The Ani.Me Movie List – Satoshi Kon

Satoshi Kon is one of Japan’s most well-praised anime directors. He is a very unique way of storytelling especially in his anime films.

Born on October 10, Kon was a film director, animator, screenwriter and manga artist from Sapporo, Hokkaidō. His anime movies were so good, that they have a massive worldwide following. In 2010, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and his health deteriorated. He died on August 24, 2010 at the age of 46.

As a way to continue the legacy of Satoshi Kon, we will be giving you a list of his top works that are worth watching especially in this current pandemic. Ani.ME will continue to give you more of these recommendation lists in the future.

So here are our recommendations:

Perfect Blue

J-pop idol group CHAM! has spent the last two years entertaining its fans. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and CHAM! must see one of its members, Mima Kirigoe, leave the group to pursue her acting career. While Mima's choice is met with a mixed response, she hopes her fans will continue to support her.

However, Mima's life begins to change drastically after her departure from the group. Wanting to shed her pop-idol image, she takes on a role in a crime drama series, and her career as an actress gradually becomes more demanding and taxing for both Mima and her manager, Rumi Hidaka. To add to Mima's growing unease, an obsessed fan who is incapable of accepting that Mima has quit being an innocent idol, begins stalking her; a new anonymous website begins to impersonate her life with intricate detail; and CHAM! also appears to be doing better without her. One by one, each disturbing development drives Mima to become increasingly unhinged and unable to distinguish reality from fantasy.

Perfect Blue is the directorial debut of animator Satoshi Kon and is an adaptation of the 1991 novel Perfect Blue: Kanzen Hentai (released in English by Seven Seas Entertainment as Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis) written by Yoshikazu Takeuchi. The film made its world premiere at the 1997 edition of the Fant-Asia film festival in Montreal, where it received awards for Best Asian Film and Best Animation Film. It went on to earn additional awards and critical praise at film festivals worldwide before opening in Japanese theaters in 1998.

Paprika

The world of dreams can be an incredible window into the psyche, showing one's deepest desires, aspirations, and repressed memories. One hopeful tech lab has been developing the "DC Mini," a device with the power to delve into the dreams of others. Atsuko Chiba and Kosaku Tokita have been tirelessly working to develop this technology with the hopes of using it to deeply explore patients' minds and help cure them of their psychological disorders.

However, having access to the deepest corners of a person's mind comes with a tremendous responsibility. In the wrong hands, the DC Mini could be used as a form of psychological terrorism and cause mental breakdowns in the minds of targets. When this technology is stolen and people around them start acting strangely, Atsuko and Kosaku know they have a serious problem on their hands. Enlisting the help of Officer Konakawa, who has been receiving this experimental therapy, they search both the real and dream worlds for their mental terrorist.

Paprika was director Kon’s last feature film before his death in 2010. It won several awards around the world, including the Tokyo Anime Award for Best Music in 2007 and the Newport Beach Film Festival for best animated feature film in 2007.

A live action adaptation was planned with Wolfgang Petersen (The Never Ending Story, Troy), but the project appears to have been scrapped.

Tokyo Godfathers

It's Christmas Eve and three homeless friends have experienced their own Christmas miracle: while rummaging in a dump for a Christmas present, they discover a newborn baby. Despite having nothing, the three take the baby in and name her Kiyoko, meaning Pure One.

They embark in search of Kiyoko's mother, based on the little they know about her from her meager belongings. But the night is young, and the city is vast. Before they know it, these three become entangled in a series of events including kidnapping, death, and a mysterious red envelope.

Kind transwoman Hana, runaway teenager Miyuki, and belligerent Gin make an unlikely trio as they care for the baby and try to find where she belongs. By finally looking toward the future, they are also able to confront their pasts, coming just a little bit closer to finding their own place in the world.

Paranoia Agent

The infamous Shounen Bat (Lil' Slugger) is terrorizing the residents of Musashino City. Flying around on his rollerblades and beating people down with a golden baseball bat, the assailant seems impossible to catch—much less understand. His first victim, the well-known yet timid character designer Tsukiko Sagi, is suspected of orchestrating the attacks. Believed only by her anthropomorphic pink stuffed animal, Maromi, Tsukiko is just one of Shounen Bat's many victims.

As Shounen Bat continues his relentless assault on the town, detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa begin to investigate the identity of the attacker. However, more and more people fall victim to the notorious golden bat, and news of the assailant begins circulating around the town. Paranoia starts to set in as chilling rumors spread amongst adults and children alike.

Will the two detectives be able to unravel the truth behind Shounen Bat, or will the paranoia get to them first?

All Satoshi Kon movie sources from MAL