it’s not a lie if you believe it | Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue is a 1997 anime film by director Satoshi Kon, known for other movies like Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, and Paprika. The anime film follows Mima Kirigoe, an idol in the pop-group CHAM! who leaves the trio of idols to pursue an acting career. This leads to a wild chain of events, as the line between fiction and reality is sawed in half. Leading from obsession, to stalking, to brutal murder, Mima is tortured by the perception of others; who they want her to be, and her own perception; who she thought she should be. Eventually, she’s unable to tell what’s real and what isn’t, even in regards to herself.
Perfect Blue creates one of the most satisfying twists in all of anime film through this psychological horror exploration of Mima. And in this Satoshi Kon’s work presents some interesting food for thought for this video essay. How much truth is there in reality? How much influence do we have over that? And, do we even have to be concerned with truth, or can we live in lies? It draws us to the oh so famous line, “it’s not a lie if you believe it.” While many anime may tackle these questions, none do so quite as succinctly as Perfect Blue, coming it just under an hour and a half, but presenting a full and amazing story to watch. One perfect for a video essay!
0:00 Part 1
11:42 Part 2
21:20 Part 3
#perfectblue #anime #animeanalysis #professorviral #videoessay

[@Mitsuzen.]

Perfect Blue is a masterpiece. Nothing else.

[@ProfessorViral]

For sure, one of the few movies that kept me entirely engaged the whole run

[@courtjester710]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@ProfessorViral]

Thanks!

[@mnpstudios6777]

Yes!

[@hentaimomoko4977]

A bit of a side note but Perfect Blue is one of the rare pieces of media with depictions of rape where said depictions actually serve the narrative and aren't just there for shock value

[@pedro_diogo]

True.

[@jinchuriki7022]

This movie is sometimes compared to the Mexican-American singer Selena, who was killed by her fanatic manager. Controlling people youre supposed to be responsible may be inevitable. Maybe humans were never ment to live in a hierarchical system; a few people at the top manipulating subordinate's actions for profit. I think we were designed for communal living; each living to their own desires but helping eachother out. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

[@ldreyes]

"the thing that sets its all off isn't her, but that no one knew her to begin with." glad to hear someone else say it. that part of perfect blue def vibed with me

[@shinkaiatsuya950]

Definitely is one of those movies that even if it has a happy end makes me wonder if it really is just that. A slightly different quote comes to mind when I think about lying: Don't you think if you keep on lying no one not even yourself will believe you. To me this movie takes it to the next level where lies begins to affect reality, and the use of reflection during the finale of the movie was so interesting.

[@ceinwenchandler4716]

"I think if you lie long enough, often enough, you become a lie. Strip away my pretenses and deceptions, and I'm not sure there'd be anything left." - Ferrin, Seeds of Rebellion, the Beyonders YA series.

[@EdoEeerieEncounters]

Your videos are so compelling I love how you go into extreme detail about the themes and messages in this movie. Years later and it still holds up because everything mentioned here is without a doubt the absolute truth of escapism and the damages it could potentially do. I feel like the majority of people play characters in day to day life and we never see the real individual they are when they're in private we just have this preconceived notion of who they are and when that doesn't match with what we actually see when someone show's their real self we get bewildered for a moment. Fascinating video!

[@redhorseman7599]

This anime was indeed amazing! A pity I discovered it just some years ago (I took it at a 'movie night' between friends and they praised me for my choice)... Then I watched Paranoia Agent, also from Satoshi Kon: that was interesting too, with its many character and their stories...

[@ProfessorViral]

Paranoia Agent is one that's been on my list for a while, I need to finally watch it

[@phantom.dragon]

"Perfect Blue" messes with my mind so much every time I try to understand what really happened and what didn't

[@SciGalSal]

I’m not sure of what my story might be but all I know is that I want to soak up every ounce of joy and pain this world has to offer me and craft something out of it.

[@ProfessorViral]

Experiencing as much as I can is something I've always wanted to do. I respect it!

[@SerifSansSerif]

One of your better videos as of late. :) Somewhere around 14 minutes something you said had me hit me when it should have been obvious to me viewing other reviews of perfect blue and whole watching it. The emphasis on the publicist and agent to push an agenda that is a total 180 to distance her from the pop idol image. I hadn't considered it but it recontextualizes a lot of the movies as you start seeing it more and more of Mime as really being at a crisis of ego (in the psychological sense of crisis), with both the agent and the fans being so diametrically opposite and pulling so hard that a break makes sense. She's the perfect subject for cultish brainwashing and both sides are trying to do so.

[@Serufi]

I love Perfect Blue so much. I just cosplayed as Mima to a theatrical showing of the movie for its 25th anniversary. It's an actual masterpiece, and nobody can tell me otherwise.

[@MeltshineZone]

Ironically watched this movie 2 nights ago with friends since Ive been on this spooky kick since October started and I remembered it being a really good thriller. They enjoyed it a lot and it hit harder than it did at my current age than it did 20 years ago. Getting that sweet spot of feeling you're contributing something positive/worthwhile to the collective unconscious coupled with not being absolutely miserable day to day i think takes some people their entire lives. But I want to imagine its worth it every single time. Don't give up.

[@MaxusFox23]

I'm a simple person: I see a thumbnail about Perfect Blue, I click. Your videos never cease to make me truly think and I appreciate that. Just a slight correction here: Tadokoro is the name of Mima's agent, not that of Me-Mania (Mamoru Uchida). But don't worry too much, I literally had to look it up since I REALLY couldn't remember Me-Mania's real name for the life of me XD

[@Matt-hb4oe]

Thank you for making these videos and sharing some of your personal stories/interpretations. I try to be more self aware and introspective (even though I’m not that good at it), but I think I have a similar line of thinking as you so these videos help me process events in my life a little more easily

[@harleyemmerson979]

Swear to god I've fallen in love with this content, I've slowly watched your content over the past few weeks and each video just slaps, puts things into words that I only really had a feeling of, I wouldn't be able to describe any of it in such a way and its amazing, keep up the good work ❤

[@joshuahobbs4740]

I absolutely love this channel. The music, the presentation, your commentary, its all woven together perfectly. I find myself agreeing with everything because Ive had the same conversation with myself all the time while Im on the road with my early morning rants.

[@ProfessorViral]

Those kind of moments are the one that gave birth to the channels current form, so I'm happy to hear I hit that feeling : )

[@spineshock1]

Binging your channel, gonna blow up soon! Such thought evoking essays

[@ZackBunofficial]

Thankyou for making all these videos, they've helped me to start consciously thinking about my own life. At least somewhat, anyway. My current story: I'm a 23 year old boy trying to pretend to be a well functioning adult, who has a job I don't enjoy at all beyond the predictable schedule; Who is probably letting too many problems/potential fights with my roommates go without talking about them afterwards, which might all boil over at some point making me erupt in anger at someone I love. And I'm also trying to teach myself Japanese with textbooks from amazon with the hope of taking a trip to Japan someday(while holding deep inside the secret hope that I might be able to move there permanently just to try running away from the stress of my current life, as if moving to a whole other country wouldn't be far more stressful). Anyway, hope y'all have a good rest of you day PS - I truly do appreciate the video, even if the comment seems cynical...

[@karleigh8508]

i just watched this movie for the first time about a month ago! i’m going to be going through the rest of satoshi kon’s work, because this movie, while a little hard to watch, was really good. i was a really big fan of the way the movie was like a puzzle it didn’t care if you solved. i enjoy that about kubrick movies as well. i also really liked that the movie was about a real life phenomenon, that of fans being obsessive and protective in strange ways over idols. this film is one that sticks with you for a lot of reasons.

[@blitzaqua2907]

Thanks for making these videos! You inspire me to make my own content! Please, take care of yourself.

[@briadelgado1238]

I'm a huge fan of your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@ProfessorViral]

Thank you, will do!

[@sangdrako]

Perfect blue elevated anime for me

[@ULTIMATEH64]

Saw Perfect Blue for the first time awhile back, perfectly fits the title description

[@ProfessorViral]

Reality is a choice; it's terrifying

[@datjiggy8234]

Dude this related to me on such a deep level, I gotta watch the movie now. Also algorithm gods shine on this man

[@ProfessorViral]

Thank you 🙏 at just about an hour and a half, it's well worth a watch

[@AK-ir1se]

10/10 Seinfeld reference for the title and fantastic work as always

[@racheltran6761]

I never seen the movie but after watching your take on it, i might want to actually watch it on my own to actually experience what the movie for what message it is trying to tell. I honestly feel the same way except its not the fact I don't know my purpose rather that things around me aren't there to support me. Not the people i call family nor the people i call friends sometimes just because they think they know how to solve a problem by giving a simple answer when most cases its never as easy as one's says it is. the work into knowing there's going to be struggle and pain throughout the whole time is scary and the uncertainly and the doubt is always there no matter what achievements one gets over time. But i realize that regardless, what if the tomorrow is my last day, would I regret that I didn't make the choice sooner? I learn that I want to live for me no matter how much effort I put into something and it didn't turn out the way it did. At least for me, I felt that i made the choices i would have wanted no matter if it didn't pan out because life is to short to worry about the unknown and it is worth living every moment of it.

[@lostsanctions6587]

Perception is a powerful thing

[@graphitheos]

To bring forth the ideal self is a very true effort and that's as real as it needs to be.

[@charlesskomp5362]

Really love the vids!... they get me thinking

[@ProfessorViral]

Thats always what I try to do, I'm glad its working! 😁

[@akashiseijuro4444]

Damn, the part 3 hit hard. You'll get what you want brother. You definitely are a protagonist. You definitely are special.

[@rasenshuriken7325]

First. Also I'm glad to see someone take a good look into this anime. You have my thanks and a thumbs up.

[@ProfessorViral]

Always happy to give a look to some classics. Thanks!

[@longforari]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned but Me-Mania (named Uchida if his theme on the ost is to be believed, the stalker who believes Rumi's "Real Mima" lies) and Tadokoro (Mima's manager who pushes her to do rape scenes to further her career) are very different people.

[@ProfessorViral]

I noticed after publishing that I mixed up the names from a quick glance at my other screen when writing, that's entirely my fault for not double checking names, but I am very aware of it

[@oddperson8427]

glad to be early today, just started the vid and by seeing perfect blue, I'm pretty sure it'll be good x)

[@oddperson8427]

about characters and stuff, isn't there an illness where you kinda.. leave your body, feel like your life is more like a movie and you're watching it, I kinda have it and ye making a character out of yourself is pretty scary. A mask long worn becomes your face right, or however the saying goes..

[@Mr.Smith2004]

Great Video..

[@mnpstudios6777]

Great vid

[@ProfessorViral]

Thank you 👍

[@aceknightgaming1542]

Our universe is like the scp universe where many writer make so many stories and try to mash them in one world.

[@miltiadhsmporas5051]

HOLY MOLY DUDE I JUST WATCHED THIS LAST WEEK

[@kieranboelman5621]

very underrated channel

[@ProfessorViral]

Thank you 💙

[@ItsShaz1]

I’m here as always to boost the algorithm but Perfect Blue is really interesting!

[@ProfessorViral]

Appreciated as always, thanks!

[@whyreweherejust2317]

Omgjust a video on my favorite movie??

[@ProfessorViral]

Happy to provide some discussion on it!

[@austinaustin5011]

I really like your character. It's raw, even though it's carefully put together. A lot like my faulty meat suit

[@ProfessorViral]

You have one of those too?

[@austinaustin5011]

@@ProfessorViral yea, I use a different character to show friends, family, and colleagues the part of me they're trying to interact with. I'm working on a character to express myself on KZbin, but it's a work in progress. I'll try to show you when I've got my mission statement down.

[@pseduu]

the rating is in the name…perfect

[@rhobeans]

Also commenting for spread. Another great video!

[@ProfessorViral]

Thanks! 💙

[@ifsixwasntnine]

my favorite film ever

[@ProfessorViral]

It might be mine as well. I'm still debating, but its close to being a 10/10 for me. Something I've only given 3 series and no movies

[@lordylx8379]

your FLCL video got me thinking and I can't sleep bcs of it so ur answering my question, do you think that if someone does good deeds is a bad person if they're only doing these good deeds for their own ulterior motives?

[@ProfessorViral]

I think the only way we can answer that question is with a dose of realism. Our world needs more good deeds. So I don't think it matters why people do them, it just matters that they are doing them. Philosophically I may have a different answer, but its irrelevant in an unideal world

[@lj3326]

Yo what’s the song. Guitar sounds ethereal in my headphones

[@taylerjosef]

Tadakoro (sorry if i'm spelling wrong) isn't the stalker, his name is 'me mania', Tadakoro is her male manager

[@ProfessorViral]

I made a mistake in looking at the wiki, a quick glance at some short entries swapped the places of names

[@pannedtoast6960]

Art

[@marocat4749]

Its really interesting, ad its o good, i hope you alo do something less dark all day long :P Its really, good work. and escepadism might not solve problems, but it can give a short rest, responsibly used and seperated. Seperate is the point i guess. An i dont really want to talk about because its not great and ther are , things that are really tough, othes not, so somewher in the floationg i guess.

[@kelvine.dominguezrivera7155]

great video as always. recently I found a KZbin channel similar to yours is call Gravemind he use anime from the 80 and 90 in the background while taking about the mind of man and very deep stuff. maybe will help you to see things different or more positive.

[@maromi2943]

Everyone on Earth should watch this film at some point.

[@ProfessorViral]

It'll be a suggestion from me for anyone who likes dark stuff for sure

[@vladtheinhaler93]

Ever felt like your life was penned by the hands of another?...

[@eva4033]

I'm Not Even An Adult Yet. But When I Managed To Watch Perfect Blue For Fun At Least A Year Ago. It Is A Stab I Probably Needed. The Truth Is... I Treated This Artistic Puzzle Like A Toy. Either If Its Me Roleing Mima In Miitopia. Her Fighting In Brantsteele's Hunger Games. Or Me Trying To At Least Shitpost It For Attention. It Is Wrong. And When Looking Past That. I Had To Actually Think For Myself. Maybe Even Releaseing My Emotions Free From My Ignorant Consumptions. And Question Why We Are The Way We Are. Viewing Things Easily Was A Massive Mistake On My Part. And I Always Question Whenever People Would Mean When They Want Me To Feel Better Like When They "Hope" For Me To Have A Good, Nice, Great Day. Maybe What I Am Meaning Was Genuine People I Was Following Around The Whole Time Other Then Myself. Because Sadly I Feel Like I Am Just Lacking Something Personal For Me To Express. The Truth Is Just Soo There I Probably Don't Fit Right In. If Some Of You Reading This Want To At Least Say Something To Me I'll Hear It.

[@EarthOneSpidey]

My username used to be my 15 year old character name which i still use, Heatray. After a metltdown completely rebranded my online presence and removed the story of Heatray from my online account as much as possible. But I will be Heatray till I Die. Great video as always man. Really made me think about things.

[@ProfessorViral]

Happy I could provide some insight! Hope it leads to some good thoughts 💙

[@e11es96]

You know the part about you don't know a person even if they are your best friend. Maybe I should invest more energy into my relationship with friends instead of feeling lonely and wondering why they don't reach out. Thanks I did need that one extra push for today forward.

[@ProfessorViral]

I often find myself feeling alone, even when I have people to talk to. I tell myself the people I know won't care about the feelings I have to express. So I pull away, and neither side reaches out. That's how its always been for me, at least. I'm not sure how much of that feeling will be true for you, it could be that maybe their not all that compatible with you, because that happens too. But it's always worth the effort to try and see, at least

[@fuelhemi426]

Nice video

[@ProfessorViral]

Thanks!

[@fuelhemi426]

Satoshi Kon was a master in his craft. I really enjoyed your take on this movie.

[@Beeetlejjug]

I watched this movie in middle school and I don't think I've ever been the same

[@ProfessorViral]

It was probably a damn weird experience for a kid haha

[@Beeetlejjug]

@@ProfessorViral definitely. I don't think I fully understood it but I had a decent grasp on the themes

[@Rogie12]

Can you make reaction about from Girl's last tour?

[@megasystem8473]

George costanza?

[@seijiarita]

Commenting for the algorithm too

[@ProfessorViral]

Thanks!

[@23ADJ93]

Where did you get that shirt? I want it.

[@ProfessorViral]

Old Navy years ago, I think

[@dankmemewannabe7692]

ok sorry this comment is substanceless but im happy that i got recommended this bc i just saw perfect blue last month and i saw paprika last night both with my mom YAY

[@dankmemewannabe7692]

25:43 such bars tbh im going thru similar thoughts rn

[@nonifuji1566]

"It's not a lie if we believe it", but it's our responsibility to curate which harsh truths to accept and which little white lies to tell ourselves.

[@whyreweherejust2317]

Cute shirt bro

[@soultakers66]

Look I love you videos and your talks but God dam it, why you got to make a video on a thing I literally accepted a day before you posted the video. It like you read my life and decided that even though I accepted the fact that what I was gonna lie to myself for a while, you make this. Time to go think about life again. Love your videos and keep it coming!

[@ProfessorViral]

At the end of the day, do what's healthiest for you! If you know yourself and make the right decision, what I say doesn't matter haha. But, happy to provide some insight at least, as always!

[@hiddenonesson857]

Well my story would probably be the one about stagnation. All the people "tuning in" are probably waiting to see if i ever accomplish all the impossible goals I've set for myself. The idealistic coward is what I'd call it

[@enigmamyth]

Good luck

[@GhrollHugg]

Obligatory comment: Underrated channel.

[@ProfessorViral]

Thank you so much : )

[@abrasiontest6954]

I like to watch you review anime

[@wtfyoshipwns]

Row row fight the powa!

[@cloud99337]

I'm an extra... It sorta sucks

[@zacharyhansen9103]

Has anyone ever compared you to Nietzsche?

[@ProfessorViral]

No, I would be flattered, but I'd have to decline to prevent my ego from inflating haha

[@OlugbemigaFalegan]

This comment is a free space imagine whatever you want here

[@ProfessorViral]

Very fitting for this one