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Satoshi Kon was one of the most impactful and inspiring filmmakers. His films managed to move the world in the most unimaginable ways. Understanding one’s art isn’t a trick every magician can master. Not everyone is Houdini. Not everyone is Michaelangelo. Not everyone is Beyoncé. Most importantly, not everyone is Satoshi Kon.
The world of anime has seen great animators, legendary directors, and stunning mangakas. While some go on and become two-time Oscar winners like Hayao Miyazaki, others, such as Kon, get their names etched in time to be remembered as legends. Having a filmography consisting of powerful works such asPerfect Blue, Paprika,andTokyo Godfathers,it was no surprise that Christopher Nolan too would find a way to get inspired by his works.
Satoshi Kon was a Dream Bender
For a filmmaker whose roster consists of one masterpiece after another, each and every film to find a sense of uniqueness can be too much to ask. However,Satoshi Konwas never one to disappoint. Speaking withAnime News Network, the late filmmaker talked about how he took a leap of faith with a film like he did with no other. Most of his works followed a similar pattern in different ways.
If you make things the same way as you always have, things can get redundant. So I decided to work with a different kind of story. The feeling like I wanted to face the challenge posed by that kind of work was strong. When films are made and the divide between dreams and reality is blurred, the story can become overtly theatrical. WithTokyo Godfathers, we intentionally made the story simple and focused on exposing the background of the characters more.
Movies such asPerfect Blue, Millenium Actress,andPaprikaall go into a world where reality and dreams are blurred in the midst of a thrilling story. While each film has its own individuality,Tokyo Godfathersbecame an experiment for Kon that did not rely on his ability to drift through dreams.
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In search of stories, one becomes a dreamer. When one dreams, one cannot stop. One does not want to stop. What many seek are stories. If one cannot find them, an endless chase would begin. Satoshi Kon made them. His 2003 film was driven to focus on reality and those characters whom everyone got a deeper look into. Dreamers become storytellers, and so did he.
A Sprinkle of Paprika
Satoshi Kon was an experimenter in many ways. His movies all told stories unique to their own. Seeing how the entire approach was different forTokyo Godfathers,there would also be many who took inspiration from that. Interestingly enough, aChristopher Nolanfilm has eerie similarities to one of Kon’s films as well, but not the 2003 hit.
Nolan’sInceptionhas always been the center of any talk about filmmaking and the mastery of it. The similarities betweenPaprikaand the Leonardo DiCaprio film were uncanny to the point where exact scenes seemed to be copied. Many were sure that it was the director’s way of paying homage to Kon, while others thought otherwise.
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Either way, it was clear that the film took heavy inspiration from the thriller anime movie. Despite the impact thatPaprikahad in the world of anime and outside of it, the film not being Kon’s most experimental proves that his creative genius knew no bounds.
Adya Godboley
Anime Content Manager
Articles Published :1879
Adya Godboley is the Anime Content Lead at FandomWire with over 1800 published articles. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-certified critic with a background in literature. From The Case Study of Vanitas to Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, her anime knowledge is one she’s gathered with years of experience. She also enjoys Marvel, DC and Superhero media with her works having been recognized by prominent figures such as Dwayne Johnson, Abby Trott and the Blood of Zeus creators.
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