Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40004 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-05-02
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Animated, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 81 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the most ambitious animated films to come out of Japan (or anywhere, for that matter), Perfect Blue is an adult psycho-thriller that uses the freedom of the animated image to create the subjective reality of a young actress haunted by the ghost of her past identity. Mima is a singer who leaves her teeny-bop trio to become an actress in a violent television series, a career move that angers her fans, who prefer to see her as the pert, squeaky-clean pop idol. Plagued by self-doubt and tormented by humiliating compromises, she begins to be stalked, in her waking and sleeping moments, by an accusing alter ego who claims to be "the real Mima", until she collapses into madness as her co-workers are brutally slain around her. Director Satoshi Kon, adapting the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, shows us the world from her schizophrenic perspective: days blur, dreams cross over into the waking world, the TV show blends into her real life, until her life merges with her part and she can't separate the ghosts from the real-life stalkers. Though the pat ending sweeps the psychosis and anxiety away with nary an emotional scar, it remains a smart, stylish thriller and one of the most intelligent and compelling uses of animation in recent years. Though tame by the extreme standards of "adult anime", there is nudity and a few sexually provocative scenes, and the animation is detailed and stylised (if somewhat stiff and jerky by Disney standards). --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

intense anime
I agree that this is no jolly ghibli like experience but then who says that all anime must be. This is a truly deep and dark delve into the human mind in a way that is relevant and very brave. The artistry and overal structure of the film is sublime and as a live action would have won acclaim, yet animate it and people get very uncomfortable. The disturbing moments that do dipict rape are very much fundimental to the reasoning of character development and are not i believe the whim of a director trying to shock. If you can stick with this film and open your mind to see the truth of this film you will be greatly rewarded by what I consider to be the bravest anime out there. You will have to watch a few times to grasp the whole picture of the storyline but thats a bonus in my opinion as who wants to buy something that they get bored with first time through? The only reason that this is not rated a five is because I found it to be a very uneasy experince that Understandably will limit its audience..NOT FOR KIDS..

18 cert Anime- check before watching!!
Ok for those who normally like anime yet were freaked out by the violent and [...] nature of the film shoudl read these guidelines. Hint: the person who watched studio ghibli then this.

U= Universal, safe for children but not with necessarily a childish ideas and concepts. May not have graphic [...] and violence but don't always expect fluff.
PG= Still okay for children, but expect more deep idea and confusing issues. Expect blood, some guts and perhaps people with less clothes on than some would call tasteful.
12= Definately not for under 12's but for 12+ depends on your kids. Much more blood and perhaps some nakedness.
15= Some adults will be shocked with what content that is allowed. Proves that cartoons are NOT always for children. Sometimes complete nakedness, usally female, but not in a [...] way. Much gore.
18= [...], gore, terror, violence, nakedness, profanities...you name it it may have it. These are not porn films but can be mistaken for them, as Japanese animators are quite fearless. When watching an 18 anime, check reviews and description, knowlage is key because seriously these films are NOT for the fient hearted or prudish.

Lets just say "Perfect Blue" deserves its 18 category. If you are intellectually mature then you will appreciate this film.

Dark, sinister and disturbing.
Since picking up most the Studio ghibli titles I thought I'd delve into other anime. I'm starting to wish I hadn't looked at this one. It's certainly not for the fate-hearted. Fair enough it had an 18 certificate but I didn't realise rape and sexul obsession would play key role. Some scenes even though anime, were overally perveted in my opinion and were just an excuse to be made into anime as it is easier to get away with than film.

Even Manga has its limits.