Perfect Blue (1997)
Anime film · 78 min · MADHOUSE · directed by Satoshi Kon
DramaHorrorPsychologicalThriller
MADHOUSE's Perfect Blue, directed by Satoshi Kon, is a psychological thriller following Mima, a pop idol transitioning to acting. As she navigates a new career, Mima's reality blurs with her on-screen roles and the online world, fueled by a stalker and her own dissolving identity. This drama explores themes of fame, perception, and the pressures faced by a female protagonist in the entertainment industry.
Perfect Blue screencaps & stills
Reference frames from Perfect Blue.
Perfect Blue in motion
Short loops for study, each cut to a single shot.
The story
Mima, a former pop star, attempts to reinvent herself as an actress. Her managers encourage this transition, leading her to accept a role on a television series. However, a dedicated portion of her fanbase resists her career change, particularly an obsessive stalker who monitors her every move, both online and in her personal life.
As Mima delves deeper into her acting career, a series of violent incidents begins to plague those around her. Simultaneously, she grapples with unsettling visions and a fracturing sense of self, blurring the lines between her past idol persona, her new acting roles, and her own identity. The story is driven by Mima's struggle to maintain her grip on reality while facing an increasingly dangerous threat that jeopardizes her sanity and her life.
Credits & cast
- Studio
- MADHOUSE
- Director
- Satoshi Kon
- Script
- Sadayuki Murai
- Character design
- Satoshi Kon
- Voice
- Junko Iwao as Mima Kirigoe
Where to watch Perfect Blue
Streaming services that list it. Availability changes by country.
Perfect Blue colour palette
The main colours across the whole film, by share of the picture.
Colour script
The dominant colour of each sampled frame, from the first minute to the last.
Where Perfect Blue happens
nightstreeturbancityofficeclutteredbedroombuilding
Perfect Blue background art
Frames with no characters in them: the places, as painted.
More from MADHOUSE
More by Satoshi Kon
Paprika 2006
Tokyo Godfathers 2003
Millennium Actress 2001
Anime like Perfect Blue
Recommended by fans who watched Perfect Blue, most votes first.
- 1
27 fan votes · Shared: Avant Garde · Drama · Psychological
- 2
21 fan votes · Shared: Avant Garde · Psychological · Suspense
- 3
15 fan votes · Shared: Drama · Showbiz
- 4
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- 5
8 fan votes · Shared: Horror · Psychological · Suspense
- 6
8 fan votes · Shared: Avant Garde · Drama · Psychological
- 7
6 fan votes · Shared: Drama · Showbiz
- 8
The Garden of Sinners Chapter 5: Paradox Spiral 2008
5 fan votes · Shared: Drama · Suspense
Looks like it
Matched frame to frame, on style and colour.
Millennium Actress 2001
Harmagedon 1983
Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! - Champion Road 2003
Similar stories
Memories 1995
Questions about Perfect Blue
Who made Perfect Blue?
Perfect Blue (1997) was animated by MADHOUSE and directed by Satoshi Kon, from a script by Sadayuki Murai.
Where can I watch Perfect Blue?
Crunchyroll and Max list Perfect Blue. Availability changes by country.
What anime are like Perfect Blue?
Fans most often recommend Serial Experiments Lain, Paprika, [Oshi No Ko], Paranoia Agent. In look: Millennium Actress, Harmagedon, Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! - Champion Road.
See more of Perfect Blue
Every reference frame and clip, searchable by what is in the shot — a character, a place, a light.
Frames and loops from Perfect Blue (1997) © MADHOUSE, shown at reduced size as reference for study and commentary. Rights questions: copyright@framethrower.ai.