H-DoGG's Anime Hit Parade Continues with Paprika

As I indicated with my last post, my last month and a half has been filled with some excellent DVD viewing experiences. (I also learned that when you move and decide to forgo cable television, you watch a LOT of movies!) Most notably, these past couple of months have seen me really delve into anime as a new, serious interest. And yes, I can already sense some of your eyes rolling at the thought. Let me assure you, I have not lost my sanity.

Those who know me fairly well know that I am a huge fan of the anime series and film Cowboy Bebop, the ultra-cool, stylish series from the mind of director/creator Shinichiro Watanabe. What most people do not know, however, is that was the first anime I truly appreciated and gave any serious attention. Having grown up in a time when my friends watched Dragon Ball Z, I had absolutely no desire to watch it, any of it because quite frankly I found it to be utter garbage. Despite my recent interest in anime, my opinion remains steadfast. Most of it (anime) is just that - garbage! Derivative drivel best suited for pre-teens lit up on sugar buzz.

My opinion did, however, become less broadly-stroked when I experienced Cowboy Bebop (one of the best series ever in my opinion) and also when I subsequently viewed Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece Spirited Away. The truth is animes can be just as good as regular films and drama or better when they are handled more seriously and carefully, avoiding the stereotypical trappings of mass-marketed, hyperactive, uber-action anime, consisting almost entirely of repeating frame sequences mixed with mind-numbing tracks of endless screaming, spraying blood and unnecessarily heavy breathing.

My introduction to the works of director Satoshi Kon further serves to demonstrate this point, first and foremost with his latest film Paprika. Paprika first grabbed my attention almost exactly a year ago when I ran across the trailer online. It looked to be an amazingly animated feature with compelling and mind-bending sequences that pushed the limits of animation. My first viewing would confirm this impression. Visually, Paprika is nothing short of a delight!

Most satisfying for me and the friend I viewed Paprika with was the fact that the story was equally compelling. The subject matter resonated with me and held my interest on a level with films such as Primer (H-DoGG Top 10). The subject: dreams, nightmares and the ability to physically share those of others through computer assisted dream reconstruction.

In Paprika, a psychological research team develops a device known as the "DC Mini" that, when worn while sleeping, allows a computer to visually record a person's dreams so that they can go back when awake, watch the dreams (or nightmares) and try to make sense of it. The purpose of the technology is to serve as an aid to psychologists with the treatment of their patients. However, the technology also allows those wearing the device to experience the dreamer's dreams firsthand.

The problem is that the technology is not entirely benign. In fact, prolonged exposure allows dreams to be projected directly into the minds of users, even while not connected! When a few of the experimental units go missing, unusual episodes begin to wreak havoc with team members around the labs leading to a series of accidents. The race is on to find out who stole the DC Minis and what exactly it is they intend to gain from abusing the power - the unabated intrusion into the subconscious. The only hope of getting control of the dreamworld lies in the abilities of a somewhat mysterious young woman named Paprika, who also happens to be a powerful lucid dreamer, an ability that in the world of dreams translates into a superpower. But who is she?

The ride through the crime scene of nightmares is somewhat "trippy" at times, but still coherent enough to advance the plot skillfully and is beautifully translated to the screen. The attention to detail is of the highest caliber and easily lends Paprika to repeat viewings.

While the premise seems overtly "techy" in nature, Kon weaves together elements of romance, relationships and also a taught crime thriller as a detective, who has been a test subject for the minis with Paprika, fights through his own nightmares to get the bottom of a murder case that has been haunting him, as well as bringing the dream-thief to justice. This side-story also serves as a device that demonstrates Kon's own love for the art of cinema.

Overall, Paprika is a superb anime (and feature in general) that entertains, engages and puts together a thought-provoking story. It also demonstrates how far behind American animated cinema has fallen with respect to quality. Films like Paprika put American studios to shame, proving to not only be visually superior, but in a whole other league when it comes to high concept. It also shows that animation can be more than run-of-the-mill kiddy fare bloated with throw-away pop culture references and lacking any real substance. In the right hands, animation is on par with (or beyond) what traditional film has to offer. Paprika is a film you'd be doing yourself a service to check out. 10/10