Paprika is (2006) is a Sci-Fi anime film directed by Satoshi Kon. The story was based on a novel of the same name, written by Yasutaka Tsutsui in 1993.
The core premise of the film, when broken down to its very basic, is about a scientific break-though and there are individual who seeks to us this new found power for their own personal gain. The story follows a heroine 'Paprika' who is the virtual/dream-state alter-ego of Doctor Atsuko Chiba. Chiba is the leader of the team of scientists who has developed a device (Called the 'DC Mini') that allows the users to enter peoples dreams, see what’s going on in their heads and even take control and alter the reality of these dreams. This technology was created for the purpose treating Patients with psychological problems. The DC mini falls into the wrong hands and Chiba and her team has to investigate and find out who has stolen it and take it back before things start going sideways so no one will be harmed. By the time the villains are revealed it was too late as people has been injured and the real world and the world of dreams begins to merge into one.
Paprika deals with themes of the unconsciousness and unresolved issues. The movie centers a lot of attention around a male character, Detective Toshimi Konakawa, and his recurring dream. At the beginning of the film, the dream sequence were very surreal as it’s it features him in various films genres. Throughout the movie we find out why these dreams were given him anxiety. It was due to an unfinished movie that Konakawa was making with his friend in his younger years. Towards the end of Paprika, Konakawa came to terms with his guilt and finish his movie whiles in his dream state.
Paprika deals with themes of the unconsciousness and unresolved issues. The movie centers a lot of attention around a male character, Detective Toshimi Konakawa, and his recurring dream. At the beginning of the film, the dream sequence were very surreal as it’s it features him in various films genres. Throughout the movie we find out why these dreams were given him anxiety. It was due to an unfinished movie that Konakawa was making with his friend in his younger years. Towards the end of Paprika, Konakawa came to terms with his guilt and finish his movie whiles in his dream state.
Director
Satoshi Kon was a Japanese director, animator, screenwriter and manga artist. “Like David Lynch - a film-maker Kon is frequently compared to - he is obsessed with the dreaming mind” (Naylor, 2008). Kon was often described as being particularly weird and experimental as a lot of japanese film make are. Kon had directed 4 major film before he passed away in 2010, with each one being more successful than the last. Those films are Perfect Blue Millennium Actress Tokyo Godfathers and Paprika.
Satoshi Kon was a Japanese director, animator, screenwriter and manga artist. “Like David Lynch - a film-maker Kon is frequently compared to - he is obsessed with the dreaming mind” (Naylor, 2008). Kon was often described as being particularly weird and experimental as a lot of japanese film make are. Kon had directed 4 major film before he passed away in 2010, with each one being more successful than the last. Those films are Perfect Blue Millennium Actress Tokyo Godfathers and Paprika.
Production
Paprika was animated in a 2D anime style. This choice of medium a allows the film to really express it’s themes of surrealism and dreams. One main thing that you can’t miss is the way morph animation is shown through the 2D forms. It’s comparable to to that of Akira, a sci fi anime film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Although the film is created in japanese anime style Paprika could be appreciated even by western audiences. “Whether you're an anime fiend or an inquisitive filmgoer, for 90 minutes, Paprika continually makes you see things in a new light” (Naylor, 2008).
Paprika was animated in a 2D anime style. This choice of medium a allows the film to really express it’s themes of surrealism and dreams. One main thing that you can’t miss is the way morph animation is shown through the 2D forms. It’s comparable to to that of Akira, a sci fi anime film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Although the film is created in japanese anime style Paprika could be appreciated even by western audiences. “Whether you're an anime fiend or an inquisitive filmgoer, for 90 minutes, Paprika continually makes you see things in a new light” (Naylor, 2008).
Reception
Paprika was well received by critics with 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (the review aggregator website). Manohla Dargis from New York Times has stated that “in “Paprika,” a gorgeous riot of future-shock ideas and brightly animated imagery, the doors of perception never close” (Dargis, 2007). The film has won multiple awards as well as numerous nominations. During the Tokyo International Anime Fair, in 2007, Paprika won the Best Feature Length Theatrical Anime Award.
Paprika was well received by critics with 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (the review aggregator website). Manohla Dargis from New York Times has stated that “in “Paprika,” a gorgeous riot of future-shock ideas and brightly animated imagery, the doors of perception never close” (Dargis, 2007). The film has won multiple awards as well as numerous nominations. During the Tokyo International Anime Fair, in 2007, Paprika won the Best Feature Length Theatrical Anime Award.
Sources
Naylor, A. (2008). Paprika: the stuff of dreams for filmgoers. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2008/jun/17/paprikathestuffofdreamsfo [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].
Dargis, M. (2007). Paprika - Movies - Review. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/movies/25papr.html [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].
