Paranoia AgentWhen darkness overcomes the heart... Lil' Slugger appears...
Musashino, Tokyo. An elementary schooler repeatedly attacks people in the streets. Known only to the public as "Lil Slugger", none of the victims can recall the young 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. Detectives Ikari and Maniwa set out to track down the perpetrator and put an end to his crimes.
DirectorSatoshi Kon
WritersSatoshi Kon, Seishi Minakami
Enter Lil' Slugger
Feb 3, 2004
Tsukiko Sagi, a shy character designer, is suddenly attacked by someone carrying a golden baseball bat. When a pair of detectives interrogate her, she describes the suspect as an elementary school-aged boy wearing golden inline skates and a red hat.
The Golden Shoes
Feb 10, 2004
Yuuichi "Icchi" Taira, a formerly popular sixth-grade schoolboy, starts being bullied at school for his red hat and golden skates which strongly resemble those of Lil' Slugger.
Double Lips
Feb 17, 2004
Harumi Chouno, a woman with dissociative identity disorder attempts to defy her prostitute alter ego, Maria. Harumi becomes increasingly desperate when a colleague proposes. She accepts, but is terrified of Maria's existence being found out.
A Man's Path
Feb 24, 2004
Masami Hirukawa is a low-level police officer who, despite calling himself a family man, accepts bribes in the form of cash and women from a local yakuza group. However, Masami squeezes the group a bit too much, and they send their boss to deal with him.
The Holy Warrior
Mar 9, 2004
Ikari and Maniwa interrogate the boy known as Lil' Slugger, who turns out to be an eighth-grade student named Makoto Kozuka. Kozuka admits to the attacks, but he believes that the world around him is a medieval fantasy-style role playing game.
Fear of a Direct Hit
Mar 16, 2004
Taeko, a runaway teenager, wanders through the stormy city wanting to forget about her past, as her father repeatedly calls her cellphone but she always answers coldly, saying she will "destroy everything."
MHz
Mar 23, 2004
After Taeko is attacked while both Tsukiko and Kozuka have alibis, Maniwa considers the possibility of another Lil' Slugger existing and looks for connections between the victims in an attempt to pinpoint who will be next.
Happy Family Planning
Apr 6, 2004
The three members of an Internet suicide pact meet each other for the first time in attempt to come up with ways to commit suicide, but hope to see Lil' Slugger.
ETC
Apr 13, 2004
Four housewives share gossip that they have heard about Lil' Slugger.
Mellow Maromi
Apr 20, 2004
Production coordinator Naoyuki Saruta fights traffic to deliver the first episode of "Mellow Maromi," an anime based on the famous character designed by Tsukiko, to the broadcasting network.
No Entry
Apr 27, 2004
Misae Ikari, wife of Ikari the detective, confronts Lil' Slugger when he comes for her about what humans really are and tells him about the problems he's caused.
Radar Man
May 11, 2004
Maniwa engages in battle with Lil' Slugger and investigates his past. First he visits the mysterious old man at the hospital just before he dies; his last words to Maniwa are "dance with the rabbit".
The Final Episode
May 18, 2004
Tokyo is in ruins because of a black mass, formed by the rampaging Lil' Slugger, that envelops the town. Maniwa contacts the police chief on a screen in the cartoon world telling him what he knows; Ikari smashes the screen and is hailed a hero.
