[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/MAR07/Lain.flv 400 300]
At the recommendation of son Eric, we’re watching Serial Experiments: Lain, a 1998 Animé series. I can see how one might wonder if the concept behind it had some influence on the The Matrix.
The character design for Lain was done by Yoshitoshi ABe, who also came up with the design for the previously-mentioned Niea 7. ABe self-published a manga called Haibane Renmei, which he later animated.