What was printed about Lain: features and interviews in Japanese magazines, the English press that followed, and the posters, ads and covers made to sell it. Where someone has scanned an issue, it is linked, and the scans the archive keeps can be read in the reading room. If you have scans of anything here that is not, see how to contribute.
Coverage in Japan, from the 1998 run to the anniversaries.
Announcement article presenting lain as the new title from the staff behind NOeL (Pioneer LDC), describing a player accessing a fictional network with the navigator Lain and the 14 year old schoolgirl Lain Iwakura; few other details were known. The cover and a reader survey also list the item. Identified via archive.org OCR; printed page number not confirmed.
Sources: archive.org
First of the Layers serial: a promotional Yoshitoshi ABe illustration overlaid with Chiaki J. Konaka text, teasing the project as coming soon. Two scanned pages survive in fan archives. AX itself launched in March 1998, so this cover-month issue reached stores around then.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived
Second installment of the Layers illustration-and-text serial (layer:01 Weird). No public scan of this issue was found.
Feature noting that a TV commercial for the game had been airing since March 1998 and that the commercial was included on the bundled disc; the article refers back to the magazine's earlier exclusive reveal (OCR reads Vol.59, probably Vol.69). Listed as a June 1998 release at the time.
Sources: archive.org
Preview examining the game's system from newly obtained exclusive screens; release then planned for autumn 1998, price undecided. Printed page appears to be p.96.
Sources: archive.org
Third installment of Layers (layer:02 Girls). No public scan of this issue was found.
Layers installment layer:03 Psyche; Lawrence Eng transcribed the English text printed on its first page. Two pages scanned.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived · lawmune.net archived
Two-page lain article or spread; content details not documented beyond the scans.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived
Short preview showing a refined interface in which floating cubes act as command objects around Lain, with developer comments, plus a box flagging the 6 July 1998 TV premiere. Printed page appears to be p.179.
Sources: archive.org
Article tied to new exclusive lain footage on the bundled disc; explains Lain's navigator role in the virtual network and announces the TV anime on TV Tokyo from 6 July 1998 (late Monday nights), with a synopsis.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org
Layers installment layer:04 Religion. Four scanned pages; fragments of interviews with director Ryutaro Nakamura, Kaori Shimizu and Chiaki J. Konaka are visible in the scans (lain.wiki lists this issue as containing staff interviews).
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived
Layers installment layer:05 Distortion. Four scanned pages (scans credited to Jerry Hsu on the source site).
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived
Layers installment layer:11 Infornography. Four scanned pages; lain.wiki lists this issue as also carrying staff interview material (Nakamura, Shimizu, Konaka).
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived
Fashion magazine interview with lain producer Yasuyuki Ueda; an English translation is hosted on Lawrence Eng's old CJAS pages (cited by Wikipedia).
Sources: cjas.org archived · lain.wiki archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
Two-page feature explaining the finished concept: the console treated as a network terminal with an OS boot screen, Lain as a browser-like persona fetching data icons, and movie files about the girl Lain.
Sources: archive.org
Layers installment layer:13 Ego. Two scanned pages.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived
In a 2018 4Gamer round table ABe recalled that a famous game magazine would not score the game: asked its genre, Ueda answered 'psycho-stretch-ware', the magazine could not place it, and the review slot carried only a note in the margin. The magazine is not named. It was very probably Weekly Famitsu: its own database shows that every other PlayStation game released the same day (Exodus Guilty, Eurasia Express, Waku Waku Volley, 1 on 1) was cross-reviewed in No.520, while lain's entry has no cross review at all. No scan of that issue has been found to show the note itself.
Sources: 4gamer.net archived · archived page · archived page · archived page
Review panel scores of 70/100 and 55/100. The same issue lists the game in the release calendar (5800 yen) and announces an official guidebook from the Dengeki strategy line (date in OCR unclear).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org archived · archive.org
Multi-page launch feature giving basic knowledge for play: exploring the network, opening files tied to Lain, the cylinder-shaped data layout, plus an editor aside praising the anime.
Sources: archive.org
Final published Layers installment, layer:00 Program. Two scanned pages. Six further Layers were never run in AX but were collected, with all 15, in the Omnipresence artbook.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived
lain is one of the series in the issue's final-episode special (a page retelling Layer 13 scenes with Alice and Lain), and appears in the reader popularity ranking and in video and LD release listings.
Sources: archive.org
Japanese computer graphics magazine article on lain's digital production; the cover and the article PDF are on Lawrence Eng's site, and an OCR scan of the article is on archive.org.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · archive.org
Literary and art journal special on ABe covering lain, Haibane Renmei and Ryushika Ryushika, with an ABe and Kazuma Shinjo dialogue and essays including one on lain, 1998 anime and the internet.
Sources: seidosha.co.jp archived · amazon.co.jp archived
Web press report on the Blu-ray Box RESTORE launch event in Ikebukuro with Ueda, ABe, Konaka and restoration staff.
Sources: gigazine.net · gigazine.net · lain.wiki archived
Ueda, ABe and Konaka replay the PlayStation game for the 20th anniversary and recall development, a CESA certification dispute over gore, and the magazine that declined to score it.
Sources: 4gamer.net archived
Anniversary special with new ABe cover art: Ueda and ABe dialogue, a guide to all 13 episodes, coverage of the PlayStation game, an essay, and reports on the VRChat exhibition and merchandise.
Sources: ohtabookstand.com archived · kai-you.net archived · natalie.mu archived
News on the release delay of the officially approved derivative game //signal.
Sources: famitsu.com archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
Reviews and features abroad, then and now.
Review of the rare promotional DVD, linked from Lawrence Eng's sneak.01 page.
Sources: animeondvd.com archived · lawmune.net archived
Contemporary online review cited in Wikipedia's reception section.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
Review of the four US DVDs, cited in Wikipedia.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
Long-running fan review site's entry for the series (original review by Jason Bustard, per the 2002 archived copy; date not stated on the page).
Sources: themanime.org archived
Early UK news item naming Chiaki Konaka as already writing lain and Bubblegum Crisis 2040.
Sources: archive.org
Retail newsletter highlighting the first US volume of lain as the staff pick of the month; later 1999 issues list further volumes and lain T-shirts.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org · archive.org
Contemporary DVD review of the first US volume, cited in Wikipedia's reception section.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
Four-page article on lain in the UK anime and manga magazine.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived
Cover feature with interviews with producer Yasuyuki Ueda, writer Chiaki J. Konaka and director Ryutaro Nakamura (cited by Wikipedia around pp.28-29), including Ueda's remarks framing the show against American cultural values. Cover plus six interior pages scanned.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived · lain.wiki archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
Online magazine follow-up review cited by Wikipedia.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
News item reporting that a rumour of a lain sequel, spread by a US Sci-Fi Channel news feed, had been denied.
Sources: archive.org
lain appears in an editorial best-of list (praised as rewarding close attention) and ties for a place in a reader poll; also lunchbox set listings.
Sources: archive.org
Convention report notes ABe declining to explain the series' meaning and a panelist naming lain as the show that confused her most; the Abe boxed set also appears in listings.
Sources: archive.org
Online review cited by Wikipedia.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
English import review of the PlayStation game praising visuals but faulting interface, dialogue, music and load times.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
Review of the DVD box set, cited in Wikipedia's reception section.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org archived
Retrospective column recommending the series.
Sources: archived page · en.wikipedia.org archived
Column discussing lain among post-Evangelion psychological anime.
Sources: animenewsnetwork.com archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
Mainstream 20th anniversary retrospective on how the show anticipated online life.
Sources: theringer.com archived
Anniversary-era retrospective essay.
Sources: otakuusamagazine.com archived
Mainstream film site retrospective.
Sources: slashfilm.com archived
News on the fan browser port of the game.
Sources: otaquest.com archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
Student newspaper review of the game via the browser port (Wikipedia dates it 2021-03-29; the site metadata says 2021-11-03).
Sources: michigandaily.com archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
Modern review of the PlayStation game, 3 out of 5.
Sources: grimoireofhorror.com archived · en.wikipedia.org archived
News on the collector value of a sealed copy of the PlayStation game.
Sources: automaton-media.com archived
Recent retrospective essay.
Sources: reactormag.com archived
Ads, posters, covers and the like.
Poster promoting the video release.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Posters for the soundtrack CDs (images via Distortion Gallery).
Sources: lawmune.net archived
At least seven lain telephone cards are recorded, shown in group photos.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Hooded top offered in an LD and game mail-back campaign (six photos).
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Card given by drawing at Pioneer Animation's 10th anniversary festival event.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Smaller giveaways recorded on the merchandise list; tachibana.blog notes a raffle clear CD case.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived
Store poster for the game; image on the merchandise list.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Poster promoting the TV broadcast (small image).
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Poster given away with an issue of AX (issue not identified).
Sources: lawmune.net archived
A telephone card and a trading card bundled with AX (issues not identified).
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Not-for-sale Japanese promo tapes recorded by both merchandise lists.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived
Four-minute not-for-sale promo disc of three music-video style clips with 13th floor elevator mixes in Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese and US back covers differ; later included in the Resurrection box.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived
Dengeki PlayStation D7 reported that a game commercial had been airing on TV since March 1998 and carried it on its CD; two short commercial clips are downloadable from Lawrence Eng's PSX page.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · archive.org
Fan club newsletter issues featuring lain alongside other Pioneer titles (No.57 opens with a lain synopsis).
Sources: archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org
Weather-themed ABe end-card illustrations shown before TV Tokyo's weather slot, later printed in Omnipresence and Visual Experiments Lain. No separate Weather Break promotional merchandise was found.
Two-disc Japan-only release priced 5800 yen. High-resolution scans (1200 dpi box and disc, 600 dpi manual) are on archive.org; smaller box front, back and inner images are on Lawrence Eng's merchandise page.
Sources: archive.org · lawmune.net archived · lawmune.net archived · mediaarts-db.artmuseums.go.jp archived
Telephone card offered to owners of the PlayStation game through a mail-back campaign; tachibana.blog also lists a game raffle telephone card.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived
Postcard-like bonus cards believed to have shipped with first pressings of the LDs (four images).
Sources: lawmune.net archived
LD covers on the merchandise list; lif.03 came with a memorial box. Separate LD cover scans are on archive.org.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · archive.org · archive.org
Retail VHS covers (MSRPs 5500 and 6800 yen per tachibana.blog).
Sources: lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived
Cardboard box with the LPR-309 DVD, a dubbed layer:01 VHS and a sales sheet (front and back scanned).
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lawmune.net archived
Four volumes (NAVI, KNIGHTS, DEUS, RESET); first releases came with one sticker sheet each. Full 800 dpi scans of the NAVI DVD are on archive.org and tachibana.blog.
Sources: archive.org · lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived · tachibana.blog archived
Commemorative items for the 1998 (2nd) Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · j-mediaarts-festival.bunka.go.jp archived
US home video catalogs with lain synopsis and release notes.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org
Four DVDs in a metal lunchbox with a limited Boa CD, announced in Pioneer's Nov-Dec 2000 catalog at 119.98 USD.
Sources: archive.org · tachibana.blog archived · lawmune.net archived
Japanese DVD box including lif.01 to lif.05, LPR-309 and a not-for-sale telephone card; full scans on archive.org and tachibana.blog.
Sources: archive.org · lawmune.net archived · tachibana.blog archived
Scanned booklets from the Italian DVD release.
_Serial_Experiments_Lain_Lif01_DVD_Brochure_02.jpg)
_Serial_Experiments_Lain_Lif01_DVD_Brochure_03.jpg)
_Serial_Experiments_Lain_Lif01_DVD_Brochure_04.jpg)
_Serial_Experiments_Lain_Lif01_DVD_Brochure_01.jpg)
Sources: archive.org · archive.org
Scans of box, booklets, illustration and flyer plus bonus DVD content.
Sources: archive.org
Collections that hold scans of the material above.
Gallery of magazine scans credited to Lawmune: AX (Apr, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec 1998), B Magazine (Jul 1998), HK interview excerpt, Benkyo! (Mar 1999, Italian), Manga Max (Sep 1999), Animerica (Oct 1999), WinGraphic (1999), Kawaii (May 2000 and #33, Polish), New Secret Service #78 (Polish), Lainzines 1 to 5. Full-resolution files on each File page.
Original source of most magazine scans above, with large JPEGs, the WinGraphic article PDF and context notes. The old cjas.org address now redirects to an unrelated club page; the lawmune.net copy is live.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lawmune.net archived
Images of LDs, VHS, DVDs, PlayStation box, posters, telephone cards, AX gifts, mail-in items and other promos.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Game facts, screenshots, two TV commercial clips and a translated fan review.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Scans of the LPR-309 promo DVD and the US promo kit sales sheet.
Sources: lawmune.net archived
Konaka's page for the long interview HK ran in its lain feature, with Japanese original and English translation (lain.wiki dates the interview to winter 1999).
Sources: konaka.com archived · konaka.com archived · konaka.com archived
800 dpi galleries of the Resurrection box (PIBA-1169), US NAVI DVD and the 2014 US BD/DVD set.
![[PIBA-1169] Serial Experiments Lain Resurrection DVD Set (Japan)](/mirror/tachibana-blog-archival-scans/img026.jpg)
![[PIBA-1169] Serial Experiments Lain Resurrection DVD Set (Japan)](/mirror/tachibana-blog-archival-scans/img027.jpg)
![[PIBA-1169] Serial Experiments Lain Resurrection DVD Set (Japan)](/mirror/tachibana-blog-archival-scans/img028.jpg)
Sources: tachibana.blog archived · tachibana.blog archived
Catalogue of releases and not-for-sale promos with catalog numbers and prices.
Sources: tachibana.blog archived
Full scanned issues with OCR; the lain pages are linked per issue in the japanese list.
Sources: archive.org
Full issue scan with OCR.
Sources: archive.org
OCR scan of the article only.
Sources: archive.org
1200 dpi box and discs, 600 dpi manual, PNG and JPEG.
Sources: archive.org
Jacket scans of the Japanese LDs.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org
Mirror of the tachibana.blog scans.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org
Pioneer Animation Club newsletters with lain content.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org
Indonesian anime magazine with a lain cover story and multi-page feature.
Sources: archive.org
Manga Max No.1 and No.20, Animerica Dec 2000, Protoculture Addicts #67, Right Stuf MangaStuf 1999, Pioneer and Bandai catalogs (see english and promo lists for page links).
Sources: archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org
Packaging and booklet scans of European releases.
Sources: archive.org · archive.org
Ten-image photo post of an AX issue's lain pages with ABe art; which issue is not stated.
Sources: tumblr.com archived
Benkyo! #3 (Italy, March 1999), Kawaii (Poland, May 2000, partly sourced from Eng's site, and #33), New Secret Service #78 (Poland), HK excerpt (France). Scans on both pages.
Sources: lawmune.net archived · lain.wiki archived
