Perfect Blue

Main Plot

"Perfect Blue," directed by Satoshi Kon, follows Mima Kirigoe, a pop idol who decides to leave her music career to pursue acting. As she transitions into her new role, Mima faces intense pressure and scrutiny from fans and the entertainment industry. Her life begins to unravel when she discovers a website that appears to be documenting her every move in disturbing detail. The boundary between reality and illusion blurs as Mima experiences increasingly violent and surreal events. She struggles to maintain her sanity while grappling with an identity crisis, haunted by a doppelgänger and pursued by a stalker. The film delves into themes of fame, identity, and the psychological toll of public life, culminating in a tense and mind-bending climax.

Characters

• Junko Iwao voices Mima Kirigoe, a pop idol transitioning to acting, whose life spirals into chaos and paranoia as she faces an obsessive stalker and her own fractured psyche.
• Rica Matsumoto voices Rumi Hidaka, Mima's manager and former pop idol, who becomes obsessed and delusional, ultimately posing a significant threat to Mima's safety.
• Shinpachi Tsuji voices Tadokoro, Mima's manager, who supports her transition from pop idol to actress, navigating the challenges and dangers she faces throughout her career change.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of Satoshi Kon's "Perfect Blue," the protagonist, Mima Kirigoe, confronts the psychological turmoil that has plagued her throughout the film. Mima, a former pop idol turned actress, has been haunted by a series of disturbing events and hallucinations, leading her to question her own sanity. The climax reveals that her manager, Rumi, has been orchestrating these events. Rumi, who is obsessed with Mima's pop idol persona, has been impersonating her and manipulating her reality to preserve the image of the innocent idol. In a dramatic confrontation, Rumi, dressed as Mima, attacks her. The struggle ends with Mima managing to subdue Rumi, who is then hit by a truck while chasing Mima. Rumi survives but is institutionalized, believing herself to be the real Mima. The film concludes with Mima visiting Rumi in the hospital, now confident in her own identity. Mima leaves, affirming her sense of self, and the final shot shows her reflection in a car mirror, symbolizing her regained clarity and control over her life.