Preview

In the near future, technology evolved in such a way that instead of having "physical" computers, people can have everything virtual, and see the virtual world merged with the real world only by using a cyber-glass (or just "glass"). Cyber Pets roam the city playing with real cats, people work in literally floating windows, and kids talk in virtual cell-phones by just moving their fingers near their heads. The "Glasses" can do everything a normal computer can do, and much more, all of that connected to all networks.

Okonogi Yuuko just got to Daikoku city after her father got transferred, and with her little sister Kyoko and their cyber-pet Densuke, they set on to explore this new town: weird virtual mists can be seen in "old-spaces" (cyber spaces still not updated), and problems seams to exist in the virtual world all around. Meanwhile, a strange newcomer girl, Amasawa Yuuko, seams to be eager to capture some illegal cyber creatures on what seams a dangerous experiment.

Pacing

Dennou Coil is a thriller drama about friendship and reality. As Okonogi Yuuko tries to figure what she believes and who her real friends are, and tries her best to adapt to the changing world around her, Amasawa Yuuko goes almost the other way, ignoring friends or the world around her and immersing more and more into her mysterious goal dealing with old-spaces and illegals.

While most of the focus is set on Okonogi Yuuko, a lot of character development deals with her new friends Haraken - a quiet boy who had serious issues with the cyber world in the past; Fumie, who soon becomes Okonogi's best friend while researching the cyber world; and other secondary characters and their relations. Amasawa Yuuko, as much of a big question mark, also gets the spotlight especially near the end.

Dennou Coil is not really an action title and most of the questions it raise are thought-provoking to the extent of, if you don't really get involved with this universe and characters, one might think of the title as a boring sequence of episodes, specially because of the filler episodes in the middle of the show - but even then, the theme and the end sequence (which starts around episode 16) are well worth it.

Conclusion

Aside from bringing in an interesting view to the future of computers and networking, Dennou Coil touches some subjects of "what is reality", "what is real", "what are real feelings" and even the usual issue if it's possible to insert one's conscience into a virtual world. With elaborate side-stories in some loose filler episodes in the middle, Dennou Coil also explores the changes in society and parenthood that would happen if such a "glass" existed, and even more so, would it be suitable for small children to play with a real/virtual world before they really understand the concept of what is real?

Easily one of the best titles of 2007, Dennou Coil have a very solid and mysterious plot, memorable characters and a good message about friendship and reality that is accessible to anyone - regardless of how much thought you put into it. In the whole, a recommended title for any kind of fan.