Customer Ratings & Reviews

Among the limited offerings from the late, great animator Satoshi Kon was this piece, showcasing his multilayered style of storytelling that boggles the mind and entertains deeply at the same time. Documentary filmmaker Genya, doing a piece on the recently shuttered Ginei Studios, meets with its most famous actress, Chiyoko Fujiwara, who has become a recluse following her departure from stardom. With the aid of a long-missing artifact from her life, she regales the filmmaker and his cameraman with her life story, and in doing so she literally makes the two men part of the action, in a manner as only Satoshi Kon could handle. This title is an essential for Kon fans and anime collectors in general, not merely because it was among the few works he was able to produce in his tragically short life, but also because it is beautiful. moving, and complex enough to keep your mind occupied for the duration, separating fiction from reality as Chiyoko relives her past. This feature hasn't been on home video for the better part of two decades (it was originally released in 2001), but now it's on Blu-ray, and better than ever. Pick it up if you can.

This is one of my favorite movies and the Blu-ray remaster looks great.

One of the finest examples of surrealistic animation one can find. This film provides valuable relevance at nearly every level.

I am an otaku and biased. This movie has great animation and an excellent plot. It would be perfect for the family to watch.

The movie’s heroine is herself a movie heroine in the story. As she is interviewed about her life story, the interviewers are documenting her life in stream of conscious vignettes in which her real life is intermingled with her life as an actress and her roles as an actress. The action goes from slow and thoughtful to breakneck speed with transitions from movie role to movie role and back to real life.

Awesome anime. not on the same mind bending level as the director’s other work like “perfect blue” and “papika” but very well done as the story of an aged actress life is retrospectively retold and relived by her and the interviewers.

Where do I start. This film is greatly voice acted, story is amazing, pacing is perfection and the animations are second to none. Quiet possibly the best film done by Satoshi Kon who made Paprika and Perfect Blue. A must own for any movie enthusiast!!

I recommend you see this film first. If you're a lover of anime/manga and have never seen this film, you will find it a breath of fresh air. It is a masterpiece and deserves every award it got.

computer clean up of old anime movie about mature subject in this Japanese story which American anime wont touch

This movie was great to watch with my sisters. If you have a younger family member who's interested in anime, this is a great film to watch with them

I never knew how great this film was until I could finally purchase it! It was worth every penny! The adventure in this film is a wild ride.

Excellent blu ray! Was able to pick this one up while it was the last one in stock!

Great picture and steelbook. Incredible movie by the same director of Perfect Blue

This movie is so good. I totally love it and had to buy it when I saw it at the store

Great movie, this is my favorite movie by the late, great Satoshi Kon. A must have for any anime collection

Easily one of my favorite films from the director. It's eerie, psychological yet hopeful in its writing and atmosphere.

Beautiful steelbook case for a beautiful movie. Recommended.

The movie itself is not a total disappointment nor have completely captivated by attention. I have seen better ones (howl's moving castle, wolf children, etc). Once seen, it would not be something I want to rewatch again.

Quite a different take on the rise to fame of an actress. Very different way of presenting the story.

The 4K remastering make the movie more colorful to an already near perfect masterpiece.