IDOL - The Terrifying Reality of Perfect Blue

[@otakudaikun]

I think that's why virtual idols are a good development for the industry. You can't expose the "real" life of Miku.

[@otakudaikun]

Born Hater You serious? Idol fans want this unattainable relationship with a girl who has their own interests. You're always gonna have an issue between what an idol is expected to be and who they really are as a person. Miku is popular because her existence avoids this. You can objectify her 100% and avoid ruining an actual human's life just because she wanted a relationship or something totally normal.

[@otakudaikun]

biotechKazoo Idols are great and all but his video points out how horrible it can be when an actual human is forced to meet the expectations of thousands of fans. It's not healthy for either side. Miku isn't real so it's a logical step for fans' obsessions.

[@eternalsunshine9010]

@@otakudaikun yep,but in what kind of world do we live in so real humans could be obsessed with something that doesnt exist? To be in love with fiction? We are completely isolating ourselves from other people and it's scary to see shit like this being normalised

[@eternalsunshine9010]

@@otakudaikun idol culture in general sucks,but on the other hand idol singers know what theyre getting into. They have a choice to give up and do something else. It's the people who consume that are the main problem. These days everything has to be offered right in front of you for you to be satisfied,including love and affection..

[@otakudaikun]

Born Hater Is a fake relationship with an idol any better? You can take an obsession too far whether it's a real girl or a hologram.

[@avalon5957]

Perfect Blue was the first "serious" anime film I ever saw. I had seen stuff like pokémon and dragonball bot nothing like Perfect Blue, so when I first saw it, it was mindblowing for me. It's both incredibly deep, fascinating and extremely creepy, making shivers run down my spine every time I watch it. It's one hell of a trip to watch and such a mindfuck. It's truly a masterpiece, and still very relevant and watchable today. Great review!

[@trilfy]

I've heard some argue that Perfect Blue it's not relevant today since it came out in 1997 and is based on outdated idol culture in 1992, but I haven't watched it.

[@hazelcrisp]

@@trilfy It's even more relvant now with the rise of social media. Idol culture and worshipping is still the same back then, if not even mroe now. Even though the movie focuses on an idol it's about the image that someone puts out and with social media everyone has a following based on what you put out on your profile and personality. So it applies more to everyone than it did before. I highly recommend Perfect Blue.

[@bruh742]

am i the only one who felt really anxious when i watched the movie

[@slowyourroll1146]

@@bruh742 couldn't sleep when I watched it the first time and felt paranoid during the movie lol

[@operation_turtle]

The core of both industries are the same, but to be a Korean Idol you tend to need to be at least proficient at whatever it is you do in the group. There are shows in Korea that do require live singing (still with a back track, but still live singing). BUT Korean Idols are still looked at as objects to be bought, oogled at and obsessed over. In Korea you are trained in singing, dance or rap (with varying degrees of success depending on company and natural talent), JPop idols usually have to learn on their own. One has the focus of being perfect, while the other has the focus on being cute. Both are very toxic, horrible industries that desperately need a reform or some sort of union to sort of the horrors some idols go through.

[@yukikanegawa7470]

Jpop idols have to essentially become otome characters not necessarily cute. They become perfect but a different kind of perfect.

[@Peachiebun]

Kpop is the same tho, especially the scandals of trainees doing sexual favors to debut (Look up Open World entertainment) or a company who sends out their solo artist to their “sponsors”. Kpop just hides its horrors really well. Even tho a lot of shit has been exposed since 2014, there is this some stuff that is locked up tight.

[@DaBestSquigma]

Operation Turtle The thing is Idols know what they’re getting into, why should we be sympathetic for them when they knew the consequences of going into such a fucked up industry? Just asking.

[@autofox1744]

@@DaBestSquigma Thing is, most of these people are too young to necessarily think through the consequences of what they're getting themselves into. "Surely, that could never happen to me!" Or, also likely, they don't know what they're getting themselves into in the first place.

[@metoo6507]

@@Peachiebun reading your comment now after seungri's burning sun case, and the revival of jang jayeon's suicide case. wow.

[@fireaza]

Idols terrify me. With anime/manga/game girls, they are obviously fake and idealized, but idols are flesh and blood humans who behave like anime girls. Do their fans know their behavior and personality is nothing but an act, no different from an actress playing an anime character? Or do they think because they're real people that their behavior is genuine? I think a lot of them don't realize this, and that's terrifying.

[@Sergei_Ivanovich_Mosin]

Like with all things that attract a lot of people it's a mixed bag, some people do understand that idols are pretty much just a fancy escapist show and that none of the girls are "real," but you do get some of the more obsessive detached from reality fans that genuinely believe this is what they're actually like. Remember that one girl who was caught going on a date, so she had to shave her head, make a public apology, and basically end her career because of idols are supposed to have a pure image? Most normal people and fans of the group thought it was beyond ridiculous that things had to go that far and she was forced to "repent" for having a life, but there is a reason she did, because of the hardcore "muh purity" retards who can't see normal people as normal people.

[@user-fd3ip5ff6z]

fireaza japan destroy the woman for fun

[@user-fd3ip5ff6z]

Japan idols are not singer and dancer they are just stupid emotionless little girls for perverts They are just used and destroyed and dumped And japan must make pedo as the sexual contents And stop copying kpop and make their own culture

[@user-fd3ip5ff6z]

Abusing the woman is not the culture It’s just a disgusting disgusting disgusting destruction

[@crossref233]

@@user-fd3ip5ff6z I understand your point that the sexism in japan is so bad with the way they treat the women there, especially the idols but there is no need to degrade the girls themselves. Many of them were young kids signing these contracts, with stupid parents who let them.

[@Kusanagikaiser999]

Perfect Blue remain one of my top 10 best animated films ever made and my personal favorite Satoshi Kon work, and its scary how accurate this movie is to the reality of the Idol industry (even Pop music in general), how manipulated and greedy and exploitive the life of these young girls and boys can be with a corporation squishing every bit of your likeness for sell it to even more desperate lonely men, and how those fans can become obsessive with this fake relationship they hold dear.....Perfect Blue is the perfect psychological horror thriller, from the editing, music, art and animation this film is just perfection....and because of all that is, really kinda scary, how much this movie is accurate still today of how IDOLS life is.

[@missyk2454]

Sometimes I don't know which is scarier, being a male or female idol. Because while female idols are definitely sexualized more, females fans of male idols are perceived by society as less of a threat which is how more male idols in the industry end up injured from fan related incidents than female idols do. You're sexualized but highly protected as a female idol once you make it and as a male idol you're still sexualized in different ways but with less protection because your fans' gender is deemed less threatening. A rapid group of young teen girls is terrifying, no concept of boundaries and would probably injure any idol they saw because of the group hysteria. We all know its incredibly unacceptable for men to throw their underwear at female idols but female fans do that to, sometimes underage, male idols. And while it's not smiled upon it's definitely seen as less creepy when it really should be seen as just as fucked up.

[@spankeyfish]

Kusanagikaiser999+ Are you one of the few people who was able to follow the entire plot the first time you saw it? I watched it in the AV Club at Uni 15 years ago and about half the people there just looked totally confused by the end of it, I think that the 3 parallel lives (pop idol, tv character and herself) with the plot jumping back and forth between them was too much.

[@spankeyfish]

@@missyk2454 'A rapid group of young teen girls is terrifying, no concept of boundaries and would probably injure any idol they saw because of the group hysteria.' I think that might've been a fact of life for 60's pop groups. There's even a gag about it in an episode of the original Thunderbirds tv show (or possibly one of the other Supermarionation shows, I'm pretty sure it's Thunderbirds) where one of the team has to act as a decoy so they can get a generic version of Cliff Richard to safety after a concert. The team member starts off being chased from the venue by a horde of teen girls then, after some other scenes, the camera cuts back to the him sprawled on the ground, bloodied and with his clothes in tatters.

[@naxete85]

The way you portray japanese culture through Anime is simply amazing. Not only your speech is incredibly pleasant and natural, but also very clear and understandable. Your communication skills are beyond perfection, and most important, you thrill me I ADORE your channel. THANKS and please keep delighting us with this kind of content.

[@andresmarrero8666]

Chase an illusion and you will become lost. That is true among any culture, and that illusion manifests in just as many ways. Humanity is puzzling in a way. A people of contradiction, a weird mix of simplicity, and complexity. This guy understood a lot.

[@jayviescas7703]

I found Perfect Blue horrifying. Sick and sad and very well done.

[@neeko6981]

Just watched Perfect Blue recently and it is definitely something different upon the genre. It is the first anime film that scared and scarred me psychologically. Although the movie seems pretty old, the truth it tells seems to hold true until today. Definitely one the best anime movie of all time.

[@madamkoifish]

You should make a video on fandoms on how insane, terrifying, and downright dangerous. Seriously this video was really amazing on how you showed what idol obsession and it’s dark side of it is.

[@jmalmsten]

The more I hear about the Idol industry in Japan the more I am unsettled. And I have heard so much... And the similarities to modern streamer-culture are uncanny to say the least.

[@nursemain3174]

jmalmsten can’t forget Korea

[@uselessmikuarchive]

dude ive been saying that for years. i completely agree with you, its a sad thing to see ppl like this

[@vinesauceobscurities]

*+Isaac Ceillam* Yeah, you see very similar levels of exploitation with the K-Pop industry.

[@azvrias]

@@GeneraluStelaru eh its just ran by greedy old men

[@suyanatsuri3982]

@Yuju Waterbottle No it didn't. Idols actually came from France. Asia caught on to it from there. Also kpop and jpop are pretty different.

[@kristaliaastari2856]

I saw this movie for the first time when I was 14, i was staying the night at a family friends and she had taken me to a movie rental place. I picked it because it was anime, she set me up to watch movies (she is my moms age) and went to bed leaving me to myself. I loved the movie and a few months later tricked my mom into buying it for me on vhs (tricked because I knew I shouldn’t have been watching such a movie at that age). When I was 16 a friend and I tried out for a duet part in our choir concert and the song we sang was angel of love, we even danced to it. Our choir teacher liked that we picked a song in another language and had put in enough time and practice to get not only the lyrics but the dance right. I’m 34 now and that choir teacher is my mother in law and to this day has no idea of the origin of that song. The song Cherish these memories always makes me burst into tears. Thank you so much for this vid 💜.

[@jeffnicholas6342]

After watching 'Perfect Blue', it is evident that Darren Aronofsky either used the source material (which I have not read) or the anime as a leaping-off point for his film 'Black Swan'. Though Aronofsky's 'idol worship' isn't as overt as 'Perfect Blue's is, the lead characters' emotional arcs, and the horrific tone of the two pieces are very similar--both ending in a "Complete Metamorphosis"

[@BeyondGhibli]

He bought the rights to Perfect Blue and used themes and even some scenes shot-for-shot in 'Requiem for a Dream' and 'Black Swan'. He's clearly a big fan!!

[@jeffnicholas6342]

That explains a lot, thanks

[@bonnierabbit1413]

Black swan was a piece of shit movie 😋👎👎👎👎🤡🐇

[@AlienToppedPancakes]

8:10 That's so mindbogglingly. They made it an animated feature to save money? Other way around nowadays

[@avosmash2121]

Well, back in the day, and even right now, animation in Japan was often of the limited very stilted sort, like what you'd see in Sailor moon (90s) or old Astro Boy. It was like a detailed, more 'Disney' version of what Hanna Barbera is known famously for. Recycled character models, with little action and just sparse mouth sync, use of looped backgrounds and stock footage, rotoscoping and tracing older projects, the whole nine yards of every 'trick' old 50s-70s era animation was known for during the 'Dark Ages', Japan had in spades. So it makes sense in a way. Not everything was like a Studio Madhouse thing or looked like Cowboy Bebop or Ghibli quality back then. At end of the day, you had a more traditional laborious version of what we'd call 'an early flash cartoon' in most cases, just with nicer backgrounds and sometimes explosions and effects animation for that dash of extra decency. It was the charm of the characters that made them endure more than the visuals in my opinion most of the time, when it comes to 'classic era' anime.

[@jeffnicholas6342]

Well said. The Japanese live-action film industry wasn't like Hollywood. Lacking the infrastructure of a 'studio system', the various animation houses could quickly churn-out content according to a director's (or company's) vision on a reasonable budget. Live-action films from Japan have gotten higher budgets and better production value since a film like 'Perfect Blue', but the cost of shooting elaborate concert scenes, or even intimate train station moments can be realized more efficiently with animation--imo

[@ashuriii163]

Oh god, I still can't get over the rape acting scene ;;-;; I'm still crying over that

[@timepickle8443]

@Vicente Hamel People like you are why Otaku are hated both in Japan and internationally. Find some other video for your stale 16-year-old troll shit.

[@katieener8171]

Vicente Hamel that's disgusting, bruh. totally not cool. women are not objects to satisfy your desires.

[@mizzphitzbeta]

Vicente Hamel you must be into hentai.... hmm 🤔

[@belle2716]

Vicente Hamel you are fucking dirt, disguising.

[@ipung6361]

@Wowie Zowie so it was just an act right? or did it happen?

[@BlackCroLong]

This movie literally bashes and warns about japanese otaku culture

[@cherrypop9196]

BARDOCK , because it’s the truth and if you refuse to accept it continue supporting this slave circle

[@brozors]

BARDOCK oh please, I bet you know all about the seedy stuff and turn a blind eye towards it

[@somethingweirds3375]

I don't think it's only applicable to Japanese fandom. Popularity can be dangerous in any culture.

[@shaniawilkinson7620]

It's unhealthy when love something enough to ignore and shut out everyone and everything else in your life.

[@suyanatsuri3982]

This is another thing I hate about otakus. You can criticize otaku culture. There's a lot to criticize. Why do otakus get butthurt whenever these issues are mentioned.

[@Energygel]

Oddly enough this is my last day in Japan, and the “idol culture” has been a point of fascination for my friend and I as we have been travelling. Thanks for this, I love the analysis of all these darker anime, you have a way with words.

[@karidyas00]

I really like the inclusion of live-action, it makes it feel more like a mini-documentary than a just a video about anime. Broadening your context is never a bad thing and I'd encourage its use in the future, it grounds it in reality.

[@otterhaus]

For people asking what the song from 1:51~2:01 is, it's Banzai Banzai by Rio Hiiragi This is a great video. Perfect Blue is one of my favorites (as is almost every thing by Satoshi Kon) so the title+thumbnail caught my attention and I'm glad it did as the video was really good so thank you ✌ The first time I watched Perfect Blue I was very young, around 11 or 12, because my Dad had purchased it on VHS when it came out in the States back in 1999 (He also ended up buying it on DVD a year later). Of course I didn't understand the movie AT ALL but thought it was spooky and cool. Then I moved when I was 23 and when I was unpacking my stuff, I found the DVD and decided to rewatch it. I finally understood what the movie was actually about and it became one of my favorites. Seeing clips from it makes me want to rewatch it, so I think I'm going to do that tonight :^) I feel so bad for idols though. They're put through so much and have so much pressure on them from their management company and fans. They can't date to keep up the illusion that they're available, which is ridiculous.. are their fans so delusional that they think they have a chance with their favorite idol?? How creepy is that oh my god. If they are in a relationship they hide it from absolutely everyone and then when their management finds out, they get rid of them. I get they lied but they need to realize that a lot of these girls are young and want to go out and date, to prohibit them from doing so is only going to make the girls rebel.. like damn, let the girls have some fun! (Sorry for the novel of a comment... I didn't realize I had typed so much....)

[@Jlivingroom]

Enjoyed this for the most part, but there was one line that didn't sit true to me. The whole "famous for being famous" thing doesn't really apply to idols in Japan as it does to socialites in the US. Idols are a thing because they're multifaceted. Regardless of their mastery, they dance, sing, act, and in the case of male idols, often host variety TV shows, so they do something to gain the attention of their followers. Idols aren't your Kim Kardashians and whatnot who are given a reality TV show because their dad was a famous lawyer. Japan doesn't really have a 1:1 "famous for being famous" subset of celebrity. Even regular panelists on variety shows tend to be actors or musicians, albeit failed ones.

[@BeyondGhibli]

If you look up Japanese 'Tarento' or タレント, it's a 'famous for being famous' thing - celebs who appear across multiple mediums and their reason for fame itself is kind of foggy, it's a chicken-egg scenario of them being famous because, well, they're famous. A lot of idols go on to become tarento and I think this is where this line came from in the script. You're right though, plenty of idols are talented, hard working individuals who have earned their fame through grit and determination.

[@eartianwerewolf]

I am interested in how America doesn't quite seem to value innocence in the same way in who it idolizes. I keep thinking of Brittney Spears lately and just how messed up her story kind of is, and her whole gimmick was more of innocence shifting into something else. I think it would be cool to compare the two and see what they reveal about differences in the cultures.

[@Notius]

Talented for being talented in the context of idols is more of the fact that they didn't really catch the eye of the public with their beauty or their talent, but rather that they have been groomed and taught in the shadows by companies then thrown in front of the public like "Here's your new idol that you've never heard of!" It would be like a company taking a random boy off the streets, giving them rudimentary training, then sticking them in the Quarterback position of a pro football team. They didn't do anything amazing to get there, they were pretty much hired to become a convincing quarterback regardless of actual skill or talent.

[@drawnseeker]

Your documentaries are so well researched and AMAZING!

[@hagezac]

A very nice video, but I feel like there always something that goes unsaid when talking about Idol-culture (aesthetic cultures overall), and that is the nature of the relationship between the beautiful things displayed and the cruelty connected to them. It's not a coincidence that an industry which evidently abuses and torments it's stars would also be keen to highlight the "beauty" of it. Idol-culture is cute, somewhat sexy and most of all, sentimental. But all of these attributes and attitudes are adopted in order to shield oneself against the horrible reality of these cultures. When an Idol cries on tv it's not uncommon to hear sad music being played on top of it, in order to accentuate how "beautiful" and "tragic" sadness is, to which we respond by regarding the tears as performances born in the sphere of art, rather than facing the fact that the reason the idol cries is because they're stressed out and depressed. There is a romantic neccessity to it: for if we were to accept that the tears are common, and them having not been caused by angelic, sublime distress, the empathy which we distort into sentimentality and egocentrism would display for us something ugly: the reality of these people, their horrible circumstances that one would like to forget. And so beauty in the romantic sense and cruelty are inextricably linked. But these are just my two cents on all of this.

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

Great content as always. Keep the good work.

[@themule6571]

Totally unrelated to this vid, but... I stumbled upon your channel yesterday, digged it for a while today, and now i have new things to seek & watch for months. Many thanks, and keep up your amazing content please :)

[@tsundere62]

I watched this movie as a 9 year old before the Justin Beiber boom and KPoP trend came round' my slice of the world. It definitely left a bitter taste every time I see those stars on the telly or YT.

[@leozendo3500]

I dont know if you were horrified by that 55:00 part. That blood scene wasn't friendly at all.

[@brettcoster4781]

Again, Joe, you've made a wonderfully insightful video. Perfect Blue really is a horror movie at heart, but I hadn't quite realised how much it tracked to Japan's (and I presume South Korea's) "real" life idol culture. RIP Satoshi Kon, a great talent lost too early.

[@timmeyer9191]

I own a copy of Perfect Blue. Roger Corman said, "If Alfred Hitchcock partnered with Walt Disney, they'd make a picture like this." It is a psychological thriller that should be considered in the top ten of all time psychological thrillers. Leave aside the reality of the idol industry or celebrity in general, this film shows the danger of obsession, losing oneself in fantasy, living vicariously through another, and stardom in general from different points of view. In my opinion, Satoshi Kon nailed it on this film.

[@Expeiha]

This is Perfect. Love from Japan.

[@avosmash2121]

I have a question for you...since you are from Japan, maybe you can give me some insight? I am an outsider who has just an interest in how media and fads come and go in cycles, and I am curious, do the masses ever really go for any 'anti-pop star' figures there? A lot of us here in the West idolize cuteness and innocence, but there inevitably comes a time when if a young pop teen star or celebrity actor gets famous long enough, there's a stage where they suddenly grow aesthetically dark or hardcore, both in fashion and message. They will when they hit 20 often drop the cute innocent act, for an equally commercialized upon and exploited "I'm not a kid anymore, I'm a cool sexy BADASS adult now!" phase. Their songs usually stop being about puppy dog crushes and dancing and summer love, and become almost overnight about having explicit sex, being 'gangster' or harsh messy cruel breakups.... or if they're really cynical/more sophisticated than average, world politics, or not liking being part of the industry anymore and how much being famous sucks. Basically rebelling against whatever they can while still equally as much selling out. Since J-Pop and K-Pop and Idols in general seem to feed off this saccharine imagery and perpetual youth, I am curious if that is ever a thing there too? Have there ever been any idols who didn't just fade out of the spotlight-...but deliberately tore OFF the mask, and said "fuck you, I do what I WANT" and enjoy being vulgar and naughty or angry as part of the persona?? Or is this only more or less of a Western culture phenomenon? It interests me as also I notice Japan and China and Korea also favor conformity a lot stronger than Western aesthetics tend to, yet there still are healthy sub-genres in music with a 'rebel edge' like Punk and Metal quite heavily thriving there in the East ironically; while here in the US at least, they are pretty fizzled out aesthetics, along with Emo and Goth which are also on their way out....and these sub-cultures still exist but have gone back to their underground roots more or less...here, you won't find mainstream radio or tv channels constantly focused on 'counter-culture' idols like Kurt Cobain or Marilyn Manson or Courtney Love anymore. You still will get your occasional teen stars who drop the cute act though once in a while for something harsher. By the way, I am not criticizing anyone's favorite star or tastes of either the artificial 'cute' culture, or the 'edgy anti-culture'- Both are commodities in some degree and we all know it and everyone's allowed to enjoy what makes them feel good. I am just interested in whether trends follow the same pattern overseas.

[@GamingPalOllieMK]

AMAZING video, no need to apologize for the intro dude, it gave us much needed insight on the subject! thanks for always bringing us such high quality top notch content.

[@milanmilacic9311]

The opening was the best bit, great explanation of the idol culture

[@Zeitgeist6]

As someone fascinated by idol culture and a big fan of Perfect Blue I have to say this was a great video.

[@dylanlewis9842]

great video, this really cemented why Perfect Blue is one of my favourite anime films and why i love psychological horror

[@DaveTrippin]

Fantastically made video. Very thought provoking and an interesting discussion of the culture.

[@MaksymCzech]

By the way, glad to see you are still making these videos! I've subscribed to you a year ago when you had 3 or 4 videos uploaded to this channel, and today you suddenly popped up on my KZbin homepage. Keep up the good work!

[@ashamehta5202]

Face reveal with tutu and tiara please Jokes aside, it's pretty sad how disturbing idol culture can be. Vulnerable kids are given promises of stardom in exchange for their lives and fans blatantly choose to ignore their idols' exploitation for the sake of keeping up fantasies. Can't say I don't enjoy the music though edit: for those who want to learn more (kpop): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGmvqYKIr9mIjbs

[@Dat1AsianGuy]

I took an anime course in my university, called Japanese Animation, where we talked about otaku culture, idols, and other rising pop culture in Japan for a month where we used Perfect Blue as the example. You hit spot on what we spoke about. But we had debated on the effects of the Otaku culture. Where we were left in a ominous conclusion of if the culture is bad or not. I for one see the problems of otaku culture but I myself is considered to fall into the otaku culture without, however, digging deep into the hole of investing to lives and "purity" of idols, actors/actress, and etc. I do like that you touch on Perfect Blue, as we also asked if the director truly is against the otaku culture. I for one took it like how Miyazaki did, that the anime culture isn't bad but that (some of) the otaku's extremeness is. Hence why Miyazaki cannot look back to the past. Overall great video and taking on this anime and the idol industry.

[@SourSourSour]

I'm gonna have to come back to this video for the comment section alone, I like the conversations going on. Appreciate the vid Joe!

[@avilovewell7091]

I recently watched a movie called "Memoirs of a Geisha" and I see some parralels of both Japanese Idols and Geishas.

[@criskp6861]

That might be interesting to explore actually

[@Maialeen]

Nicolas Santos Educating someone is one thing but saying "You should feel bad for reading it" is you being an uppity, annoying asshole.

[@phangkuanhoong7967]

@@Maialeen it's cultural appropriation in its worst form. you should most definitely feel bad for reading it, because you're being precisely the uppity, annoying western asshole who still sees the rest of the world through the colonial lens. privileged white people are the worst.

[@inkspill3116]

Nicolas Santos No, I don't think so, there is no shame in not knowing something simply because you did not learn the truth yet, it's only bad if someone is told the truth and is actively ignoring reality. I read it and I did not feel bad because I know that the book is false and I shouldn't accept it reality. OP should feel good that they are now more educated about the truth. :)

[@janinebohl7488]

@@phangkuanhoong7967 That is hardly cultural appropriation, it is simply misrepresentation. The author should have done better research, obviously, but as long as readers know that, well, it is still good entertainment. Japan was not really subject to colonialism, and frankly they also have some past of their own to face, which they still deny. They don't like a blow to their image, for sure. Mind you, I love a lot of their culture, so I am definitely not a hater, but Japan is not more of a "saint country" than say the UK. They have an imperialist past with China (and others) with a nice massacre to show, and they kept Korean women as sex slaves during WW2. Pls refrain from blanket statements such as that. It might be ignorance of the author, but in that case, it is not burdened by an unequal colonialist past between Europe and Japan. If we can only tell stories taking place in our own environment or in complete made up worlds, that would be very sad and imo not good for international relations.

[@graces8824]

I love the cultural context in this video and multiple prospectives on idols​ and the moral at the end. You are amazing!

[@wilsonmura5930]

Another great vid, I think the 5 min intro to explain was just right

[@renumultiplus]

Terribly depressing and well narrated. Just discovered your channel today and loving it!

[@zigzaglychee7324]

The bit in Perfect Blue where she finds out her former group went on to make the music charts is quite painful. They finally get taken seriously not as idols but as musicians, but only after Mima has left behind the group and her dream of being a singer.

[@spicyvro]

I'm in love with this channel. Truly very well produced videos .

[@nihilistlemon1995]

The best channel on anime which rivals my favorite French youtuber in the subject called "chefotaku " . Love all your works .

[@MultiMp90]

that intro was killer, I remember seeing perfect blue when I was a little kid and didn't really understand its implications and wasn't into it But, now when I revisit it I can see it was brilliant and had so much more depth than buff dudes yelling at each other.

[@PMRoanhouse]

I'm just gonna say, you are the gosh darn David Attenborough of Japanese Otaku culture.

[@TheCrimsonCat89]

Furrealzies

[@NeonAtary777]

I'm very glad I found this channel! absolutely phenomenal work. great writing and editing real awesome

[@julienmartinsorel]

This is without a doubt the best essay to date made by you. It's so insightful and well research and written. Congrats!

[@mayfaynezzz]

The quality of your videos is incredible- fantastic work as always!

[@anthonydavis3464]

Another top notch video. Always makes my day to see another post from one of the greatest content creators on this site.

[@jonathanlee5084]

Your videos are so informative and insightful! I originally subscribed for your analyses on animated movies but the intro was also interesting and gave good context for the film. As someone who never “obsessed” over any pop star, it’s hard for me to comprehend how fans behave this way, but it’s sad to see that their fervent worshipping of idols is spurring this industry that promotes such an unhealthy culture for their stars.

[@ryanweigel4164]

Another great video, you always come up with such fantastic topics and concepts to address within anime that I don’t see any other anituber cover, and I get around. Better keep your commitment and buy that tiara though.

[@neelmdchy]

Your videos and work are getting way better and professional day by day

[@suhridguha2560]

Best anituber on the platform. Best wishes man. Love from India.

[@warmac88]

Great video bro! Love the anime movie! And fully understand how reality is a lie and a disappointing life.

[@Ramses060784]

Your introduction really killed me as idol fan. Full of facts

[@thisisawesome4532]

In absolute real life of idol culture is disturbing and sad, but- in the context of modern media, I'm sad nobody is talking about the Cham members Mima left behind. They're not shown to be in all that bad of a situation mentally. They aren't hiding anything dark either... They seem genuinely happy and safe. I don't think it's meant to justify idol culture in any way, I just think it's there to show the idea isn't instinctly wrong, and if done with caution can work... but when it goes wrong it is terrible.

[@margemason]

This video was INCREDIBLE and deserves soo many more views. It’s like a good digi video but with great editing

[@katieener8171]

Up to this day, the scene where Mima was being sexualized terrified me. I know there are far more many scarier scenes but those parts specifically scared me mentally. Like idk, thinking about it, like knowing that it can actually happen in Japan terrifies me. It left me awoke for some days, with those scenes haunting me.

[@AdrienBurg]

I'm so grateful that you make this well documented content, love your analysis, love your tone. Thanks :)

[@Mathiasvandenberge]

Like previous comments already stated: great analysis of the idol-industry/ Kon's work. I love your work; always very insightful and well constructed.

[@stavautumn9566]

this is some amazing content. thank you so much for actually showing us the tie between the movie and the actual world of idols in your analysis!

[@BeyondGhibli]

Thanks! I wasn't sure whether I should include it so I'm glad to hear you liked it :)

[@fvtown]

Wonderful video once again. Saw Perfect Blue in its theatrical run earlier this year and your analysis explains the background of these themes very well.

[@yellow6ird]

Am I glad to came across your channel. Love it, keep it up.

[@KayKay-or6cd]

I think that Bojack Horseman (On Netflix) and Perfect Blue share something in common

[@lettucesmoke5604]

Me too especially when bojack choked his co star on set

[@brendanmcnally9145]

You did a fantastic job on this. Kudos!

[@stefanie6491]

When I saw Perfect Blue the first time it just blew my mind

[@Tomzo711]

This movie blew my mind the first time I saw it. I'm loving your channel BTW. Excellent work.

[@xMostHated]

I'm a big fan of Terrance House, also the Tokyo Idols documentary. Great use of the footage, mate. Please don't stop making these videos!

[@MMock]

Pretty fucking solid dude, the intro was the best part but I kinda was expecting you to go into detail of the plot with spoilers, still great video

[@BeyondGhibli]

As my channel is primarily a recommendation channel I try to avoid spoilers wherever possible, even for films over twenty years old! I got chewed out for a slight visual spoiler from Heidi the other day, a TV show that's older than I am!! Anyway, there are far better analysts out there than me to pick apart such cerebral classics like Perfect Blue. Glad you liked the video :D

[@randallgoeswhere]

Satoshi Kon was a legend. He will never be forgotten.

[@lucasbustos]

Woow! What an introduction for the topic. You make an instant fan and loyal follower of your work! I love your videos!

[@shookstylez]

Satoshi Kon is an absolute pioneer in Animation / Movies. So sad he left us so early. :(

[@aarynbastian4469]

You hit the nail in the head with this one! Awesome vid

[@SimonEdge-d7p]

Awesome stuff again! A really eye-opening and reflective introduction, and I think really helps understand the world the film is set in before any would watch it for the first time.

[@cronaman3196]

I keep finding myself coming across your videos and everytime its deja vu, you make awesome stuff!

[@JordanVanRyn]

Although I love how well-researched and produced this video is, I personally find your commentary on the "idol" industry to be more sad. And yes "Perfect Blue" was a movie that worked as a grim commentary on how insidious the industry is. But still, more music artists in the J-Pop industry are already breaking away from the "idol" image and are creating more outspoken art. "BAND-MAID" is an example because it's a group of maids that are a J-Rock band. Still, good video on "Perfect Blue". Have you ever thought of doing videos of his other works like "Millennium Actress" and "Paprika"?

[@faaaduma6876]

This was intriguing and compelling. Well done:)

[@HidinginPublic]

Jesus man. This video was great. Loved it.

[@PMRoanhouse]

I always thought of Perfect Blue as the anime that would come from David Fincher meeting Alfred Hitchcock horror movie of being a Disney tween pop star

[@Mytwistedvoices]

That explanation makes the movie much more entertaining, and scary. Thank you

[@multibrandan]

Nice video liked how u showcase it and yes I was dancing on this inside for hearing Cham. I love this song so much I'm still singing it as I'm writing this comment. Awesome video bud

[@Min-dh2fd]

You deserve way more subscribers, dude. GREAT CONTENT

[@violentbadger6401]

This video came up on my recommended and I ended up binging all of your videos and subscribing plus notifications. Absolutely fantastic stuff!

[@BeyondGhibli]

Hey thanks! So glad you liked the content :D can't belive you binged it all haha. Hope you like what's to come.

[@adeetya859]

love how you narrate your videos...

[@tylernemeth5624]

Your content is so well put together 10/10 love this channel

[@MeisterShepherd]

You Sir need more followers! Really, what an awesome Channel. Glad that I found you!

[@maattthhhh]

I believe the real main character of the story is the one being portrayed: the molested younger sister, whose trauma led her to kill her older sister, peel her face off, and the delusion that she can take over her life. It was alluded to by the psychiatrist in the scene. It explains why "Mima" kept questioning who she is, why she would find blogs in her website she didn't write. I think Rumi is what the little sister looked like. And "Mima" was the older sister. The climax where Rumi was chasing Mima, was the little sister recalling how she killed her older sister, in the attempt to "take over" her life. Maybe it's the older sister's blogs, interacting with her fans. The ones saying she's not Mima, could be the younger sister's subconscious telling her she's hallucinating all this. Otherwise, why highlight the scene of the detective and psychiatrist talking? The night club scene could be the rape that the little sister experienced that traumatized her, that's why it's so vivid during the "shooting"

[@TheRealNormanBates]

I’ve seen PERFECT BLUE multiple times and I do not recall any of that (Mima had a sister?). Is there a point in the movie that they speak of her?

[@maattthhhh]

@@TheRealNormanBates go back when they were taping a scene where the psychologist was talking to a detective about the girl who murdered her sister (played by Mima)

[@monj5492]

This is your best video yet.

[@hack45993]

Jesus christ, this is the first video i've seen of yours and i'm blown away..

[@PelvicGaming]

Hi! New here and I really appreciate the depth you went into for the prequel of this video. I recently saw perfect blue and now I'm obsessed. :-)

[@MykaGhostt]

Instantly subscribed and now I need to watch Perfect Blue

[@TheMightyPika]

Man, I love this channel

[@sushihampster]

been waiting for this upload ever since i cam across this channel!!

[@pwnmonkeyisreal]

Fantastic video. I literally just spent a day in Akihabara and I thought I would love it, but by the end I just felt a little guilty, lost, and hollow

[@GangiFilms]

I was expecting this to be far darker video, but still really great job man.

[@reke9942]

Ahh Perfect Blue remains in my top 5. I have never really empathized with a character as much as i did watching perfect blue. Awesome content. Subbed!

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Mate, it's that shot of Rumi running next to her reflection. Bought this on VHS from Tower Records in '98

[@hbkgogs33]

Satoshi kon,the genius who had the most untimely death Hope someday atleast nolan acknowledges inception was from kon's paprika and bring this genius' work to the forefront of the world

[@HydraSpectre1138]

Darren Aronofsky remade Perfect Blue as Black Swan, but replaced J-Pop with ballet.