and has merchandise of in one form or another (think Hello Kitty).
There's no gratuitous nudity, no fanservice, no sexual innuendo, no awkward teen hero.We are given one Miss Tsukiko Sagi, creator of Moromi, a popular dog character that everyone loves and has merchandise of in one form or another (think Hello Kitty).
One night walking home, she is attacked by an unknown assailant, to be forever known as Lil Slugger, a boy on rollerblades with a baseball bat.So begins a series that will make your eyes bug out and go "Huh!?
One night walking home, she is attacked by an unknown assailant, to be forever known as Lil Slugger, a boy on rollerblades with a baseball bat.So begins a series that will make your eyes bug out and go "Huh!?
Its a great 13 episodes with an emotional and powerful climax that's a metaphor for life itself.A MUST SEE for anyone in general, even if you don't like anime, this is a masterpiece..
The series starts off with a mysterious attack by an unidentified baseball wielding perpetrator on a young graphic designer.
With this the mystery begins, the perpetrator is labelled 'Li'll Slugger' by the media and then a series of other attacks happen across Tokyo.
Many unexpected twists happen along the way, each episode is dedicated to a different character.This amazing series by the late great Satashi Kon has all the hall marks of his best work: satire, artistry, pathos and strong character development.
It is no coincidence that both men are two of the most creative and imaginative minds working in movies at the moment.Paranoia Agent is a fine example of Satashi Kon's genius and offered a glimpse at what Kon could have achieved if his life wasn't cruelly cut short.
Each one is fighting a personified and externalized demon - a battle in which rare few succeed.The world portrayed in Paranoia Agent represents the warped reality of a temporarily deranged individual, unable to cope with stress and struggling to come to terms with reality.Throughout the series, the detective following mysterious bat boy cases is trying to figure out what he's most afraid of and whether he's strong enough to face his own fears.Paranoia Agent is the "happy place" people go to, and the pain that it brings when the veils are inevitably lifted..
I came to lose my liking for the film after repeat viewings, but after seeing Paranoia Agent for the first time, I might re-check it again.The series is basically a satire on contemporary Japan.
It's fascinating how many these characters have little to no connection to Sagi, the individual responsible for creating Lil' Slugger, yet be heavily influenced by what she created.Paranoia Agent is nothing less than a masterpiece.
Paranoia Agent is very obviously the work of Satoshi Kon, the creator of Perfect Blue.
It is my opinion that the series was meant to characterize the nature of paranoia and illustrate its destructiveness (which it did, from the first episode on).Despite Paranoia Agent's difficult concept and volleying central characters (each episode has a new main character, though the central focus of the show is undoubtedly paranoia itself), it's intense, scary and a rush just to watch..
As the story progresses we learn more about Shonen Bat and how his victims are selected then there is a revelation that makes us, and the detectives, question everything we've learnt before.Viewers familiar with the films of series creator Satoshi Kon will know to expect a story where things aren't always what they seem and delusions and things that are imagined are expertly mingled with real events.
In short: this is a great series which is a must see for adult anime fans; the story is gripping, the characters interesting and the animation looks good.These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles..
"When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears." This story is unique, not only because it puts its characters at the brink of emotional breakdown and pushes them over to free them, but because instead of following the good guys throughout, it follows the villain throughout its many victim's encounters and woes.
Lil' Slugger is the villain, in the form of a young child with gold inline skates and a gold bat who attacks those who feel emotionally cornered.The show focuses on the vanity of humans to look for the easy way out in desperate situations, because when someone is emotionally cornered the easy way out is always most appealing.
The almost Disney like animation really worked for him and feels very unique.
Cause the way that they focus on different characters for every episode, it subtlely shows more and more about "Shounen Bat".I don't have much more to say, and I don't want to make it longer just for the sake of it.
Lil Slugger is the series' main antagonist, a boy with a red baseball cap, golden roller skates, a bent golden bat, and a love for spreading suffering.
Paranoia places so much focus on Lil Slugger at an extent that I haven't seen since Monster and Johan Liebert.
In all of these forms, Lil Slugger's essence remains the same, that he is a malevolent menace to society.'Creepy' is the only word that does justice in describing Paranoia Agent's opening, a sequence that shows various characters laughing in a number of places, most of them scenes of natural or man-made disasters.
My favorite character has to be Keiichi Ikari, the bad cop to Maniwa's good cop, a short-tempered star of the police force whose gruff voice is like that of Monster's Richard Braun, and a mid-life crisis victim who wholeheartedly loves his wife, remains as stubborn as a mule, and often reminisces over his youth.Plotwise, this anime has one of the finest, where each episode is a potential favorite; there's just something unique about every Paranoia episode.
The animation, high- quality and meticulously detailed, was the first thing that stood out to me about Paranoia Agent and, throughout the series, the show loved to try different styles.
Throughout all of these styles, Paranoia Agent remained great.It's been a while since I've watched a truly exceptional anime, something that'll make me happily flip on the TV simply because I don't want to miss another moment, and Paranoia Agent did that for me.
This is a very, very deep series that most people (myself included) will not understand it the first time they see it.
Paranoia Agent, without doubt, is a good anime, but certainly not for everyone.
It is a dark anime about a series of attacks carried out by a mysterious child known only as 'Lil Slugger', and the efforts of the detectives to find him/her.
Without giving anything else away, I recommend this highly to anyone who likes a 'Smart' anime/show, and a good mystery at that.