Perfect Blue

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Alternative Titles

Japanese: パーフェクトブルー
English: Perfect Blue
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Information

Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Feb 28, 1998
Producers: Rex Entertainment, ONIRO
Licensors: GKIDS
Studios: Madhouse
Source: Novel
Genres: Avant GardeAvant Garde, Award WinningAward Winning, DramaDrama, HorrorHorror, SuspenseSuspense
Themes: Adult CastAdult Cast, PsychologicalPsychological, ShowbizShowbiz
Duration: 1 hr. 21 min.
Rating: R+ - Mild Nudity

Statistics

Score: 8.551 (scored by 400651400,651 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #1152
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #284
Members: 746,660
Favorites: 20,169

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Recommendations

Both of them gives you the feeling of twisted reality. If you like that kind of anime, you probably like both Serial Experiments Lain and Perfect Blue. 
report Recommended by ziomson
Psychological thriller movies Directed by Satoshi Kon. They both blur the lines between fantasy and reality. 
report Recommended by Chicken008
Both take more grounded, realistic takes on the struggles of being a Japanese idol.  
report Recommended by JakCooper2
Dark and edgy philosophical and psuedo-spiritual undertones resonate powerfully beneath the derma of an expertly animated and artistically executed series that explores human pyschology and how individuals cope with the pressure of living. 
report Recommended by Psychonaut
Both deal with characters who are paranoid and question reality. If you enjoyed one you'll likely enjoy the other as well. 
report Recommended by Danish
On the surface these animes are actually nothing alike, but they both have the ability to screw with your mind a great deal. So, my thinking is if you're the type that enjoys a good mind-fcuk... well, Perfect Blue and Eva are probably two animes you should check out =) 
report Recommended by jenreifu
These Satoshi Kon's movies resemble each other in many aspects. Both tell private lifes of the stars. It's sometimes hard to distinguish reality and fiction in both of them (although in MA, thanks to the different centuries presented, it's a lot easier than in the PB). Drawing style is just the same, atmosphere as well, mysterious, awkward. Both are half-realistic, very psychological and kept in the same style. And definitely, both are recommended. 
report Recommended by umekichi
Both go through dreams and reality. Both confusing as hell. Both Mind F**ks. 
report Recommended by Vandah
Even though the plots are fairly different, both anime have a similar atmosphere. Both are quite dark and disturbing, having a lot of violence and gore, as well as trippy dream-like sequences that blur the difference between fiction and imagination through the usage of surreal imagery. 
report Recommended by BohemianRhapsody
This is a recommendation for the first part of Memories - Magnetic Rose. These stories are set in completely different settings, but both deal with hallucinations and desire to the point where the main character will find it difficult to seperate illusions from reality. Both stories are written by the late Satoshi Kon. 
report Recommended by Yamaro
I'm surprised no one has made this recommendation yet considering the fact that they both somewhat revolve around a serial killer, though in Perfect Blue the MC is being stalked while in Monster the main character is looking for the killer. Both of these can be quite thrilling and can often play with your head thus leaving you mind fucked. If you love psychological thrillers, then either one of these will be right up your alley and they're both well written, whilst Monster is a bit lengthy. 
report Recommended by Noriko_Takaya
Very similar atmosphere and style. They each have pretty intense endings which leave you questioning the characters' motives. 
report Recommended by Danish
Ok, so there's not much in common as far as stories go but they do share similar moods and a rather serious style to their respective storytelling. They both also deal with and contemplate the nature of the human psyche. I recommend Perfect Blue mostly because I watched the two almost back to back and while I personally think Perfect Blue is the better film it's quite a bit darker than Ghost in the Shell. I enjoyed them both immensely and I feel you will too. So in summary, both films while lacking in obvious similarities are close in their story telling styles and the  read more 
report Recommended by OrangeCakeJam
Both involve the existential horror of working in the Japanese Idol industry and touch upon the obsessive and anti-social behavior of some of the more insane fans. 
report Recommended by LegendaryRQA
The feeling I had watching Perfect Blue was so similar to A Kite that I was surprised nobody made this recommendation yet. Even tho A Kite is listed as a hentai because of its explicit sexual content, it is actually a psychological horror story with an atmosphere very similar to perfect blue. It is also about a girl forced to do something she doesn't really like, which then has to face dangerous situations involving people close to her. Both are stacked with murder. A kite has more gore and more sexual content, while Perfect Blue staggers with the psychological trauma of the lead character. 
report Recommended by Aethyr13
Both share psychological thriller and horror elements and have alot of torture on in it and a very dark and broody atmosphere as well too. 
report Recommended by Disapeared_Ghost
Although inherently different in some respects, the parallel I'm drawing between the popular and beloved time travel phenomenon with this older and likewise beloved movie are the themes of self-identity, of its degradation following distressing circumstances, of trauma and its ability to blur our vision of reality, distorting the very senses that leave us on the brink of sanity, and of the prevalent idea that upon losing one's sense of self, upon discovering that "other" voice in the back of your heart, you begin to fall into what seems like a bottomless pit, leaving you to question "is this the real me?" 
report Recommended by Kool-Kaa9
This anime share some similarities with "Kanashimi no Belladonna," such as their exploration of taboo subjects, their experimental animation styles, and their willingness to challenge audiences with complex themes and ideas. They offer unique and thought-provoking viewing experiences that are sure to leave a lasting impression. 
report Recommended by eternally-missed
Whilst the two are very much far apart, a slap of reality could not be more effective in the two anime as given. PB and TPN are too anime that know how a clap of reality will forever change your perspective on the world. PB's incredible crescendo into the true broken idea of what even is reality anymore. TPN's twist of fate for what your whole entire life has been manufactured and agreed to be without consent. The message becomes clear. Despite no control over it. Your wishful reality. Gone. Good anime for their target audience, a real tension in the air alongside some crazy good animation  read more 
report Recommended by NextUniverse
Alas, beautiful life is often not given to all. A broken human is often one that is the sentient of emotional pain for dear viewers. Violet Evergarden and Perfect Blue, are two anime with respectable mistresses that find themselves on the wrong side of the coin in life. One that comes at the cost of a very human part. The sanity of the mind, PB explores such as how it can be twisted, distorted, manufactured, all of the above as life continues on in this weird world of superimposition between both the truth of reality, and the psychedelics of the imagination. In the loss of love,  read more 
report Recommended by NextUniverse
Nightmare. An entirely long one at that. Perfect Blue and Tokyo Ghoul are synonyms for events that never seem to end, they do everything they can to try to break out of such prison, but time and time again, it has been proven such a feat is beyond reach. PB is Mima's trip along what is reality, and what isn't, whereas TG's embrace of reality, is followed up with coping Kaneki fighting for a life he never asked for. Both are pretty good anime, although TG is a little more polarizing in comparison to the cult classic PB. Still anime you should at least attempt.  
report Recommended by NextUniverse
Sonny Boy is, in my opinion, very obviously inspired by Satoshi Kon's work, both in content and style. The first episode alone emulates Kon's psychological filmmaking style and the animation closely resembles artistic choices used in Perfect Blue and Paprika.  
report Recommended by Kriemhild_FE
Dementia anime that are about the psychological (and in parts physical) suffering of a female protagonist. 
report Recommended by abystoma2
Both are mindblowing movies that challenge your ability to differentiate reality and fantasy. Perfect Blue is a tad more disturbing, but Mind Game has its fair share of WTFery, just in different flavors. 
report Recommended by Numi
Has similar disturbing stories. Sometimes you don't know if that is happening is real or just a dream. The stories are adults and the styles are similar. Full of violence and nightmares.  
report Recommended by Arabelo
Both are seinen murder mystery and suspense thrillers that have serious tone and don't mind showing gore. Both toy with issues of self-identity and involve solving a mystery to identify murderous stalkers. 
report Recommended by saka
Shiki and Perfect Blue are top tier examples of psychological thriller anime. Perfect Blue is a very layered movie using its themes to build paranoia and terror. You witness the main character being increasingly pressured as she is dealing with an unknown stalker until its climatic ending. Shiki is much more than a horror vampire/monster anime, which is what people often emphasize in their recommendations. How Shiki builds terror and suspense through the consequence of living in a community being preyed upon by vampires is make makes this anime an excellent psychological thriller. Both anime understand how to create atmosphere that will keep the tension  read more 
report Recommended by lancelot200
First of all, PB and EP are deeply psychological animes. They're both about people, whose life was severely deranged by their own hasty decisions and then settled as a result of painful mental metamorphosis. Main characters of both these animes try to find out their true identity: Vincent, having lost his memories, has lost his way in life either and tries to recollect them to regain his raison d'etre, whereas Mima's dreams and desires has gotten at odds with her current life situation and she suffers, because she can't figure out, whether the way she lives is right. So both Vincent and Mima experience some kind of  read more 
report Recommended by lotrus28
at first glance, the two don't really seem similiar other than their animation style as they were both directed by Satoshi Kon but 'Tokyo Godfathers' and 'Perfect Blue' both happen to have commentary that is even more relevant today than when they were made 
report Recommended by May_chan567
dark thriller anime with a female protagonist that goes through a lot, that along with weird and messed up moments, nudity, gore and all that good stuff too 
report Recommended by May_chan567
When life gets to one, you being to make the instinctive choice. Running. Run as far away as you can from these nonsensical irrational delusions of the mind, but are they? I'd recommend both movies, short and long, covering the same idea in a magnificent sense. 
report Recommended by NextUniverse
If you're more into psychological horror elements in Midori, you will enjoy Perfect Blue. Not only that, but it's a better movie. 
report Recommended by Walrus_Mist
Psychological thriller with a mentally unstable protagonist who can't distinguish delusions from reality. 
report Recommended by dodger_88
Puzzle. Connect the pieces, and what do you find yourself with? I don't want to get into it too much, the fun lies within the viewing. Beware, however, of the warped perception, where does it start and where does it end? It's a fun little game, one more obvious than the other, but the same rules apply. Have fun.  
report Recommended by NextUniverse
Avant-Garde, late 90s animation vibes, amazing animation and a story of transformation, looking for identity and overcoming abuse. Perfect Blue is way more explicit and realistic though, Utena goes more to the artistic-fantasy side. 
report Recommended by eblf2013
Slow paced and are both very comforting to watch with fitting soundtracks. 
report Recommended by Vivagel
Just a quick disclaimer, the premise in "Aikatsu Planet" is nothing similar nor identical to the concepts such as insanity, crime, and other dark topics that "Perfect Blue" has to offer. The only similarity within their premise is that it is about a Japanese idol. I think the two are similar because they kind of exhibit the same artistic approach. It delivers the aspects from both what is fantasy and what is reality then converges them into a single product. Some people who watched "Perfect Blue" might not find "Aikatsu Planet" as equally enjoyable nor entertaining, but this is just my opinion. 
report Recommended by Solaris-----
You don't have to be the cause of your own demise, those next to you can easily break your life even if unwelcomed. School Days and Perfect Blue are unfortunate realities of those close to you, in some shape or form, being able to wipe off all the happiness they once gave you. A pitiful tale of young maidens being broken. School Days does this with Kotonoha's relationship with Makoto quickly going to hell due to the immoral behaviour of the latter. Perfect Blue has a similar relationship, only the distance is far apart, still an unhealthy one at that however a hardcore Mima fan is  read more 
report Recommended by NextUniverse
A dark mood with a hint of madness is what fills these two series. They give you a deeper view into the psychics of humans, both realistic and not, and is bound to entertain the one who like dementia. A given choice. 
report Recommended by Zonecommander26
Perfect Blue is a psychological thriller film whose legacy and critical acclaim surpasses most anime films. A Study in Murder, as a paranormal thriller film, might not have the literary depth found in Perfect Blue, but it does offer excellent animation and action sequences. Are you ready for more murderous suspense?  
report Recommended by lancelot200
both have a character who is depressed enough either to kill themselves or others. They are struggle to push away all bad hallucination that seems more real than reality, and then keep facing the harsh reality. Character design is similar too, they are mature and classic 
report Recommended by boyoungsi
Idols, mental health problems, sexual assault and creepy stuff. 
report Recommended by abystoma2
While Revolutionary Girl Utena and Perfect Blue are both psychological masterpieces, they are completely different in terms of which genres they would additionally be associated with. Revolutionary Girl Utena is definitely shojou in its art and character design and there's the magical girl element to the show whereas Perfect Blue is much dark I will argue and more mature in its tone and art. However, both shows are incredible in the way they blur the line between real and surreal and if you enjoy that aspect of Revolutionary Girl Utena, then you will definitely fine Perfect Girl thrilling. It is a bit more on the  read more 
report Recommended by aled93
Surreal, dark and atmospheric, interesting perspectives and backgrounds, psychological themes and violence 
report Recommended by swampsickness
Would be spoilers to say the main reason why but both are loaded with mind fuck and have some very nice fan service. 
report Recommended by fancyplants
Not for kids: both have that´heavy psychological´mindfucks that deflects of the main charachter about pretty everything he/she goes through, especially for an oldskool masterpiece like perfect blue wich goes more on the ´thriller´side, Ichi the killer is more violent on a gore side wich goes out of control, i like them both!!! 
report Recommended by Shura-shurato
If you watched either of those you probably got this feeling that you have seen something special. Something that is not like what you usually see. Maybe it is because of the subject matter of each of the movies. Maybe it is because of the seriously good animation. Or maybe because each movie is realistic, yet not boring or mundane. But no matter the reason, they are both special, and you would not regret watching it. And... if you have seen one of the movies, you know there is some adult material in it, right? Not anything explicit, just not something that you should show  read more 
report Recommended by sindarfrom
They're both very psychological, and can really mess with your brain. Both have very complex and confusing plots, and are very violent. 
report Recommended by ChibiBeartha
Dark psychological horror movies with similar themes; celebrity idolisation and acting industry. Beauty Water is a social commentary that explores the dark aspects of the aforementioned themes through surreal horror, with a focus on the heroine's mentality. Perfect Blue, on the other hand, is a straightforward crime mystery psychological horror movie set in a setting that incorporates the aforementioned themes. 
report Recommended by Deago
Strong independent women that don't need no man to save them from no trouble no sir. 
report Recommended by mimimilk
Both anime focus on women dealing with societies that seem to be constantly against them and threaten psychological/physical harm to their bodies. 
report Recommended by RiverSorcerer
Both works show the uglier side of the idol industry, but while Perfect Blue turns it into horror, Kimama ni Idol takes a comedic approach 
report Recommended by St0rmblade
Both deal with fiction, crimes, and reality blurring together. 
report Recommended by Third-Impact
Deals with psychology. If you liked Kuuchuu, Perfect Blue is definitively worth checking out as it falls into that abstract psychological genre as Kuuchuu, Mind Game, Paranoia Agent and Paprika. These series are King in value, in my opinion.  
report Recommended by Zeromus267
What is what it says it is and what isn't? A whole warping world of what is and what doesn't sound like a lot of fun too. It is true for Cat Soup, which is an adventure of what in the what isn't or is it, in comparison to a Perfect Blue "get-me-the-hell-out" of this bent what isn't or is it. A diverging way to take on what is essentially the same thing. Cat Soup is more physical compared to Perfect Blue's more mental attacks.  
report Recommended by NextUniverse