Paprika

When I first glanced upon the cover art for Paprika I thought "What is this? An anime version of Yellow Submarine?" with all it's psychedelic color blending and odd looking artwork but man was I ever way off the mark.


Synopsis:

What Paprika really is, to me, is a sci-fi anime. It's about a device called the "DC Mini" that is used for psychotherapy treatment by allowing doctors to analyze a patients dreams by displaying whats going on in thier head on a monitor. However, this type of treatment is not officially legal yet and so it's use is kept under wraps but one of the scientists on the project, Atsuko Chiba, begins to use the DC Mini outside the research facility to treat patients and this is where we are introduced to Dr. Chiba's dream avatar Paprika. She uses Paprika to help patients to decipher what is going on in the dream and pinpoint where diffent feelings are coming from and what causes them. As it turns out though, someone else has stolen three other prototypes of the DC Mini and has started to use them to invade other peoples dreams and even implant thier own thoughts and ideas into peoples psychosis causing them to perform malicious deeds or even just commit suicide. Through extended usage of the DC Mini the realm of dreams and reality begin to merge as the team of researchers work with the DC Mini try to prevent that from happening.


Reviewer: Endosanity


Reviewer:

Paprika is simply an amazing film. Try not to be put off by it's 60s looking head-tripping animation as that's not the case. It's really a well thought out sci-fi story that's taking reality and dreams and combining them into one universe. The thing is though is that Paprika won't let you get lost as to which realm you're venturing through and with this hand-holding you don't get lost or confused as to whats going on. This is what I liked most about this movie since it's taking a potentially confusing plot that may baffle some but keeping you in check so you can really enjoy it and not have to worry about having to backstep just to try and understand something. This is all presented with top notch animation and CGI that have been combined flawlessly.

The cast of characters for Paprika are quite the variety from the obese but child-like Dr. Kosaku Tokita, and the anxiety stricken Detective Toshimi, to the strict and mysterious Chairman of the research facility, and of course Paprika... Dr. Atsuko Chiba herself. Putting these characters into a plot that is one of a kind makes for a *highly* original and enjoyable film. Although, I sort of wished there was more explanation to Paprika herself and how she came to be but I suppose there is only so much time that can be put into the film. I recommend this film without a second thought but I will say that the English track is rough... sorry guys, I had to switch to subtitles as I could only take so much of Paprika's robotic voice-over.

Paprika (trailer)

Recommendation: |High|