#Serial Experiments Lain VR Exhibition Returns from November 29 to January 19

Weird Exhibition: Welcome to the Wired, the VR exhibition for the 1998 anime Serial Experiments Lain, has opened its virtual doors again. Those interested can access it through the free-to-play platform VRChat on PC, Meta Quest, or Android devices from November 29, 5PM JST to January 19, 11:59 PM JST (a VR headset is not required).

Along with the exhibition, organizer Anique and NBCUniversal Japan are releasing a number of “limited-edition collectibles,” which will be available through GONKBONK in the US. These can be pre-ordered online (from November 29 to January 19) or at the SF Fan Expo’s booth #700 (from November 29 to December 1). The collectibles include:

• Serial Experiments Lain Replica Cel Art, limited to 10 pieces (US$525) 
• Serial Experiments Lain Laminated Artwork, described as a “Three-dimensional scene recreation.” (US$150) —  
• Serial Experiments Lain CD display block, with digital soundtrack download included (US$35) 
• Serial Experiments Lain KV t-shirt, with new artwork by original character designer Yoshitoshi Abe (US$30) 
• Serial Experiments Lain trading mini acrylic blocks (seven designs) ($US12) 

All items are listed as “available for pre-order” in the press release, while the t-shirt is also “available at Fan Expo.” Pre-orders are expected to be fulfilled in spring 2025.

Weird Exhibition: Welcome to the Wired had its first official opening in June of this year, with new exhibits being added in July. Anique, which counts the development of “digital collectibles using blockchain technology” among its undertakings, previously teamed up with Kasagi for the Serial Experiments Lain alternate reality game Layer 3301: De-Cipher. It also hosted an AI “interactive service” called AI lain from September 2023 to March 2024, which was meant to allow users to have “video calls with Lain, where she will respond with her ‘real voice.’‍”

Serial Experiments Lain is a surreal science fiction TV anime directed by Ryutarou Nakamura (Kino’s Journey 2003, Ghost Hound) at TRIANGLE STAFF with Takahiro Kishida (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Haikyu!!) as character designer and Chiaki Konaka (Digimon Tamers, Ghost Hound) as series composer. Crunchyroll describes the series as:

Acclaimed artist Yoshitoshi Abe (Haibane Renmei, Texhnolyze) brings to life the existential classic that paved the way for blockbuster films such as The Matrix.  Follow along as fourteen year old Lain—driven by the abrupt suicide of a classmate—logs on to the Wired and promptly looses herself in a twisted mass of hallucinations, memories, and interconnected-psyches.

Source: Press release