Based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, ‘Perfect Blue’ follows the life of pop star Mima Kirigoe who decides to leave her singing career with J-pop group Cham behind and instead become a full time actress. However, things do not go to plan when she has second thoughts about her decision, which soon manifest themselves as terrifying hallucinations. To make matters worse, she stumbles upon a mysterious website dedicated to her which seems to know every detail about her life and apparently takes on a life of its own. In an even more bizarre twist, events in her own life begin to mirror those of the gritty murder/mystery TV series she is starring in as friends and colleagues are terrorised and brutally murdered by person or persons unknown. Feeling alone and afraid, Mima struggles to separate reality and her nightmarish delusions, as her world begins to crumble and her own life is threatened.

Unusually for an anime, 'Perfect Blue' is set in the present day, with an animation style designed to be true-to-life rather than fantastical. As a result, it is easy to forget that it's an animation, and you find yourself instead concentrating on deciding what is real and what is in the heroine's own imagination. The innocent and naïve Mima is easy to relate to and the supporting cast include a convincing and well-written mixture of loyal fans, seasoned media types and one or two shadowy figures that are sinister and genuinely frightening. The story is full of twists and turns, having a few things to say about the entertainment industry along the way.

‘Perfect Blue’ has been described as being in the style of Alfred Hitchcock, and it is easy to see why. The dialogue, eerie music score and the overwhelming sense of suspense whip up the tension and make this a very compelling psychological thriller. It is challenging viewing for a number of reasons, not least because of the graphic violence and adult themes (as reflected in the 18 certificate), but because the viewer has to concentrate on the complex storyline and as a result it is one of those films that really needs a second viewing. One section in particular is especially confusing and the viewer is not likely to work out what is going on until much later; in that respect, there is also a David Lynch kind of atmosphere to the whole thing that is also novel and refreshing. Fortunately, the DVD extras include interviews with some of the English and Japanese voice actors as well as the director, which shed some more light on things.

In Summary

Overall, this is a cleverly-written if occasionally confusing analysis on the costs and consequences of fame and stardom. If anything can disprove the myth that animation cannot be ‘grown-up’ and intelligent, ‘Perfect Blue’ is just that. A likeable heroine, fluid and crisp animation and genuine shocks and plot twists make this film very much out of the ordinary and well worth watching.