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{{Infobox
{{CharacterInfo
|image = File:Lain.jpg
|image = File:Lain.jpg
|gender = Female
|gender = Female
|age = 14 ([[anime]]), 11-14 ([[game]])
|age = 14 ([[Serial Experiments Lain (anime)|anime]]), 11-14 ([[Serial Experiments Lain (game)|game]])
|family = [[Iwakura Yasuo]], [[Iwakura Miho]], [[Iwakura Mika]] ([[anime]]); [[Father]], [[Mother]] ([[game]] and [[manga]])
|family = [[Yasuo Iwakura]] (Father), [[Miho Iwakura]] (Mother), [[Mika Iwakura]] (Sister)
|affiliation = [[Knights of the Eastern Calculus]], [[Tachibana General Laboratories]]
|affiliation = [[Knights of the Eastern Calculus]], [[Tachibana General Laboratories]]
|navi = [[Children's NAVI]], [[Handheld NAVI]], [[Lain's NAVI]]
|navi = [[Children's NAVI]], [[Handheld NAVI]], [[Lain's NAVI]]
|debut = [[Layer 01]]
|debut = [[Layer 01]]
|featuredin = [[Anime]], [[game]], [[manga]]
|featuredin = [[Serial Experiments Lain (anime)|Anime]], [[Serial Experiments Lain (game)|game]], [[manga]]
|location = [[Lain's house]], [[Shibuya]]}}
|location = [[Lain's House]], [[Shibuya]]
|voiceactors = [[wikipedia:Kaori Shimizu (voice_actress)|Kaori Shimizu]] (Japanese),
[[wikipedia:Bridget Hoffman|Bridget Hoffman]] (English), Lucila Gómez (Spanish)}}
'''Iwakura Lain''' (岩倉 玲音 ''Iwakura Rein'', also rendered as レイン, ｌａｉｎ or れいん) is the main protagonist of the series. She is female, 14 in the [[Serial Experiments Lain (anime)|anime]], 11-14 in the [[Serial Experiments Lain (game)|game]], and of an unknown age in other works. Visually, she is characterized by her short, brown, asymmetrical hair, one lock of which is secured by a [[Lain's Hairclip|hairclip]]. [[Masami Eiri]], in his desire to conquer reality, uses her as a pawn.
== Personality ==
== Personality ==
Across all the works in the ''serial experiments lain'' series, lain is portrayed as introverted, shy and quiet. Her preferences are also quite childish, and she possesses a large number of toys and other child-themed objects. She often derives comfort from these objects when she is afraid, akin to a security blanket.
Across all the works in the ''Serial Experiments Lain'' series, Lain is portrayed as introverted, shy and quiet. Her preferences are also quite childish, and she possesses a large number of toys and other child-themed objects. She often derives comfort from these objects when she is afraid, akin to a security blanket.
When it comes to interacting with others, she often has trouble making eye contact and having fluent conversation, many exchanges with her fellow classmates involving long pauses in her speech, and often looks visibly uncomfortable when asked questions. She usually does not speak unless spoken to and appears to find both talking to strangers and being the center of attention to be intimidating. Because of this, she has very few friends. However, on the Internet, Lain feels much more comfortable around people and is able to talk to them more easily, although she does not feel close to online acquaintances.
When it comes to interacting with others, she often has trouble making eye contact and having fluent conversation, many exchanges with her fellow classmates involving long pauses in her speech, and often looks visibly uncomfortable when asked questions. She usually does not speak unless spoken to and appears to find both talking to strangers and being the center of attention to be intimidating. Because of this, she has very few friends. However, on the Internet, Lain feels much more comfortable around people and is able to talk to them more easily, although she does not feel close to online acquaintances.
When Lain finally feels that she has discovered her identity, she is at peace and seems to be quietly content with herself, her previous self-doubts becoming minimal.
When Lain finally feels that she has discovered her identity, she is at peace and seems to be quietly content with herself, her previous self-doubts becoming minimal.
=== Other Personalities ===
Lain's personality becomes another matter entirely when her alter-ego, the so-called "Lain of the Wired", steps into Lain's flesh body to act directly in the real world. In times of extreme stress, Lain's disembodied self might briefly inhabit her flesh body, suddenly causing a surge of confidence and brashness backed up by superhuman power. This personality appears fearless and ruthless, but not cruel (not to be confused with [[Evil Lain]], the spinoff identity created by the Knights' hacking). She is also much more socially comfortable in this state, although this social comfort level seems to come and go coincident with Lain's visits to Cyberia, where unusual mind-altering technology exists. This "Lain of the Wired" personality also exists independent of Lain Iwakura the human; they seem to only share experiences part-time.
Yet a third personality also exists, apparently resulting from outside tampering upon both of the others. This third personality, is a cruel, inhuman prankster, and is apparently comfortable committing both mischief and murder. Like Lain of the Wired, it exists primarily in the Wired but is also capable of inhabiting and controlling Lain Iwakura's human body on occasion.
== Anime Biography ==
== Anime Biography ==
At the beginning of the anime, Lain is technologically illiterate and extremely shy. She hardly even checks her email and is visibly uncomfortable when doing so. While operating her old [[children's NAVI]], she puts on a bear hat. This, like her [[bear suit]], provides comfort to her and helps her face situations that she is intimidated by.
At the beginning of the anime, Lain is technologically illiterate and extremely shy. She hardly even checks her email and is visibly uncomfortable when doing so. While operating her old [[children's NAVI]], she puts on a bear hat. This, like her [[bear suit]], provides comfort to her and helps her face situations that she is intimidated by.
Lain's behaviour changes when she gets a proper [[NAVI]]. When online, she behaves much more confidently and assertively. Another Lain, commonly referred to by the fandom as "evil Lain", already exists in the Wired and, according to Lain in [[Layer 08]], acts like the part of Lain that she hates.
Lain's behaviour changes when she gets a proper [[NAVI]]. When online, she behaves much more confidently and assertively. Another Lain, commonly referred to by the fandom as "evil Lain", already exists in the Wired and, according to Lain in [[Layer 08]], acts like the part of Lain that she hates.
Lain appears to be highly intelligent and has a range of skills. The anime shows her learning extremely quickly how a NAVI functions and can even help the [[boss]] of the [[Men in Black]] repair his extremely old NAVI. Also, the [[manga]] shows some of Lain's skills in programming, as she modifies her plush dog, [[Bike-chan]], to be able to bark. In the [[game]], Lain becomes interested in psychology and is able to use that knowledge on [[Yonera Touko]], her therapist, when she becomes unstable.
Lain appears to be highly intelligent and has a range of skills. The anime shows her learning extremely quickly how a NAVI functions and can even help the [[boss]] of the [[Men in Black]] repair his extremely old NAVI. Also, the [[manga]] shows some of Lain's skills in programming, as she modifies her plush dog, [[Bike-chan]], to be able to bark. In the [[Serial Experiments Lain (game)|game]], Lain becomes interested in psychology and is able to use that knowledge on [[Touko Yonera]], her therapist, when she becomes unstable.
She is quite distant from her [[family]] and rarely speaks at home. At school, she is similarly quiet, although she begins to hang out with [[Alice]], [[Reika]] and [[Juri]]. Of the three, only Alice seems to have any real emotional connection with her.
She is quite distant from her [[family]] and rarely speaks at home. At [[school]], she is similarly quiet, although she begins to hang out with [[Alice Mizuki]], [[Reika Yamamoto]] and [[Juri Katou]]. Of the three, only Alice seems to have any real emotional connection with her.
Lain is revealed to be the product of the human collective unconscious that took form in the Wired. This means that there is a different image of Lain in each person's mind, represented by the chattering Lain mannequins in [[Layer 08]]. This led to Lain's [[identity]] crisis that forms a major plot point in the anime.
Lain is revealed to be the product of the human collective unconscious that took form in the Wired. This means that there is a different image of Lain in each person's mind, represented by the chattering Lain mannequins in [[Layer 08]]. This led to Lain's [[identity]] crisis that forms a major plot point in the anime.
Lain considers herself to be a being that exists only in the memories of others, so when she edits herself out during the [[reset]], it is almost a form of suicide - although the Wired itself still retains her data, there are no people who truly remember her.
Lain considers herself to be a being that exists only in the memories of others, so when she edits herself out during the [[reset]], it is almost a form of suicide - although the Wired itself still retains her data, there are no people who truly remember her.
{{AnimeCharacters}} {{GameCharacters}} [[Category:Characters]]
{{Characters}}
[[Category:Characters]]
