Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue Restored in 4K — Mind‑Bending Anime Returns to U.S. Theaters Oct. 3
Good news for fans of sharp, psychological anime: Satoshi Kon’s directorial debut, Perfect Blue, is returning to U.S. movie theaters in a 4K print this fall. Distributor GKIDS confirmed the theatrical run after releasing a 4K restoration on Blu-ray earlier this year.
- What: Perfect Blue 4K theatrical release
- When: arrives in U.S. cinemas on October 3
- Who: directed by Satoshi Kon; written by Sadayuki Murai; based on the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi
- Why it matters: Kon’s debut is influential in both anime and international filmmaking
Release details
GKIDS announced the news during its Anime NYC panel on August 23. The film follows a recent 4K restoration that was issued on Blu-ray earlier this year, and now that same restored version will reach theaters on October 3. In short, you’ll be able to watch the highest-clarity version on the big screen.
About the film
Perfect Blue was written by Sadayuki Murai and is based on the novel Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis by Yoshikazu Takeuchi. The story follows pop star Mima Kirigoe as she tries to become a serious actor. Meanwhile, a stalker appears, and the pressure on Mima leads to a blurring of reality, with several murders surrounding her career.
Satoshi Kon and his influence
Kon directed only four feature films before his death at 46, yet his work left a large mark beyond Japan. For example, Darren Aronofsky has been accused of borrowing the iconic bathtub scene from Perfect Blue for his film Requiem for a Dream; you can read more on that comparison here. Likewise, parallels between Kon’s dream-focused Paprika and Christopher Nolan’s Inception have been noted; more on those similarities is available here.
Where and when to see it
Mark your calendar for October 3. GKIDS will handle the U.S. theatrical release, so check local listings and the distributor’s site for participating cinemas and showtimes. If you’ve wanted to experience Kon’s work on the big screen — and in 4K — this is the moment.
