Satoshi Kon Movie Month

On October 12, 1963 in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan, a man was born. Little did we all know, that man would turn out to be one of the greatest Japanese films directors of all time. And, sadly, before he could continue his work, he passed away on August 24, 2010 of pancreatic cancer.

Everyone was shocked to find out that he had been ill at all. In a blog post he left for his family to post, he stated that he chose not to make news on his rapidly advancing illness public, in part out of embarrassment at how drastically emaciated and ravaged his body had become. He didn't want to be remembered that way, but by his friendly personality and his eminence amounts of energy.

This month, we honor one of the great Japanese film directors of our time, Satoshi Kon.

Each week, all throughout August, we'll be looking at his four movies and showcasing his style. From psychological mind f***s to satire, we've got it all here at Lilac Anime Reviews! Also, as a side treat, Each Friday night throughout August we will be viewing his films AND Paranoia Agent on my new stream: The Thriller Zone starting on Friday August 3rd at 8PM EST. Make sure you join the audience at:

www.livestream.com/thethrillerzone

August 8th brings us the first of his films on LAR (Aug. 3rd on TTZ). Seen as one of the most influential psychological thrillers of the 90's, does it really hold up now? Our first venture will be into the world of Perfect Blue.


Pop idol Mima quits her group in order to pursue an acting career. But not everyone is happy especially a crazed fan that stalks her. People around her are being murdered and Mima starts to lose her sanity.

August 15th (Aug. 10th for TTZ) brings us the second of Kon's Films, and the most critically acclaimed of the four, winning awards at various film festivals. Millennium Actress.


When Studio Gin'ei commissions filmmaker Gen'ya Tachibana to make a documentary in commemoration of its 70th anniversary, he travels to a secluded mountain lodge to interview the idol of his youth, the enigmatic Chiyoko Fujiwara, who was the studio's leading lady from the 1930s until the 1960s. As Chiyoko reminisces about her life, Tachibana and his cameraman suddenly find themselves on a rich and dazzling journey through time. Chiyoko's films and personal memories intertwine with present events and stretch the boundaries of reality.

August 22nd (Aug. 17th on TTZ) is Christmas Eve here at Lilac Anime Reviews, and we're celebrating it the only way we know how. With homeless people! I give you Tokyo Godfathers!


On a Christmas Eve, three Tokyo homeless -- mid-aged alcoholic man Gin, high school runaway girl Miyuki, and former drag queen Hana -- were searching dumpsters and trash bags for possible Christmas gifts for themselves, when cries from a baby drew their attention. Believing this was a gift from God, Hana, who couldn't have a baby of "her" own, vowed to take care of the abandoned baby girl and together they began searching for baby's mother.

August 29th (Aug. 24th on TTZ) marks the final week of Kon Movie month, and with that the most WTF film in his arsenal. Paprika!


In the near future, a revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment called PT has been invented. Through a device called the "DC Mini" it is able to act as a "dream detective" to enter into people's dreams and explore their unconscious thoughts. Before the government can pass a bill authorizing the use of such advanced psychiatric technology, one of the prototypes is stolen, sending the research facility into an uproar. In the wrong hands, the potential misuse of the device could be devastating, allowing the user to completely annihilate a dreamer's personality while they are asleep. Renowned scientist, Dr. Atsuko Chiba, enters the dream world under her exotic alter-ego, code name "PAPRIKA," in an attempt to discover who is behind the plot to undermine the new invention.

I hope you all join us this month for twists and turns, love and fame, and courage and strength. This is going to be one tribute, I hope no one will forget!