Paranoia Agent

{{See also|List of Paranoia Agent characters}}

Tsukiko Sagi, a shy character designer who created the immensely popular pink dog Maromi, finds herself under pressure to repeat her success. As she walks home one night, she is attacked by an elementary school boy on inline skates. Two police detectives, Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa, are assigned to the case. They suspect that Tsukiko is lying about the attack, until they receive word of a second victim.

Soon the attacker, dubbed Lil' Slugger (Shōnen Batto in Japanese, meaning "Bat Boy"), is blamed for a series of street assaults in Tokyo. None of the victims can recall the boy's face and only three distinct details are left in their memories: golden inline skates, a baseball cap, and the weapon: a bent golden baseball bat. Ikari and Maniwa set out to track down the perpetrator and put an end to his crimes.

Many of the characters in Paranoia Agent are often referred to with animal names, especially in each "Prophetic Vision" (a segment at the end of each episode that previews the next) and the episode "The Holy Warrior," in which some characters are depicted as animal-like creatures. In many cases, their Japanese names translate directly to the type of animal which they are referred to as: "sagi" means heron, "kawazu" is an archaic term for frog, "ushi" means cow, "tai" means sea bream or red snapper, "chō" means butterfly (chō-cho can also mean butterfly, possibly alluding to her split personality), and "hiru" means leech. "Kamome" means seagull.The following Japanese words are from Jim Breen's JMDict. Alternative references are listed here.

• {{nihongo|Heron|鷺|sagi}}
• {{nihongo|Frog|蛙|kawazu / kaeru}} [http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=kawazu&I=on&IK=on RUT.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004643/http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=kawazu&I=on&IK=on |date=September 27, 2007 }}
• {{nihongo|Cow|牛|ushi}} [http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=ushi&I=on&IK=on RUT.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004527/http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=ushi&I=on&IK=on |date=September 27, 2007 }}
• {{nihongo|Sea bream / (red) snapper|鯛|tai}}
• {{nihongo|Butterfly|蝶|chō}} [http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=cho&I=on&IK=on Rut.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004541/http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=cho&I=on&IK=on |date=September 27, 2007 }}
• {{nihongo|Butterfly|蝶々|chōchō}} [http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=cho-cho&I=on&IK=on RUT.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004631/http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=cho-cho&I=on&IK=on |date=September 27, 2007 }}
• {{nihongo|Seagull|鴎|kamome}}[http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/inline/dosearch?sDict=on&H=PS&L=J&T=Kamome&WC=none&FG=r&BG=b&S=26&I=on RUT.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190037/http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/inline/dosearch?sDict=on&H=PS&L=J&T=Kamome&WC=none&FG=r&BG=b&S=26&I=on |date=August 13, 2024 }}
• {{nihongo|Leech|蛭|hiru}} [http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=hiru&I=on&IK=on RUT.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190146/http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?L=J&T=hiru&I=on&IK=on |date=August 13, 2024 }}

During the makings of his previous three films (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, and Tokyo Godfathers), Paranoia Agent creator Satoshi Kon was left with an abundance of unused ideas for stories and arrangements that he felt were good but did not fit into any of his projects. Not wanting to waste the material, he decided to recycle it into a dynamic TV series in which his experimental ideas could be used.

In the case of a film to be shown at theatres, I'm working for two years and a half, always in the same mood and with the same method. I wanted to do something that allows me to be more flexible, to realize instantly what flashes across my mind. I was also aiming at a sort of entertaining variation, so I decided to go for a TV series.{{cite web|year=2004|title=Satoshi Kon - Winner's Interview|url=http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/backnumber/winners_i/p22/kon.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051211185440/http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/backnumber/winners_i/p22/kon.html|archive-date=2005-12-11|access-date=2006-06-26|work=Japan Media Arts Festival Awardees' Profile|publisher=Japan Media Arts Plaza}}

{{main|List of Paranoia Agent episodes{{!}}List of Paranoia Agent episodes}}

The series aired on Japan's Wowow from February 3 to May 18, 2004.{{cite web|script-title=ja:妄想代理人|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C10728|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=July 30, 2021|language=ja|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730121026/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C10728|url-status=live}} Geneon Entertainment licensed the anime in North America and released the series on four DVDs from October 26, 2004, and May 10, 2005. A UMD version of Volume 1 was made available on October 10, 2005. Madman Entertainment released the series in Australia.{{cite web|title=Paranoia Agent Official Website|url=http://madman.com.au/paranoiaagent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719182030/http://madman.com.au/paranoiaagent|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-07-19|publisher=Madman Entertainment|access-date=April 5, 2021}}

An English dub began airing in the U.S. on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on May 29, 2005, followed by an encore airing that began on June 6, 2006.{{cite web|last=Mcdonald|first=Christopher|date=March 25, 2005|title=Upcoming Adult Swim Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-03-25/upcoming-adult-swim-anime|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212013453/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-03-25/upcoming-adult-swim-anime|archive-date=12 February 2007|access-date=June 1, 2020|website=Anime News Network}} In Canada, it began a run on digital channel G4TechTV's Anime Current programming block on July 27, 2007.{{cite web|date=25 June 2007|title=G4techTV Canada continues exclusive anime programming with six new concurrent series - More anime content offered than ever before!|url=http://www.g4techtv.ca/aboutus/press/p_20070625_release.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911230931/http://www.g4techtv.ca/aboutus/press/p_20070625_release.shtml|archive-date=11 September 2007|access-date=June 1, 2020|website=G4TechTV|location=Toronto, Ontario}} The anime is distributed by MVM Films in the UK.{{cite web|title=Paranoia Agent|url=https://www.mvm-films.com/Title/Paranoia_Agent|website=MVM Films|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806032452/https://www.mvm-films.com/Title/Paranoia_Agent|url-status=live}} On February 3, 2020, Funimation announced that it had licensed the series for its streaming platform.{{cite web|date=3 February 2020|title=Satoshi Kon's Paranoia Agent to Stream Exclusively on Funimation, Blu-ray Coming this Year|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2020/02/03/paranoia-agent-satoshi-kon-madhouse-to-stream-exclusively-on-funimation/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602084317/https://www.funimation.com/blog/2020/02/03/paranoia-agent-satoshi-kon-madhouse-to-stream-exclusively-on-funimation/|archive-date=2 June 2020|access-date=February 3, 2020|website=Funimation|publisher=Funimation Global Group, LLC}}{{cite web|last1=Sherman|first1=Jennifer|title=Funimation Exclusively Streams Satoshi Kon's Paranoia Agent Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-03/funimation-exclusively-streams-satoshi-kon-paranoia-agent-anime/.156071|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 6, 2020|date=February 3, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203212823/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-03/funimation-exclusively-streams-satoshi-kon-paranoia-agent-anime/.156071|url-status=live}} On April 15, 2020, Adult Swim announced that the English dub would be rebroadcast for the first time in over a decade on its Toonami programming block due to COVID-19 pandemic that affected half of the programs new episodes putting it on halt.{{cite web|last1=Pineda|first1=Rafael Antonio|date=April 15, 2020|title=Adult Swim's Toonami Brings Back Satoshi Kon's Paranoia Agent Anime on April 25|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-15/adult-swim-toonami-brings-back-satoshi-kon-paranoia-agent-anime-on-april-25/.158635|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416075323/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-15/adult-swim-toonami-brings-back-satoshi-kon-paranoia-agent-anime-on-april-25/.158635|archive-date=16 April 2020|access-date=April 16, 2020|website=Anime News Network}} The Blu-ray collection of the series was released in the U.S. on October 13, 2020, in SteelBook packaging as a Best Buy exclusive, and received a general Blu-ray release on December 15, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Cirone|first=David|date=2020-08-06|title=Paranoia Agent Steelbook Blu-ray announced for October 2020|url=https://j-generation.com/2020/08/paranoia-agent-steelbook-blu-ray-announced-for-october-2020/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821144104/https://j-generation.com/2020/08/paranoia-agent-steelbook-blu-ray-announced-for-october-2020/|archive-date=21 August 2020|access-date=2020-08-13|website=J-Generation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=16 August 2020|title=Funimation to Release Akira Film's Remaster on 4K Blu-ray Disc on December 22|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-15/funimation-to-release-akira-film-remaster-on-4k-blu-ray-disc-on-december-22/.164069|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916112643/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-15/funimation-to-release-akira-film-remaster-on-4k-blu-ray-disc-on-december-22/.164069|archive-date=16 September 2020|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Anime News Network|language=en}}

{{main|Paranoia Agent Original Soundtrack{{!}}Paranoia Agent Original Soundtrack}}

The music in Paranoia Agent was composed by Japanese electronica pioneer Susumu Hirasawa. The opening theme {{nihongo|"Dream Island Obsessional Park"|夢の島思念公園|Yume no Shima Shinen Kōen}} and the ending theme {{nihongo|"White Hill – Maromi's Theme"|白ヶ丘~マロミのテーマ|Shirogaoka ~ Maromi no tēma}} are performed by Hirasawa.

In December 2009, Japanese cult-film director Takashi Shimizu announced plans for a film adaption of the anime. However, plans eventually fell through and ultimately no film was ever made.{{Cite web|last=Miska|first=Brad|date=2009-12-16|title=Takashi Shimizu Produces 'Paranoia Agent'|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18413/takashi-shimizu-produces-paranoia-agent/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022091534/http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18413/takashi-shimizu-produces-paranoia-agent/|archive-date=22 October 2012|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Bloody Disgusting!|language=en-US}}

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the series the rare approval rating of 100% based on 13 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Anime auteur Satoshi Kon brings his feverish vision to the serialized form in Paranoia Agent, a disturbing meditation on individual and societal anxiety."{{Cite web|title=Paranoia Agent: Season 1|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paranoia_agent/s01|access-date=17 December 2020|website=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065857/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paranoia_agent/s01|url-status=live}} Paranoia Agent was one of the Jury Recommended Works in the Animation Division at the 8th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2004.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=PARANOIA AGENT {{!}} Jury Selections {{!}} Animation Division {{!}} 2004 [8th] Japan Media Arts Festival Archive |url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/2004/animation/works/08anj_PARANOIA_AGENT/ |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Japan Media Arts Festival |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190053/https://j-mediaarts.jp/ |url-status=live }}

Charles Solomon from NPR says, "Paranoia Agent may frustrate viewers who expect a straightforward narrative, but it's a disturbing, highly original work from a talented filmmaker."{{Cite podcast|last=Solomon|first=Charles|date=9 February 2005|title=New Anime Series Come to DVD|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4492335|access-date=2020-12-17|website=NPR|language=en|archive-date=August 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190041/https://www.npr.org/2005/02/09/4492335/new-anime-series-come-to-dvd|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Paranoia Agent: Season 1 - TV Reviews|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paranoia_agent/:season/reviews|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en}} John Powers, also from NPR, remarks, "It's one of the best and strangest programs I have ever seen... Kon does something daring. He reveals the fierce sadness and pain hidden by the modern embrace of things that are cute."{{Cite podcast|last=Powers|first=John|date=5 May 2005|title=Intrigue from Japan: 'Paranoia Agent'|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631905|access-date=2020-12-17|website=NPR|language=en|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021111409/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631905|url-status=live}} A review in Empire awarded Paranoia Agent 3 out of 5 stars, saying, "for those who like their animation 'out there', Satoshi Kon's Paranoia Agent delivers by the oddball bucketload".{{Cite web|date=4 July 2005|title=Paranoia Agent Review|url=https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/paranoia-agent-review/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806032510/https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/paranoia-agent-review/|archive-date=6 August 2020|website=Empire}} Jean-Luc Bouchard from BuzzFeed praised Paranoia Agent as a depiction of depression, writing, "The entire series totals a mere 13 episodes, but it drew me in immediately, and introduced me to a dark cast of characters whose troubled minds changed not just their own perceptions, but each other's realities as well."{{cite web|author=Bouchard|first=Jean-Luc|date=23 April 2015|title=How An Anime Series Helped Me Recognize My Depression|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jeanlucbouchard/how-an-anime-series-helped-me-recognize-my-depression|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423005929/http://www.buzzfeed.com/jeanlucbouchard/how-an-anime-series-helped-me-recognize-my-depression|archive-date=23 April 2015|access-date=17 December 2020|website=BuzzFeed}}

James Beckett of Anime News Network gave the anime an A, and describes the series as "What is the most important thing to remember about Paranoia Agent is that it is a mystery story where the answers to the mysteries are not as important as the questions they raise. A haunting and deeply felt fable of human experiences told with Satoshi Kon's signature flair, eerie and funny in equal measure, visuals that will stick with you for years to come".{{Cite web |last=Beckett |first=James |date=May 29, 2020 |title=REVIEW: Paranoia Agent |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/paranoia-agent/.157814 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Anime News Network |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190545/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/paranoia-agent/.157814 |url-status=live }} A review for IGN gave the first three episodes of Paranoia Agent a score of 7/10, comparing it to the works of David Lynch, but criticizing the animation as "downright primitive in places".{{cite web|author=Patrizio|first=Andy|date=20 May 2012|title=Paranoia Agent Volume 1: Enter Lil' Slugger|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/02/paranoia-agent-volume-1-enter-lil-slugger|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806035811/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/02/paranoia-agent-volume-1-enter-lil-slugger|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=17 December 2020|website=IGN}} John Maher from Paste listed Paranoia Agent as the 14th best anime series of all time, comparing it to Kon's other works Paprika and Perfect Blue, adding, "it's every bit the sublime exercise in psychological thriller as either".{{cite magazine|last1=Jones|first1=Austin|last2=Maher|first2=John|last3=Vilas-Boas|first3=Eric|last4=Egan|first4=Toussaint|last5=Sedghi|first5=Sarra|last6=Johnson II|first6=Jarrod|date=30 June 2020|title=The 50 Best Anime Series of All Time|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/anime/the-50-best-anime-series-of-all-time/#14-paranoia-agent|magazine=Paste|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418163240/https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/anime/the-50-best-anime-series-of-all-time/#14-paranoia-agent|archive-date=18 April 2020|access-date=13 April 2020|url-status=dead}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061230083212/http://www.mousou.tv/ Paranoia Agent official website] {{in lang|ja}}
• {{IMDb title|0433722}}
• {{Anime News Network|anime|3169|noparen=true}}

{{Paranoia Agent}}

{{Satoshi Kon}}

{{Susumu Hirasawa}}

{{Madhouse}}

Category:2004 anime television series debuts

Category:2004 Japanese novels

Category:Anime with original screenplays

Category:Crunchyroll anime

Category:Films directed by Satoshi Kon

Category:Funimation

Category:Geneon USA

Category:Madhouse (company)

Category:Madman Entertainment anime

Category:Mystery anime and manga

Category:Psychological thriller anime and manga

Category:Supernatural thriller anime and manga

Category:Wowow original programming