Perfect Blue Review

One of the most influential auteurs of anime is the late great Satoshi Kon, who directed only four films, but each one transformed cinema in ways that transcend the genre. His work is even referenced in Hollywood films like Requiem for a Dream and Inception. Kon’s work is truly immaculate. While we lost him too soon, he left behind a small catalogue of masterful films, all created in partnership with the renowned animation studio Madhouse. His debut feature, Perfect Blue, released in 1997, remains a hauntingly relevant masterpiece that demands to be viewed on the big screen. Thanks to All the Anime, it now returns in a stunning 4K restoration.

Mima Kirigoe (Junko Iwao) is a former pop idol from the girl group CHAM! She decides to pursue a career in acting, despite opposition from her manager, Rumi (Rica Matsumoto). Her first gig is playing a minor character in the detective drama Double Bind. Over time, her screen time increases, including filming a disturbing assault. As part of the transition, Mima also agrees to a nude photoshoot, further distancing herself from her innocent pop persona. During this shift from pop idol to actor, she is informed of a website that reveals unnervingly detailed information about her life. As well as a stalker starts to shadow her, and a series of murders occur, all seemingly linked to her acting career. The psychological strain intensifies, and the lines between her real life and her onscreen roles start to blur.

It’s hard to talk about Perfect Blue without referencing the brilliant Every Frame a Painting video on Satoshi Kon’s distinctive editing style. For many viewers, this video may have been their first introduction to Kon’s work. Echoing the video’s insights, Kon’s use of match cuts and seamless transitions is truly exemplary. The blurring between reality and performance is especially effective because of the precise editing. And though it runs under 90 minutes, Perfect Blue is so tightly paced and psychologically absorbing that it feels even shorter.

The film tackles heavy subject matter that, unfortunately, has aged like fine wine rather than milk. As the internet and social media continue to evolve, so too has the ease with which we connect to celebrities, influencers, and other public figures. With this increased access, parasocial relationships have grown more prevalent. We often see people assume that liking a tweet or being followed by a famous person means they’re suddenly friends, which is not always the case. Perfect Blue explores this through the perspective of a fan who believes he knows Mima better than she knows herself. “Mima’s Room” begins as something light-hearted, but as she delves deeper and realises it knows even her smallest habits, she becomes alarmed and ultimately terrified.

Mima is repeatedly told by others what’s best for her career, rather than simply being asked what she truly wants. During a phone call with her mother, her mum recalls that Mima always wanted to be a singer and questions why she would transition to acting. Her agent also pushes her boundaries by making her star in an intense role and participating in a nude photo shoot to reshape her public image away from being a pop idol. While it remains unclear how much Mima genuinely desires to be an actress, this ambiguity deepens the film’s thematic exploration of identity, who is the real Mima, and is she content with who she’s become?

30 years after its initial release, Perfect Blue remains visually striking. Madhouse animated a film that feels truly timeless and unlike anything that has graced the screen. A shot very early on, where the stalker aligns his hand to make it appear as though Mima is dancing in his palm, is nothing short of breathtaking. Every frame contributes to the narrative, and even something as simple as the gradual messiness of her apartment is rendered with remarkable detail and intention.

Perfect Blue is a masterpiece. Nothing else resembles this film, and nothing will ever replicate the haunting magic it conjures. I adored it when I first saw it in 2018, and I still adore it in 2025. Experiencing it in crystal-clear 4K on the big screen is an opportunity not to be missed.

★★★★★

In Cinemas on October 10th and on 4K Blu-ray from December 8th / Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji, Masaaki Ōkura, Yōsuke Akimoto / Dir: Satoshi Kon / Anime Limited / 18