Indie animation project Lain: Protocol 7 has announced that its crowdfunding campaign had surpassed the 5-million-yen threshold after having reached its initial goal of 2 million yen only 3 days ago. Having reached its first stretch goal, the animation director, Maki Ito announced on the project’s Campfire post that a visual novel version of Lain: Protocol 7 will be produced alongside the OVA.
The latest blog post by Ito stated that the visual novel would be based on an earlier script of the OVA and will feature exclusive storylines and ending paths, some based on scenes cut from the animation and rejected ideas from the production process. Ito explained further that “snippets of the story that couldn’t be depicted in the animation will be elaborated on, offering an alternative to the story of Protocol 7.”
Thanks to reaching the 5-million-yen stretch goal, the production team was also able to add extra rewards for backers, including those outside of Japan. Overseas backers can expect a physical DVD set of the OVA with English subtitles, a signed postcard by the director, a download card for the digital MP4 file of the anime (also featuring English subtitles), storyboards, concept art PDFs and a full “Making of Lain: Protocol 7” video. A dedicated “visual novel” backing tier has also been added, and all participants will be able to get a digital download of the game for Windows.
Lain: Protocol 7 is an unofficial indie OVA that attempts to connect the Serial Experiments Lain of the year 1998 with the realities of the 2020s, posing the question “what remains human in an age where records and AI can answer on behalf of the person?” The recently revealed project pitch goes further into the creative process of the OVA, stating that “we utilize all available technologies, including hand-drawn animation, live-action footage, 3D layouts, digital photography, and AI- assisted production tools.” The announcement also emphasized that the project aims not to create visuals solely through AI, but to “capture the essence of the Wired as seen from the 2020s”, born from a blend of analog, digital, live-action, hand-drawn, and AI-assisted techniques.
