Review of Den-noh Coil

I am willing to bet that most people have never heard of Dennou Coil, because it flew completely under the radar. A lot of really popular anime premiered or were airing in 2007, among them the popular noodle fest Code Geass, quirky Gurren Lagan, and engaging Baccano, and as a result this show did not receive the recognition that it truly deserves. Dennou Coil is basically what you would get if you crossed a heady tech anime like Ghost in the Shell or even more comparably Serial Experiments Lain with something contemplative and mellow like Mushishi, another beautiful anime story thatshares a lot of similarities in tone with Dennou Coil.

Dennou Coil is a critical examination of the increasingly central role that the Internet plays in our lives as young people of the 21st century. In particular this is an examination of the Internet with a capital “I”, that is of the internet as an entity instead of simply a tool for human use. Told through the eyes of several children, all of whom are avid users of special glasses that let them visualize the Internet all around them at all times, DC asks what happens when the things that we experience online start to become more real to us than what is happening in the physical world that we actually inhabit. Ethical and societal questions like the sanctity of the life of artificial intelligences, the use of controversial technology in medical therapy, the way that reality both shapes and is shaped by urban legends, and the positive and negative effects of the proliferation of the Internet are examined through the eyes of children who are simultaneously incredibly naive and on the cutting edge of brand new and exciting discoveries.

Yasako and Isako, the two leads, are two young girls who act as foils to each other while at the same time struggling with a lot of the same issues. The trusting and generally cheerful Yasako struggles with strange and confusing memories and with the challenge of interacting with unexplained and unsought phenomena, while the brooding and isolated Isako forces her way ahead into unknown and potentially dangerous territory with a complete lack of regard for her own safety, for reasons which only become apparent as her story takes shape. Both girls, however, are more intimately connected with the secrets of the Internet and the Glasses than they know, and they mystery that they delve into begins to sweep them away with it as the stakes grow higher and higher. Their friends and families, each with their own relationships to the Internet and the Glasses, begin to fear for Yasako and Isako as they sink deeper into a strange world from which they might not be able to return in one piece.

What starts off as a charming and childlike monster of the week show gradually evolves into a many layered mystery that somehow manages to be both relaxing and tense at the same time, if that were possible. The pacing can definitely be slow at times, but it is in the service of a gradual and masterfully executed buildup that culminates in a nearly flawless climax. The characters are all realistic both in personality and looks, and is one of the few anime to actually depict Asian children with realistic proportions, hairstyles and coloring, albeit still with the inevitable anime eyes. The lack of mintberry crunch hair and non-stop action may make Dennou Coil seem boring to some at first; but if you sit back and let the show tell you its story you will soon become engrossed in a world that is really very much like our own. Masterful atmosphere, soundtrack, character arcs, and storytelling make Dennou Coil a must watch for any fans of Mystery or SciFi who want to see what the best of both genres has to offer. Dennou Coil was never dubbed, so subs are the default choice. The voice acting is a high point of the show, so this is more of an asset than a detriment to the viewing experience regardless of your option on sub vs dub.