Alternative TitlesEnglish: Perfect Blue Japanese: パーフェクト・ブルー
Information
Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Feb 28, 1998
Duration:
1 hr. 20 min. Rating:
R+ - Mild Nudity
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.071 (scored by 25156 users)
Ranked: #3882
Popularity: #421
Members: 40,968
Favorites: 431 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
drama horror mystery psychological |
SynopsisMima Kirigoe, a member of a pop-idol group called "CHAM!", decides to quit singing to pursue a career as an actress. Some of her fans are displeased with this decision though, particularly a stalker named Me-Mania. As Mima progresses into her new career, those close to her are violently murdered one by one, and Mima begins to lose the ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. |
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Reviews
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Venneh
124 of 161 people found this review helpful
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1 of 1 episodes seen
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| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Title: Perfect Blue
Novel, Anime: Perfect Blue was originally a novel written by Yoshikazu Takeuchi. When, I'm not really sure; there's not a lot of information about it.
The movie itself was done by Oniro, directed by Satoshi Kon, and was released in 1997.
Story: The story is centered around Mima Kirigoe, the lead member of a pop trio who's decided to go solo as an actress. Her small recurring role in a direct-to-video series ends up turning into a big break, but the part and a subsequent photo shoot involves... compromising situations, to say the least. On top of all this, she's got a stalker that knows every intimate detail about her life and is posting it on the Internet. And then the murders start, and her sanity starts fraying...
This film was Satoshi Kon's big break, and you know why when you watch it. The line between reality and fantasy blurs more and more as the film goes on, and you wonder if it's either all in her head, part of the direct-to-video series, or for real. And you will be scared. I was watching this in broad daylight in my dorm on move-in day for the returning students, and I was still scared out of my wits. And the plot twists. My god, the plot twists. In general, the plot is going to blow you out of the water.
As for faithfulness to the original, I've found tidbits that said that Kon didn't think that the original novel would make a good film, and so he asked permission from Takeuchi to change things. He got the permission, so long as the original story concepts were intact. For those who were looking for a faithful adaptation, there is a live-action film called Perfect Blue: Yume Nara Samete that was released in 2002 and directed by Toshiki Sato.
You can tell how old the film is, though, when the main character is trying to figure out how to use a computer/the Intarnet. xD
WARNING: There is rape, there is detailed nudity, there is very graphic violence, and lots and lots of blood. I'm not kidding when I say that you should only be watching this if you're over 17. Kiddies, and those who are squeamish, stay far away from this movie.
Art: This film was done back in '97, so yeah, the style's going to look a bit dated. But when you compare the animation with other shows that were airing about the same time (Pokemon, Sailor Moon StarS, to name a few), it doesn't seem to be quite as good as it possibly could be. The main reason for that was that during production, the Kobe earthquake hit the production studio (Madhouse), and the film's budget was reduced from one for a live-action movie to that of an OVA. Not the greatest art out there during the time, but given the situation that they had to work with, it's still pretty decent.
Music: The pop numbers that Mima's trio does (CHAM!) are pretty catchy. And the other music that's played only heightens the suspense. Pretty good, overall.
Seiyuu: As usual, no problems here. Mima's seiyuu is outstanding (she later went on to play Tomoyo in Cardcaptor Sakura, Ceres in Ceres: Celestial Legend, and Akane in My-HiME (Higurashi), My-Otome and My-Otome Zwei (Soir)).
Dub: N/A, didn't watch it.
Length: I honestly don't know what more they could've done with this film; the film wraps up at close to an hour and a half. (Actually, knowing Kon, maybe I don't want to know.) And it seems just right, because of the fast pace that it clips along at, while still managing to make sure that everything that the audience needs to understand is included.
Overall: An amazing, if not perfectly animated, psychological thriller that will have you wondering just what's real here and clinging to your nearest cuddly.
Story: 10/10
Art: 7/10
Music: 9/10
Seiyuu: 8/10
Length: 10/10
Overall: 44/50; 88% (B) read more
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ace52387
44 of 64 people found this review helpful
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1 of 1 episodes seen
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
Perfect Blue centers around a small pop star's transition into the film business. Her life is turned upside down by her new, less innocent work, a stalker, and several murders that occur around her. Much like Millennium Actress and Paprika, this is another Satoshi Kon film that blurs the lines between reality and delusion, only to a more suspenseful effect in Perfect Blue. Mima, the ex-pop star turned actress is filming a TV murder drama throughout most of the movie that eerily mirrors the murders that are occurring around her. It is often unclear if a scene is playing out on the set or in the real world. Then there's the nagging question throughout of whether the entire scenario isn't a schizophrenic delusion of a psychotic killer.
The stalker and the murders are suspense staples, and unnerving enough in and of themselves. The religious obsession of stalkers is inherently freaky, as are psychotic and pathological murders. The layer that Kon's style adds is the anxiety the viewer feels each time Mima wakes up from a horrendous dream or in each filmed scene of the TV drama where the already unstable established reality becomes even more fragile when we question if perhaps the supposedly filmed rape scenes or murder scenes are the truth; if perhaps the seemingly sweet and innocent Mima doesn't hide a psychopath behind a web of delusions. The film doesn't try to establish a twisted empathy with the killer in question the way many suspense novels would. Most of the important characters are quite simply insane. The lack of awareness they have for their own pathology, along with the constant ambiguity in the borders between fantasy and reality is what builds and holds the suspense.
Satoshi Kon has always done beautiful running animation, but nowhere is it more appreciated than in Perfect Blue. The way the characters stumble a little every now and then, or run full sprint into a wall and push off to round a corner rather than just slowing down and making a turn, coupled with spectacular voice performances by the cast, most notably when they're screaming for help or begging for forgiveness, does wonders at conveying the sheer terror these characters are experiencing during the more violent scenes. From eye stabbing to rape, some of these scenes seem like they're too disgusting to watch, and there was always a part of me that wanted to turn away, but the fear bleeds through the screen in such a way that I found my eyes glued, and myself actually praying for the characters' safety. In this sense, even though Perfect Blue doesn't establish the easiest characters to empathize with, the shockingly realistic way they convey horror (relative to other Anime at the very least) awakens the primal concern we have for someone in distress.
The twist at the end is skin crawlingly creepy, and at a happy medium between predictable and out of the blue. It's hinted at a few times throughout the film, but with all the reality bending and psychotic delusions going on, it certainly isn't the only outcome I suspected. Too bad it so clearly distinguishes the previously hazy borders between what is real and what isn't. Such an ambiguous movie should retain a little bit of its ambiguity to the end, but instead the climax brings reality down fast and hard. Its clarity and convenience makes it slightly unsatisfying.
There's no arguing that the climax is spectacular. The whole movie makes beautiful use of tension without any gimmicky camera angles that zoom in on demented, boggling eyes or some other such junk that many psychothriller anime titles use to create unease when the scenario itself isn't enough to accomplish it. Perfect Blue is creepiness in its purest form. read more
Recommendations
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Dark and edgy philosophical and psuedo-spiritual undertones resonate powerfully beneath the derma of an expertly animated and artistically executed series that explores human pyschology and how individuals cope with the pressure of living.
I think both are created by the same creator or director. plus both are very have that WTF element to it, both make you think and prolly require you to watch it a few times...
Its dark and they both play with your mind...
both shows got me in the end. While watching both I thought I knew what was going on and thought I had it all figured out. Then BOOM!!! Near the end of both shows I was just like wtf?! what happened??? it got me thinking and made me appreciate the great stories of both shows.
It's to be expected that the two anime are similar, considering that they were both written and directed by the same person. More than that, though, both Paranoia Agent and Perfect Blue have a certain existential quality to them... not to mention that both fall squarely into the realm of "mindfuck." Both are deeply psychological and full of meaning that is left for you, the viewer, to decipher. I recommend either to fans of the psychological thriller genre.
Both by Satoshi Kon, both psychological thrillers, both make you question reality.
Paprika + Perfect Blue = Paranoia Agent
Both are Madhouse Satoshi Kon anime that seed the idea of identity through the media.
Well, Perfect Blue and Paranoia Agent are created by the same man, Satoshi-kon. Also this have a very very psychological content and essence.
Anyway, two great works from a great man, Satoshi Kon.
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Newest movie by Satoshi Kon! :)
Psychological thriller movies Directed by Satoshi Kon. They both blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
same director(i think), different themes but both interesting strange stories
Both are Satoshi Kon movies. Also if you look at Paprika and Perfect Blue both are very mysterious and deal with the question ''What will happen when dreams/illusions collide with the real world.''
Paprika + Perfect Blue = Paranoia Agent
Both are Madhouse, Satoshi Kon films with a female protagonist in which the audience is manipulates to question what is really happening and what is just in someones head until the audience is bonded to the characters in that they are just as in the dark as they are.
Both "Paprika" and "Perfect Blue" have quite deep symbolism and surrealism.
However "Paprika" is much more higher all the way and in any aspect, in my opinion.
I like how "Paprika" concentrates in itself all of Satoshi Kon favorite images and themes:
1) Like an escape from reality into a world of illusion
2) The devastating consequences of the invasion of illusion into reality and getting rid of these illusions
3) The sudden realization that the difficulties can be overcome, but turned to face them
4) Detective story filled with riddles and symbols
5) Surrealist paintings of collective and individual insanity
6) Adult man tired and lost in his past
7) Young woman who live a double life and hiding from all its second, the internal and true "I".
But I think Satoshi Kon described these all themes best right here in "Paprika" (that's his last finished work, by the way, before he is gone). In my opinion this is his best work after all.
Frankly saying, I don't like "Perfect Blue". I really liked "Paprika" much more. So, maybe if you don't like "Perfect Blue" too, try this one, I think you will not be disappointed. That's quite for sure.
Moreover there are great qualitative soundtrack, beautiful and detailed, outstanding animation.
P.S. Sorry for not very good english, it's my third learned. But I hope my recommendation will help somebody.
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Opening Theme"Ai no Tenshi" by Misa, Emiko Furakawa and Mie Shimizu
Ending Theme"Season" by M-Voice
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