Warning: This review contains spoilers for the events of Paranoia Agent. It contains content and subject matter not suitable for younger audiences. Read at your own risk.
"The whole world is about to end because of a goddamn puppy."
These words are among many that are a part of a series that has become another cult classic of sorts in the works of the late Satoshi Kon. While met with mixed reception upon its initial airing in 2005; it gained a devoted following in the vein of his theatrical films, and has since undergone a re-evaluation that places it among Kon's best works. I've been experimenting a lot given the circumstances this year; and with that in mind, this review is one that will be perfect for the time. So, to explore why this anime still resonates 15 years later; let's open up "Paranoia Agent."
From the opening sequence alone, it's clear that nothing will be as it seems; and while the images and characters shown might be random at first, as the series goes on, each one has a purpose in the story. The anime follows a mystery centered around an assailant known as "Lil' Slugger," a young man who attacks people with a bent baseball bat; identified by his small stature and golden rollerblades. The first episode is appropriately enough, titled "Enter Lil' Slugger."
The story wastes no time in establishing itself, following the creator of a new anime series known as "Mellow Maromi," named Tsukiko Sagi. She is one of the many key figures of the story; and ends up being the first target of Lil' Slugger. It has been noted that Sagi is a sort of older subversion of Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga of Azumanga Daioh. As someone who enjoyed that anime as well, I like the questions raised by this. What would she be like as an adult with the same eccentricities as she had in high school? What if there was even darker meaning to the now-memetic scene of her half-asleep with the knife? Most of all, what if there is a more troubling undercurrent to the "cute" persona and image?
Sagi's attacks gain the attention of the authorities and the press; both of whom wonder if there's something else behind the attacks, until they too become targets of Lil' Slugger. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? As I shall get into over the course of this review, the title has multiple meanings in the story.
Further proof of this lies in the following episode, "The Golden Shoes." This one centers around a young man named Yuichi Taira, known as "Ichi" for short. He's a student who seems to have it all: popularity, good looks, athletic and academic ability; and a promising future as class president. Unfortunately, there is one issue he's dealing with: a classmate who isn't as bright, pretty or active whose name is Ushiyama Shogo. This is isn't helped further by him being accused of attacking Shogo in connection with Lil' Slugger. His social status takes a dive as a result, with only his mother and his tutor; Chono Harumi still trusting him. He even tries to discard his own gold rollerblades in connection with Lil' Slugger; to no avail: the skates, and Lil' Slugger find their way back to him.
Ichi's attack leads into the events of the next episode, "Double Lips." Though Ichi being attacked does clear his name, it turns out Harumi has her own dark side: an alternate identity as a working girl under the alias "Maria." This is also another one of the major recurring themes of the anime: how Lil' Slugger attacks people in a state of mental duress. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? As I shall continue to elaborate; the very title of this anime is one that has multiple meanings.
As the two personalities clash in more ways than one, Harumi's attack again leads to the next episode, "A Man's Path." This episode focuses on a police officer named Hirukawa Masumi; who has a connection to Harumi's identity of "Maria" the working girl. Like many, his image as a "family man" is not what it seems. In truth, his dealings with her among other working girls get him into trouble with the Yakuza; who don't take kindly to not having their debts paid. Their leader, an "oyabun" named Makabe then makes an example of him by burning his forehead with a cigarette and demanding he work off his debt! Just glad he didn't cross the "Dragon" Kiryu
(side note: looking forward to Yakuza Like a Dragon later this year, should be cool).
Amid all his "side work" with the Yakuza, Lil' Slugger attacks Masumi; but since Masumi isn't knocked out; he's able to bring him in, leading to the next episode, "The Holy Warrior." The suspect of Lil' Slugger is Kozuka Makoto, a student in 8th grade who fancies himself as a knight of his favorite fantasy RPGs. Given his demeanor towards the detectives interrogating him; his train of thought is at its core quite simple: He's really not that different than everyone who was giving the developers such a hard time over The Last of Us Part II.
Makoto being pegged as a suspect for everyone but Tsukiko leads into the next episode; "Fear of a Direct Hit." The episode takes place during a typhoon; and the title, much like others in the series has multiple meanings; one of which being related to the storm. After Tsukiko is questioned by the authorities, the episode also deals with a teenage runaway named Taeko; who is Hirukawa's daughter. They're not on the best terms, especially given the reason she ran away: Having inappropriate videos taken of her without her knowledge.
Taeko is attacked by Lil' Slugger, which leads us into the next episode, simply called "MHz." As more victims are targeted, the authorities continue to question Makoto; to no avail. There's even the speculation that there may be more than one assailant, which isn't entirely accurate; but still not without any impact on the story. Makoto is then found dead in his holding cell; but it's not the end for Lil' Slugger.
Now, the story comes to a point where things really go off the rails: "Happy Family Planning." On top of the title not being shown till the end, on a prophylactic dispenser no less; the main plot revolves around a suicide pact between three people only known by their online screen names: an old man named "Fuyubachi," a young man named "Zebra" and a young girl named "Kamome." The episode is a mixture of genres, blending dark comedy; drama and psychological horror in the span of 30 minutes. One of their attempts even had to be edited for the UK airing of the episode, with their hanging cutting a total of 80 seconds of footage. Their pilgrimage takes them to a bath house; which leads them to a chance encounter with Lil' Slugger! Adding to the atmosphere of this episode is the fact that it's never explicitly made clear whether their attempts were successful: their lack of shadows in a photograph is one of the only implications; and it's more or less up to the viewer to interpret their fate. I've always had a soft spot for those kind of endings.
Next up is "ETC," which revolves around four housewives telling their own stories about Lil' Slugger. This kind of storytelling is another kind of narrative that has been passed down for ages; with the concept of the
unreliable narrator and
"Rashomon" style in particular being used to great effect here. One of their stores tells of a student overworked to the point of vomiting up his math problems like that horrible "Sick" PSA. Another tells of a young married woman with a mother-in-law who badgers her in a passive-aggressive fashion until she's attacked. The third is a rather unsettling ultrasound, and the last turns out to be a script editor who's the last of several major focal points in increasingly insane stories. The title card is the last shot from the roof of their apartments; but now things are really getting crazy.
Further compounding how Lil' Slugger impacts the story on multiple levels is the episode "Mellow Maromi," centered around the production of the in-universe anime of the same name. While not the most lighthearted production; it overall presents a harrowing contrast between the cute puppy dog that's the subject matter of the anime and the members of the production team all being mysteriously killed one by one. Eventually, only the production coordinator Saruta Naoyuki remains; and while he does get the master tapes of the finished anime to the network; he too is claimed by Lil' Slugger. I still have three more episodes to go over in this review, but for now; it's one of many that makes the lyrics to Eminem's "Stan" make sense, especially given the meaning of that term nowadays as shorthand for
obsessive fans.
The denouement of the series starts to take hold in the episode "No Entry." Ikari is now just a security guard; and his wife Misae is growing increasingly disenchanted with him. Yet, she won't give in even with Lil' Slugger in her midst; even as Ikari becomes a laborer. Ikari laments that he just wanted to go after common thieves; not get wrapped up in Lil' Slugger's mind games.
As Ikari is given his simple world, the second to last episode sees the emergence of a new persona: "Radar Man." Maniwa is told to "dance with the rabbit" in the dying words of an old man; taking up the mantle of Radar Man to not just confront his former colleague; but to get to the truth about Lil' Slugger. As it turns out, their conflict leads to a startling realization before the end: Lil' Slugger and Maromi are one and the same! ... Before I finish this, that's one of the most fascinating reveals I've ever seen; as someone who has examined both
family-friendly works about video games and
a dark post-apocalyptic epic that's one of my favorite films and one of the best of all time.
Now, the conclusion; fittingly titled "The Final Episode." Here, we learn the truth behind all of the events of the series and how they led to this; and why I chose to lead with this line: "The whole world is about to end because of a goddamn puppy." It turns out the true nature of Maromi and its hold on not only Tsukiko; but the entire country stemmed from a real puppy dog Tsukiko had as a child; before the dog was hit by a car, killing it. Rather than let her family know the truth; she created Lil' Slugger as an assailant to cover it up. As such, it makes a chilling kind of sense as to why Lil' Slugger is the manifestation of everyone else's hardships; and the flip side to Maromi's coin. It's only when Tsukiko finally opens up about what happens to her inner child that the conflict finally ends. The series then closes on a time skip two years after the events of the story; with Ikari having returned to work as a security guard; Tsukiko now working an office and the country having moved onto a new mascot to obsess over. Fifteen years later; that ending has lost none of its relevance. In fact; to lead off my final thoughts in this review; it's actually gotten more relevant as of its recent rerun on Toonami earlier this year.
In a year that has been wracked with a global pandemic; environmental uncertainty and social unrest at home and abroad; the very limits of the human mind have been tested in ways that arguably haven't been experienced in ages. Everyone has found a method of coping; and this has been one of mine. Though in the past, my hobbies have been looked down on by others; now, having the same recreation habits since I was 13 has arguably left me better equipped to deal with all this than others might be.
With that said, the themes and stories presented by "Paranoia Agent" still help it resonate 15 years later. While Satoshi Kon may have sadly succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2010; this anime is another piece of his legacy. Much like his anime films; this TV series has left an impact in how it blends the simplicity of the everyday with the mindbending and boundless potential of the human psyche. The animation style is also the ideal way of exploring this concept: real enough to make the scenario believable, yet fantastic enough to let the audience know things aren't what they seem. Though much has changed about the world since the series initially aired in 2005; its themes in every aspect from pop culture obsession to the loss of innocence have remained every bit as relevant, if not moreso in the time since its original airing. That is why I'm glad the series has gotten more of the recognition it deserves since it first released.
I know I have taken a while to get this done, and given the time I'm posting this; I'm glad I've been able to share it with you all. Happy Halloween, and don't forget to vote by next week. That will be all for now.
Later.
