paprika

" Evidence that Japanese animators are reaching for the moon, while most of their American counterparts remain stuck in the kiddie sandbox" - NYT

poster source

Review: A one of a kind spectacle, defined by fabulous animations, with a nearly random, surreal plot. This was such an amazing experience: visually exhausting and absolutely insane! With a mesmerizing soundtrack by the wonderful Susumu Hirasawa, this movie manages to be light and vivid despite it's dark themes. I really need to see this again, on the big screen.

Here is a link to the Paprika website.

Synopsis: Based on the novel of the same name from 1993 by the Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutsui, and written by Satoshi Kon and Seishi Minakami, this dense, rather overly plotted story revolves around a group of experimental scientists who have developed a new psychiatric tool. Known as the DC Mini the device allows a treating doctor to enter directly into their patient’s dream, interacting with them to diagnose and treat any issues that the dream may suggest. The project is in danger, however, when the three latest DC Mini devices, just completed and without the proper security protocols installed, are stolen from their creator. This threatens all boundaries between the two worlds to break, with the realm of the dreams entering and overtaking reality. Several characters engage in a search for these devices, and an endeavour to save the world: police detective Toshimi Konakawa, 29 year old Dr. Atsuko Chiba, an attractive but modest Japanese research psychotherapist and her alter-ego, a stunning and fearless 18 year old “dream detective,” code named PAPRIKA, who can enter into people’s dreams and synchronize with their unconscious to help uncover the source of their anxiety or neurosis.

The director: More than any other, Satoshi Kon is an explorer of the subconscious mind. While Tokyo Godfathers stands as an exception to the rule, Kon’s work (Paranoia Agent, Perfect Blue, Paprika) is concerned with questions of memory, perception and identity. Here you can read an interview with Satoshi Kon on the movie.

source 1, source 2

This is an interesting MV of "Paprika" with the song "Girl in Byakoya". The wonderful OST can be bought on amazon.

Here you can watch the trailer:

Watch Paprika trailer en HD in Unterhaltung | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com