This film is a stunning example to Western audiences of how anime films do not have to be about giant robots and laser guns. Granted, the crazed stalker theme is nothing new, but this takes a back seat to the main character's confusion and paranoia due to the mind games she is subjected to. In fact, there is no effort made to disguise the identity of the stalker, the emphasis is placed firmly on the psychological repercussions of the pressure the young Mima is subjected to, not just by her crazed fan, but on the lengths she must go to in order to preserve her popularity.
The film neatly weaves real events around the similar plot of the series that Mima stars in to try to boost her flagging career. This serves to increase the uncertainty of what is real and what isn't, leaving you at the end of the film wanting to watch it again to discern which scenes are fact and which figment. The haze of confusion is punctuated on occasion with startling scenes of violence, highlighting the extreme nature of her fan's feeling he is responsible for her protection.
If there were to be any faults with Perfect Blue then the voice acting (in the dubbed version), though better than most anime, is a slight detraction from the film's quality. Also, the stereotyped appearance of the stalker is a disappointment, although the animators sometimes convey a true sense of his adoration and love for Mima which serves to make the viewer more sorry for his delusion than fearful of him. And couldn't the translators have looked in the thesaurus instead of describing Mima as a 'Pop Idol' every single time? All in all a thoroughly recommended film, not just for anime fans but for anyone who is interested in an intelligent, mature psychological thriller and can look past the fact that it is 'just a cartoon'. You won't find anything like this on Children's BBC. |
