Initially conceived as a live-action project but later adapted into an anime film owing to budget constraints, Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue is perhaps the finest example of how the anime genre can be an effective vehicle for adult psychological thrillers. The film is an adaptation of the manga novel of the same name by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, renowned for its intricate narrative, graphic sex and violence and intense psychological themes. Perfect Blue was Kon's directorial debut and played a pivotal role in establishing his reputation as a master of anime storytelling for adults, with the movie exploring themes such as identity, fame and the psychological toll of the entertainment industry. Lead character Mima Kirigoe (voiced by Junko Iwao) is a young pop idol who has to grapple with the blurred lines between her real self and the persona she portrays on stage.
Perfect Blue was produced by Madhouse, a renowned animation studio, and the film helped to showcase the potential of anime as a medium for grown-up, adult-oriented storytelling. The story follows Mima as she makes the difficult decision to leave her singing career to pursue acting. This transition is not an easy one, and Mima soon finds herself entangled in a series of disturbing events, while she also finds the line between reality and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred. She is stalked by an obsessed fan and becomes the victim of online impersonation. Perfect Blue was released at the the start of a new era of celebrity culture in the internet age, and the setting up of a fake website called Mima’s Room highlights the dark side of modern technology. Kon is expert at giving us the sense that Mima is constantly being watched, including an incredible sequence following her being sent a “traitor” fax from the stalker, after which the camera pans out from her tower block window to take in a panorama of the whole city.
Mima is gradually drawn into a nightmarish world of confusion and paranoia, and starts to question her identity and sanity. She even starts to hallucinate a doppelgänger who continually torments her. The film delves into the concept of identity and the personas individuals create, with Mima left to question whether her public image is an accurate reflection of her true self. On one level, the film is about the illusion of fixed selves, with Mima saying her older self is still buried in her heart. As well as the danger of mental illusions, Mima also faces real threats to her safety, including when the stalker sends her an exploding letter that is opened by someone else on set. Events become even more distressing in the final stages of the film, including a disturbing rape scene and a general descent into the realm of horror. In the climactic scenes in Mima's apartment, the film's various mysteries come to a head, and Mima is forced to confront her stalker in a tense, surreal closing sequence.
Kon's use of seamless transitions between scenes and his innovative approach to narrative structure, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, keeps the audience guessing throughout the film about what's real and what's imagined. The film also effectively uses symbolism, reflections and visual motifs to create a sense of unease and psychological tension. Perfect Blue received critical acclaim and has been widely praised since for its groundbreaking storytelling and psychological depth. The film won several awards, including the Fantasia Film Festival's Best Asian Film Award. While not initially a commercial success, it has gained a cult following and is now considered a classic of the anime genre. The film is often cited as a significant influence on acclaimed directors, including Darren Aronofsky, whose film Black Swan (2010) bears a resemblance to Perfect Blue in terms of its psychological thriller elements.
Comments