Perfect Blue (1997)

A retired pop singer turned actress' sense of reality is shaken when she is stalked by an obsessed fan and seemingly a ghost of her past.

Director:

Satoshi Kon

Writers:

Sadayuki Murai (screenplay), Yoshikazu Takeuchi (novel)

Stars:

Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Junko Iwao	...	Mima (voice)
Rica Matsumoto	...	Rumi (voice) (as Rika Matsumoto)
Shinpachi Tsuji	...	Tadokoro (voice)
Masaaki Ôkura	...	Uchida (voice)
Yôsuke Akimoto	...	Tejima (voice)
Yoku Shioya	...	Shibuya (voice)
Hideyuki Hori	...	Sakuragi (voice)
Emi Shinohara	...	Eri (voice)
Masashi Ebara	...	Murano (voice)
Kiyoyuki Yanada	...	Kantoku (voice)
Tôru Furusawa	...	Yada (voice)
Shiho Niiyama	...	Rei (voice)
Emiko Furukawa	...	Yukiko (voice)
Aya Hara	...	(voice)
Shin'ichirô Miki	...	Taku (voice)

Storyline

Mima leaves the idol group CHAM, in order to pursue her dream as an actress. Mima climbs up the rocky road to success by performing as rape victims and posing nude for magazines, but is haunted by her reflections of the past.

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Plot Keywords:

fan | singer | actress | obsessed fan | rape | 

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Taglines:

excuse me...who are you?

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Genres:

Animation | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for animated sequences of violence and nudity, and for brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

28 February 1998 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Pâfekuto burû

Box Office

Budget:

JPY 3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$9,600 (USA) (20 August 1999)

Gross:

$99,389 (USA) (17 December 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mad House, Rex Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Big Body" pizza box in the infamous stabbing scene usually gets a few chuckles from English-speaking viewers, who are no doubt thinking about the food's fat content. However, "Big Body" is actually an homage to Susumu Hirasawa (who would later compose music for Millennium Actress and Paranoia Agent, also by director Kon) and his electronically band "P-Model." Big Body is the name of their tenth album, released in 1993.

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Goofs

In the English dub version, Cham sings their song at the beginning in English. Later on, when the writer is waiting for the elevator, the radio is playing the song in Japanese.

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Quotes

Me-Mania: You bad girl... you have to follow the script!

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Connections

Remade as Yume nara samete (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Ai no tenshi"
Music by Masahiro Ikumi
Lyrics by Kiko Imai
Performed by Misa, Emiko Furukawa and Mie Shimizu

User Reviews

Outstanding animated mindbender. Fans of Hitchcock, Argento and Lynch will be hooked.

'Perfect Blue' is the most interesting animated movie I've ever seen. Lovers of cinematic puzzlers from 'Vertigo' to 'Abre los ojos' or the movies of Dario Argento or David Lynch will probably enjoy this one more than your typical anime fan, who might find this too slow, and not flashy enough for their tastes. I don't think 'Perfect Blue' quite reaches the heights of the aforementioned, but it is still a fascinating, multi-layered thriller that improves with repeated viewings. As a look at the illusions of fame and the dark side of obsession I personally found it to be a much more satisfying movie than the more celebrated and flamboyant 'Mulholland Dr.' I strongly suggest that the original Japanese subtitled version is watched rather than the inferior English dubbed one for maximum effect. This is one movie experience that will stay with you for days. Highly recommended.