Is Lain betther than Eva? [Archive] - Animeboards.com Forums

Drizzten

29-04-2001, 12:50 AM

This is a tough question. If I had nothing to do for a whole day and someone gave me the choice of watching Eva from start to finish and Lain from start to finish I'd pick:

Lain, if I was semi-depressed, troubled by something during the day, not in an active mood, and/or just plain 'down'.

Eva, if I was in the mood for more action, if I was having a better than average day, on a full stomach (I dunno why this came to me...?), and/or in upbeat frame of mind.

heart havok

29-04-2001, 05:15 AM

Serial Experiments Lain... without a doubt.

because i could relate to it more intensly and on a more significant level.

hyuga12

29-04-2001, 10:40 PM

Eva, if I was in the mood for more action, if I was having a better than average day, on a full stomach (I dunno why this came to me...?), and/or in upbeat frame of mind.

Uh... isn't eva also a depreessing story? than why would you need to be in a upbeat frame of mind?

so far... i still like eva better... but, i've only watched up to the 6th episode of lain...which i'm loving right now... too early to tell. can't we just say they are both pieces of art? (unlike a certain 'other' anime i know...)

Drizzten

30-04-2001, 01:53 AM

Eva's depressing if you let it get to you. The (TV) ending is one of the most uplifting I've ever seen in any entertainment...

I think the calmer ending to lain is more downbeat.

heart havok

30-04-2001, 05:38 AM

Originally posted by hyuga12
Uh... isn't eva also a depreessing story? than why would you need to be in a upbeat frame of mind?

so far... i still like eva better... but, i've only watched up to the 6th episode of lain...which i'm loving right now... too early to tell.

i don't find either to be depressing, i can't watch Eva without watching EoE after it though, because i can't stand ending with the cheerful ending of 26.. blegh.

Originally posted by hyuga12
can't we just say they are both pieces of art? (unlike a certain 'other' anime i know...)

unlike "a" certain other??? i could list atleast 25 off the top of my head.

Arrrrgh

07-05-2001, 08:09 AM

25? I could list one hundred.

I have to say that I prefer Lain over Evangelion. I don't really like Evangelion much. The plot is rather weak, especially with the bad Jungian Western religious ideas Anno feebly tries to add. Not to say that Ryutaro Nakamura didn't add some wonky Jungian concepts in Lain, but they played out much better. I think the best thing about Evangelion is the characters, and it tends to get a bit questionable otherwise. Lain is all around good, but the one viable complaint I can understand involves the fact that it is BORING compared to some others. One of the most inane complaints about the Lain series that I heard was "I DON'T LIKE LAIN SHE IS LIKE A REI WITH A COMPUTER HA HA HA". That made me laugh.

Oh, and Bebop is better than both.

Ghaleon

07-05-2001, 01:27 PM

how can you compare the two? One is head screw with action, the other is just head screw. I mean its like comparing DBZ to card captors. Its two different types of anime.

I like both, liking one more is a personal favorite choice, but you can't compare them

Chikiboo

07-05-2001, 10:34 PM

Well I think Lain is a sadder than Eva ... but they are both excellent !! Lain more realistic and near from our reality that's why Lain is so good ...
And Eva is is also full of incredible theoryies and all the emotinal part is more important (I didn't say that in Lain it wasn't important !!!)

Anyway I cannot say that Lain or Eva is my favorite ...

Lain is for sad day of reflection about our present world
And Eva for days when you to shed a tear ... it's so touching!!! :bawling:

Drizzten

07-05-2001, 11:19 PM

Welcome to Animeboards Chikiboo. :wavey:
Nice sig...;)

Nikosamma

08-05-2001, 06:03 PM

lain if you what it speaks for itself in its greatness

Killjoy

09-05-2001, 12:07 AM

Welcome aboard, Nikosamma. Excuse me while I try to make sense of what you just wrote ;)

I think Eva is better because it's more accessible while remaining extremely deep--though I don't deny that Lain is both incredibly deep and amazingly artistic. I just found Lain a little too trippy at times; all too often the first few times I saw it I found myself wondering, "what the devil's going on?" It was like watching 13 episodes of EoE: thinking, "this is the coolest thing EVER," and "my god my brain's going to explode" at the same time.

So I guess I give Eva the nod over Lain, and Cowboy Bebop (though that's unrelated), but still acknowledge Lain's coolness and greatness and so on.

Ghaleon

09-05-2001, 08:07 AM

I liked the fact that Lain took your brain and violated it, leaving you no clue until Episode 13. Its more of an adult anime in a world overun with MagicKnights and Sailor Moons.

Personally I think Lain is one of the best I have ever watched, although its very hard to watch sometimes. Alot of times you sit on the couch and just go *what the hell?* Its worth it though at the end.

Then you can sit here and have conversations like this where you talk about what really happened and why.

Yumiko

09-05-2001, 09:03 AM

Eva, it makes sense until the very end.

lain, its a mindfuck from the beginning.

so i would have to say Eva cuz i'm a very stupid person and lain requires me to think too much ;)

merchandise-wise though, lain has cool stuff. the teddybear pajamas are so cute.

Ghaleon

09-05-2001, 09:49 AM

I agree that a person who didn't like to think would not like Lain

Sometimes you need a mindscrew like Lain, then you can just watch something uselessly silly like Those Who Hunt Elves

KEEL

19-05-2001, 09:42 PM

Their depth makes them both equally great when compared to most other ego driven anime.

To me, eva is about the heart of the people, whereas Lain is about the minds of the people.

cloakactive

19-05-2001, 09:48 PM

Apples and Oranges. Lain and Eva are two differnt thigns. Personally i like Lain b/c its a total mind trip from the jump and its got all sorts of little techie things that just get popped in there. :D Whats not to love about Lain herself as well?

~~ Don't worry Rei... i still love you too... and Bell, and Shiho, and Naru.......... etc...... :heh: ~~

Drizzten

19-05-2001, 10:05 PM

Originally posted by KEEL
To me, eva is about the heart of the people, whereas Lain is about the minds of the people.
Well-said. :up:

PyroSamurai ZERO

29-06-2001, 11:12 PM

I'm gonna have to say Lain is better only because I haven't seen all that much of Eva.

iwakura

01-07-2001, 01:05 AM

Here's my personal experience why I must say Lain is better:

Not too long ago, I was window shopping in Harvard Square. There was this purple-brown wall scroll that I immediately "connected" with. I didn't know what it was, but I had to get it. (I had never bought a wallscroll before)

I hung the wall scroll at work. Most people don't get it at all. Occassionally, I notice someone "connecting with it". Some people ask questions about it.

Surfing the net, I got an idea what Lain was and ordered all the DVDs from Amazon.com (I had never bought an anime title before). Then I picked up a DVD player to watch it on.

It's a true work of visual art. Just watching the images, with no sound, is an experience. It achieves a balance between surrealism and expressionism. (see http://homepages.moeller.org/gstanforth/new_page_50.htm for style definitions) The story is intentionally sparse, so everyone will have a unique interpretation of what it means. It's like an equation with multiple solutions. Plus, pieces of the story are metaphores for trends in today's society.

I also like Eva, but I never would have watched Eva if I hadn't seen that wall scroll...

eva7

09-07-2001, 03:05 PM

I really can`t say witch one i like better. they both have their strong points and their weak points

I like the characters for each one and they both have amazing plots.

But in my opintion the two series are very much alike. maybe not plot wise, but the characters all have problems that are very much alike. they all have questions about who they are.

they are also both very intervative shows. alot of the events that happen in these 2 anime are based on your own interpretation.

So it`s all a matter of opintion.

Magnus9

10-07-2001, 07:37 AM

Watch both!! Just not in the same night. *shudders*

Lain was an awesome anime with an uplifting ending(I thought!)

EVA is right up there as one of the best animes and a very uplifting ending for the TV. The EoE ending is also very good.(so I like dark anime)

Lain is a thinkers anime though and you ahve to be able to watch a show that rewuires you to think and isnt just a shitload of action.

EVA is just as much a thinkers anime as LAIN but it has some action in it that gives you a break from time to time.

I loved both of them and think you should watch both but if I had to choose I would definately choose EVA with the End of Evangelion ending although(spoiler)

nothing was as cool as seeing REI with emotions and actually acting like a real 14 yr old girl :D she was really cute in ep 25!!

But then again this is all just my stupid opinion!!

gaurdian angel

11-07-2001, 04:35 AM

I'm a MSTer of animes and I've seen some that just make me want to hurl over the fact that people actually try to copy those episodes.

But, I wouldn't suggest either. I watched both at around the same time and I haven't recovered. If you want to watch one watch them about 6 months apart. But anyway, Eva, since I can already tell that most people like violence these days.

Sheex, The Dark Stalker

28-07-2001, 10:35 PM

This is a hard one... I can't decide which one will take second place for my all time fave anime. (Escaflowne is number one). Eva shines with those bizarre physch scenes, but then Lain comes along and slaughters Eva in that department. Eva does have better music (most of the music in lain sucked imo) and is longer, but thats about all it has going for it.

StarDruid

29-07-2001, 12:16 AM

I say Lain. I love it. I've actual only seen 1-4 (got all of them now, but haven't had the time yet to finish them) but i was hocked after them. I love all the tech stuff and every thing else in it too. Also as a cyberjunky it had a special mean to me.

With Eva I just couldn't get to like it. I can't rember how many eps i watched, it was about 6 month ago but I just didn't like it. Don't know why.

Some say Eva and Lain are depressing, but I don't think so. Everyone else if different I guess. Course I don't get depressed easy, bored out of my mind, yes, most of the day, but not depressed.

Sheex, The Dark Stalker

29-07-2001, 10:54 AM

The depressing parts of Eva and Lain both come later in the series :p

Gildin

05-08-2001, 11:51 PM

Lain ------ me up, and I haven't even finished it.

The TV ending to Eva made me happy for a week.

Either way, I like both series about equally; as its hard to compare the two.

Kaji01

06-08-2001, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by Gildin
Lain ------ me up, and I haven't even finished it.

The TV ending to Eva made me happy for a week.

Either way, I like both series about equally; as its hard to compare the two.

Heh...Watch End of Eva...Its very depressing...
and finish Lain if u have a chance too.

Gildin

07-08-2001, 03:58 PM

Actually, I did see EoE, but it made me so sad that I refuse to think about it. ^^;

DrkZealot

07-08-2001, 08:56 PM

Well I can't decide, mostly because I've only seen (I think) the first two tapes of Lain(not sure what episode it is). But I have to say with Lain; as of right now I am thoroughly screwed up. Things happen and people end up in the middle of the street for no reason, and I love that ^_^ (haven't seen it in like 2 months so I may be mistaken) I really need to see the rest of the series so I wont be sitting here thinking "ok what the fu** is this even about". I love those series that leave you in the dark 'till like the last few episodes and you're like "OMG THAT'S SO AWSOME". I'm sure that's what Lains like, and if it is.... looks like Eva's going to be knocked of it's #1 spot for me.

Dreamerless

07-08-2001, 09:05 PM

I think Lain is more "mature" than EVA, no ofense.
Both series are really good.
I prefeer LAIN, but I don't think that's better than EVA. They are both excellent series.

MDWigs

08-08-2001, 08:55 AM

I saw Eva first, there were years between when I first saw Eva and when I first saw Lain. When I watched Lain I couldn't help but see the similarities between it and Eva. The analysis of the "self", Lain asking "What am I", the artificial evolution of man onto the next step, all themes and issues I had seen dealt with before in Eva.

I preferred the context Lain used to discuss these idea over that of Eva. I am a Software Engineer; I got all the obscure IT references, the C code, the BEos stuff, that is what I am into, so I thought that was very cool. However I think overall Lain lost track of the main point it was trying to make. Where Eva had symbolism and references too numerous to count, these things blended seamlessly into Eva. In Lain it was different, a lot of it seemed forced, to give the impression of depth. Don't get me wrong, I loved Lain, I rank it up there with my favourites, but compared to Eva I think it came up lacking.

Panzer

13-08-2001, 02:27 AM

Me after watching lain (i skipped the second dvd) confused:
whoa... that was cool even though i don't get it
Me after watching all of eva: :bawling: :bawling: :bawling: :bawling: :bawling:
man that was awesome.....
conclusion: they're both really good!

Tony

20-08-2001, 03:16 PM

i never really watched lain, but i'd like to.
can someone sum up the story for me? i'd like opinions on this series before i start renting. :D

~~*UrArA-cHaN*~~

22-08-2001, 01:28 AM

i like them both, i dont know if i could deside. probably eva just because it has more sentamntal value, dont ask how but it does....

wellreded

16-09-2001, 10:51 AM

I haven't seen the last DVD of Lain.:bawling: But I really liked it a lot. I've seen the EVA series and EOE itself a couple of times. They're so different. It's hard to say which is best. I like both for different reasons, but the more I hear of EVA the less I feel for it. Lain was confusing too. When I get the last DVD I'll have to watch the whole series again, there's just so much to it.

Israfel

17-09-2001, 05:46 PM

Well, I would have to say Lain... Nothing against Evangelion but I just got into it a bit more... Although this is grading on what I like so I am not comparing them against each other ;)

wellreded

30-09-2001, 05:40 AM

I finished watching Lain this week with the last DVD. It makes more sense now, especially with some of the sister theories. As for which is better, Lain or EVA, I think they're too different to compare. It's like asking, which is better Pokemon or Trigun?

John Faulkner

19-10-2001, 07:54 AM

Well in a word :eva.
Reasons: better animation,more of a plot,characters you can relate to,portrays human emotions better,less static screens with someone talking philosophy/historical facts,better music and sound effects.

Yes,Heart Havoc I know you'll be mad at what I said,but that is just my opinion,I'm not saying Lain is a bad anime-it isn't,but I prefer eva.Incidentally episode 26 of eva is a calm reflective ending I thought,where Shinji finally grasps a reason to exist-even in his dire situation-I actually found this 'comforting' happiness,which I can stand.

(i don't find either to be depressing, i can't watch Eva without watching EoE after it though, because i can't stand ending with the cheerful ending of 26.. bleg by Heart Havoc).

John Faulkner

19-10-2001, 07:59 AM

I meant happiness 'comforting'

heart havok

19-10-2001, 08:48 AM

i don't know about better animation... they are two completely opposites sides of style. Lain is definitely top quality, but a much darker.. while Eva too is top quality. both flow well, both colourul when they need to be, both express their moods well. that's a tie for me ^_~

more of a plot... i felt Lain had more of a plot. but that's just for me. granted, everyone's going to get different things out of different series. more conflict doesn't necessarily mean more plot though. in Eva, there's much more conflicting sides and oppositions than there are in Lain. but if you take Eva apart enough, you can break it down to the simple 1 villian per episode tradition.. {of course not the entire way thru, but that's irrelivant} don't get me wrong, Eva is AMAZING as well... i just find it much easier to break up... and i find its plot to be much thinner than that of Lain's.

characters you can relate to... i related to Lain alone more than i related to the characters of Eva. again, that goes for who you are personally. for me, i just felt so much inside of myself that Lain goes thru in the series... Lain is much more personal for me.

portrays human motions better... hmmm... i can't say i've compared the two at this level before... in Eva you've got alot of screaming and dialogue, which is done well.... but meanwhile, in Lain, you have some single scenes that last only a minute or so onscreen but they get the idea across as well as stick in your yead. sometimes it's what's short and sweet that sticks best.

less static screens with someone talking philosophy/historical facts... those are my favourite parts ^_~ especially static screens... they get me excited. lol

better music and sound effects.... i definitely like Lain's music better... and for Sound Effects, i prefer the use of silence in Lain. of course, that wouldn't work for Eva, because you've gotta' have great lound noises with those Evas leaping around!

but yeah... when speaking seriously, they are too different to really compare in my opinion. but for the sake of choosing and with personal tastes and opinions... Lain is definitely the better in my opinion.

adieu.

Ishan

14-12-2001, 05:59 AM

This has to be the most mature and thoughtful comparison between two animes I've ever seen. Maybe that's because every other thread like this that I've seen has degenerated into whatever-bashing and trolling, but still...wowie...

John Faulkner

14-12-2001, 10:56 AM

A sight for sore eyes eh Ishan?And just when you had given up hope of finding a constructive comparison.

iwakura

14-12-2001, 06:38 PM

Lain is an artsy thinking persons anime.

Think that acts as a filter to weed out the stupid impolite types :lol:

Becasue, if you are reading this, you earlier selected the Lain thread which was the filter mechanism...

Drizzten

15-12-2001, 04:59 AM

Yes, it's one of the advantages of modding this forum. :)

I have yet to purchase any of the NGE DVDs, but I want to start soon. I'll finally be able to watch them back-to-back and write a better comparision.

In the end, I prefer the "technology/interaction of society and the Self" arch of Lain over the "Self's relationship with other Selves" arch of NGE. I found NGE more entertaining, while I found Lain more interesting. They both raised significant questions within me that I enjoyed trying to answer. I found both to have their drab and depressing moments...and they also had their uplifting scenes. The raw style of Lain beats the realism of NGE slightly. But I'll gladly watch both at any time.

Wormy

16-12-2001, 06:13 AM

I have noted a lot of people saying that Eva was easyier to understand than Lain. If that is so how come I still don't get Eva's ending(TV) while I am quite happy with my understtanding of Lain. I have to say I prefer Lain over Eva, any day of the week.

But you are right in saying that Lain is a thinking persons anime. You definatly don't watch it for the action scenes.

Griffith

16-12-2001, 04:56 PM

I certainly agree with many of the points mentioned earlier. But for me, I tend to enjoy anime based on its intellectual merits, that being said, I would chose Lain over EVA...altho both are respective giants in the field of philosophical anime.

MP2100

17-12-2001, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by Wormy
But you are right in saying that Lain is a thinking persons anime. You definatly don't watch it for the action scenes.

i'd agree. i've only seen the first 2 DVD's 7 eps, and with none of the "action" of EVA i still can't wait to get the rest ASAP :cool:

the build-up of intrigue and unanswered questions suck you in even further.

being one of my first non-action animes, it's giving me another dimension to this film art-form, but as usual try explaining it to non-animes friends :burnup:

EVA goes in other directions of the human dilemma though they share themes of evolution, lain as far as i've seen thinks it though (ie kills no giant angels :lol: )

i can see it coming one of my favorite amines ;)