Paprika - Review

Some titles like Serial Experiment: Lain exhibit increasingly confusing plot twists that seem to thrive on their incomprehensive nature just about enough to convince you that the creator just served you a complex banquet of style over substance. With bizarre "classics" like Lain in mind it would seem that at least a considerable portion of anime fans are starting to support the notion that understanding is unnecessary and that the only justification a Mindfuck title needs to revel in its complex glory is the exploration of some philosophical or sociological theme. With these fascinated, dubious and more than anything ambivalent thoughts in my head I set out to re-watch Paprika; the last full-length feature ever produced by Satoshi Kon otherwise known as the demised master of visual expression. In this piece of amateurish writing I'll do my best to sum up my thoughts.

Story: 8/10

Once you've reached the, in my opinion mistaken, conclusion that absolute comprehension is unnecessary it might be a good choice to value the experience a complex movie provides rather than its explanations. In this sense Paprika is an undeniable success as it makes use of a concept we've encountered before, where the once unexplored landscapes of our dreams can be invaded after recent technological advances, to manufacture a story of originality and brilliance. Throughout the movie we get to follow the team of scientists who developed this technology as they are attacked by a dream terrorist who seems to have stolen a copy of their equipment. This results in outbreak after outbreak of severe psychological terror causing suicide attempts and downright disturbing behavior. Sounds interesting? That's because it most certainly is.

There can be no denial that Satoshi Kon has mastered the art of carefully structuring a narrative as he blessed his final work with enough psychedelic nightmare sequences combined with clever dialogue and a refreshing sense of humour to make it an incredibly memorable ride. Paprika breaks several clichés in its profound determination to entertain whilst telling an increasingly interesting and complex story in a creative and semi-experimental approach. Viewers are offered a gloriously surreal spectacle where dreams merge not only with other dreams but also with reality, resulting in an intellectual, if a tad incomprehensive acid trip of amazing proportions. Disappointed over not understanding the movie after the first watch? Don't worry, that is definitely to be expected. After several viewings though I'd like to add that Paprika despite popular belief does bother to explain its oddities in a relatively comprehensive language and the notion that it's too complex for its own good is one that I simply don't support. The fact that you'll need to re-watch it an unspecific number of times to get the gist of it might be considered a flaw in and of itself though. You make the call.

Animation: 9/10

In the world of Japanese animation you'll find several collaborations that are as frequent as they are benevolent. The one between Studio Ghibli and composer Joe Hisaishi is one example but seems to fade in comparison to the splendid co-operation between Satoshi Kon and animation studio Madhouse. When Paprika was first released in 2006 it looked absolutely stunning and six years later it has maintained its ability to mesmerize in its visual appeal. As the key point of the entire movie itself the visual section seems determined to observe a landscape of dreams that constantly changes based on interior and exterior events which result in a disturbing and beautiful turmoil of bizarre proportions. Just like a character mentions in the later part of the movie, there are no boundaries in dreams, a statement that the entire movie exploits in frame after frame of surreal brilliance.

Sound: 7/10

I really wish somebody had bothered to give Paprika a less introverted soundtrack. Admittedly, the common lack of attention-demanding music does work in favor of the atmosphere on a few occasions but some moments seem to demand a heavier instrumental focus to more properly enhance the suspense. Don't get me wrong, some scenes are complimented by interesting and memorable electronic compositions that fit in perfectly with the overall surreal approach, but judging the soundtrack in itself is a tedious chore because there isn't that much to speak of. Worth to mention though is that the voice actors maintain a relatively high quality that suits a movie of such top notch production values.

Characters: 6/10

So far we've been talking about all the magnificent things Paprika features but now it’s time to actually mention some of its flaws. Most experimental features are so pre-occupied when it comes to featuring cryptic commentaries on the aspects of humanity and enhance their visual exhibitions further that they forget to place a heavier focus on characterization. Thanks to the terrific script, Paprika is almost able to escape from this curse as numerous dialogues explain characteristics in ways that almost replace direct development. One example includes one of the wheelchair-bound chairmen for the company that produced the above mentioned technology used to invade dreams. As contrary to how a regular movie would make use of somebody in a powerful position this man seems to reject further technological advances that defile what he describes as the sanctuary of dreams. In other words he provides the moral value usually uttered by a main character only to metamorphose into a menacing antagonist who seems to have discovered the value of freedom he can only achieve in his dreams. Other examples include a surprising side story of a romantic nature and a dream world alter ego whose identity and relation to her realistic equivalent are shrouded in mystery. What needs to be said though is that all of this is based on minor implications gradually revealed throughout the story and while this in itself is an indication of skillful writing it doesn't entirely hide the fact that Paprika lacks the time to do things directly.

Overall: 8/10

Despite a few flaws, Paprika is intelligent enough to rely more on its visual superiority to transcend what some might call the boundaries of storytelling, making it the perfect gateway drug for those who haven't realized what the medium has to offer. In its ability to fascinate and encourage additional viewings it stands out as a remarkable feature that more than anything else is a title well worthy of being the last creation of Satoshi Kon*. If you're looking for an intellectual but comprehensive, occasionally slow-paced but intense tribute to moviemaking and the abilities of humanity, look no further.

* Unless Madhouse actually manages to finish the movie he was currently working on before he died.

Anime Shorts - The Diary of Tortov Riddle

Tortov himself

A common misconception about animated shorts states that they, bathing in creativity or not, never reach the same heights of storytelling as full-length features. While it's true that there's little room left for plot devices and character development if you happen to have a running time that doesn't even surpass half an hour, I still find this notion absolutely ridiculous. Rather than observing a short film and condemn it based on the lack of things you'd find in a movie, I've always been under the belief that the approach itself needs to be changed in accordance to the running time. Hopefully, viewers who happen to come across the subject of today's pointless scribbles will have their perception of animated shorts changed forever in the beautiful, mesmerizing and absolutely pointless creation that goes under the name: The Diary of Tortov Riddle.

Rabbits! As well as fellow travelers.

Now, visually speaking this little eccentricity plays out exactly like one would expect the incestuous offspring of Tim Burton and Cat Soup to do; character designs tend to be tall and slim; the color palette is muted to the extreme and there are enough semi-artsy oddities to give Yoji Kuji a heart attack. Story-wise though, the atmosphere seems a lot more inspired by Kino's Journey as the protagonist of the film, Tortov Riddle, travels on a pig with extraordinarily long legs, facing various encounters with other creatures as well as experiencing various strange things. His travels are documented in his diary which is shown at certain points, usually at the end of each story. Unlike Kino’s Journey though there are no fables or general lessons in moral to be found. Tortov is merely a lonely traveler whose motivations are never revealed and who seems to treasure his bizarre encounters more than anything else.

Tortov's pig thingy.

All in all there are six stories that together create a running time of approximately 18 minutes. These minutes are well spent on beautifully surreal artwork that depicts everything from Tortov's encounter with a mysterious woman to a town hosting a cinema party by projecting an animated movie on the back of a peculiar bear-hybrid thingy. Keep in mind that few of the stories have actual conclusions and there is no continuity to find whatsoever. The best way to enjoy it is to take in the beautiful but simplistic visuals as well as the equally harmonic soundtrack that relies on everything from pianos to more unusual instruments to establish a dreamlike feeling few other movies manage to invoke.

An absolutely normal town of common
mundane normalities!

The world of animated shorts suffers from an over-representation from the admittedly masterful Makoto Shinkai whose Voices of a Distant Star continues to rightfully mesmerize. However, in recent years it's become quite apparent that there are other creators out there producing shorts that reach an almost similar kind of quality. The Diary of Tortov Riddle was directed by Kunio Katou who later went on to create the Oscar-winning La Maison en Petits Cubet which I also recommend. However, inside the realm of anime shorts, that I have explored somewhat thoroughly, Tortov Riddle stands out as one of the better creations I've seen. It's able to invoke a strange feeling of an almost childlike wonder that makes you absolutely content just witnessing the peculiarities the film exhibits rather than questioning them. Sleep is never an easy thing for me, but after I finished watching this for the second time I fell asleep almost immediately and although I can't remember any of my dreams I'm sure they were quite pleasant acid trips from the fascinating and beautiful world of Tortaria.

Revolutionary Girl Utena - Review

Kunihiko Ikuhara is a director who used to work for Toei Animation on the production of Sailor Moon. When he left in 1996 he was frustrated over the restrictions imposed upon him and eventually created another shoujo series in which he took every cliché of the genre; every intensified component of fairy tales; each and every aspect of adolescent struggles and combined all of it in an apocalyptic turmoil of psychological drama. The result is called Revolutionary Girl Utena and is known by fans as one of the more eccentric and allegorical titles available in the world of anime.

Story: 8/10

In her younger years, Utena Tenjou met with a prince who comforted her after the deaths of her parents and received a beautiful ring together with the promise that they’d meet again as long as she maintains her nobility. She swore to become a prince herself and eventually ends up attending the strange Ohtori academy in which the student council members participate in duels where the winner gains possession of “The Rose Bride” Anthy; a mysteriously submissive girl who, according to an unknown entity known as “End of the World” holds the power to bring the world revolution.

Seductive Playboy Touga is one of
the less benevolent characters.

The above is about as much as one can give away without moving into Spoiler-land. The story revolves around a series of duels Utena has to win once she’s gotten possession of Anthy and relies on a highly repetitive formula with lots of stock footage to establish an almost ritualistic feeling for each episode. Combine this with the exploration of most subjects relevant to the process of adolescent maturity that you can think of and add Ikuhara’s fetish for prominent symbolism for further comprehension of Utena’s nature.

Another important factor is that the show treasures character development more than plot progression up to the point where the two terms not only complement but replace each other in favor of captivating storytelling. Viewers who demand a straight-forward approach will find themselves disappointed over the fact that most revelations are subtle and can only be found in the symbolism that ranges from simplistic to downright nightmarish. As far as purpose goes, the central story in Utena is not revealed until the later part of the show which means that patience is a virtue you’ll require. Those who can accept characterization as a substitute for traditional storytelling will enjoy this immensely and the subtle complexity of the story, as well as the high rewatch value, makes this a gem in the unpredictable sea of anime.

Animation: 8/10

Utena creates a fascinatingly surreal landscape with top notch animation based on contemporary standards and a visual direction that glorifies eccentricities. Masterfully including traditional concepts like shadow puppets but complementing them with heavy allegorical undertones, Ikuhara is so formidable when it comes to creating beauty that it’s no wonder people interpret every single frame in the show as symbolic.

Before her duels, Utena pulls the
sword of Dios out of Anthy's chest.

As should be expected, proclaiming that every frame carries symbolic value borders on both ridiculous and pretentious but, as will be clear to anyone who watches this, the entire series is packed with various undertones that reach the almost insane levels where the majority of stances; the most slight aspects of a character’s body language represent something such as dominance or submission. People who enjoy interpreting symbolism would be wise not to underestimate Utena since it might prove far too incomprehensive without several viewings. 


Even if you exclude the beautiful allegories, the show is a visual extravaganza with beautifully animated vignettes and splendid fluidity that creates an artistic flare that can’t be compared to any other anime out there.

Sound: 9/10

Utena thrives on featuring epic choirs who present increasingly bizarre lyrics that contemplate either duels or the repetitive preparations the protagonist undergoes before the actual fighting. Almost all the songs used throughout the show were designed for the very purpose of being used in it and few of them fail to provide a feeling of grandeur that is much needed. From an instrumental perspective the very same quality can be found in beautiful pieces dominated by violins and skillful piano play that’s about as impressively suiting as the magnificent voice acting.

Characters: 10/10

Protagonist Utena and possible love-
interest Anthy.

Every duelist in the student council has his own motivations for wanting the Rose Bride. While the story cryptically declares that she holds the key to revolutionizing the world, all of these individuals know what they want to change but seem to be clueless as to how. One thing is clear though, and that is that they all carry plenty of psychological baggage that include everything from severe brother complexes that border on the sexual frontiers and unrequited homosexual love. All of this creates an increasingly dark inferno of severely deranged emotions that origin from the very darkest aspects of human consciousness that Ikuhara wants to portray. There are few characters in Utena who have simplistic reasons for acting like they do. Furthermore, all of them are equipped with personal flaws that make the characterization come off as incredibly realistic. More importantly than anything else, though, they all relate to each other in various complex ways that create the very foundation for the plot.

In the end, the characters in Utena are nothing short of fantastic. It’s surprising to see them develop in a painfully realistic fashion whereas the story itself holds little regard for logic, but that in itself adds further to the sincere charm that complements the darker elements of the series. As is getting horribly rare for me as far as fictional works goes, I found at least a few characters I could relate to and I’m certain that most teenagers will. Come for the visual promises of eccentric glamour and stay for the top notch characterization!

Overall: 9/10

Utena is not perfect but then again I doubt anything fictional ever can be. Several episodes exist for no other purpose than to highlight a specific trait in a character we’re already aware of in occasionally amusing and occasionally tedious slapstick. However, with a thespian soundtrack and a serenely beautiful sense of expression the show chooses to explore interesting themes and glorify the very concept of eccentricities! The narrative uses hidden subtleties and a repetitive formula to work its way towards a climax of epic proportions propelled by the exceptionally wonderful characterization. If I were to summarize this review in one compliment I would say that nothing has been made either before or since that can be closely compared to the bizarre masterpiece that is Revolutionary Girl Utena.