I watched Paprika and Perfect Blue back to back on my birthday last year. It was the best idea I ever had to celebrate. I like to think of Kon as the Stanley Kubrick of anime. Both of them have the same initials, like to focus on the human mind in various ways, and like to make sure that every single thing the audience sees has meaning.

One thing that always struck me about Kon's work is the incredible empathy. In Paprika, the obese otaku is not only not played for ridicule but is the love interest of the protagonist. In Tokyo Godfathers, the homeless alcoholic and the drag queen are also framed in a beautifully sympathetic manner. In all these cases (and probably many more, I haven't seen Paranoia Agent in forever) the characters aren't sanitized ideals of what "those people" should be like, but if anything exaggerated to drive home the point that "even" these people should be treated with respect and empathy, and they never come across as mean-spirited caricatures.

For me, his best work was in Paprika. But all of his films, and Paranoia Agent, are terrific. I love watching Tokyo Godfathers at Christmas (tomorrow), and Millennium Actress and Perfect Blue are frequently rewatched, but Paprika is definitely my favourite. The visuals and music are really great and work so well together. I was so very saddened when he died, having already seen all of his movies (I watched Paranoia Agent afterwards), it was a great loss to anime, animation, and great filmmaking. Still, with channels like this reviewing his work, Satoshi Kon will never die. Thanks.

I watched Perfect Blue in my early teens and didn't fully grasp the mature, thought-provoking themes. I knew I was missing something but I was watching anime at that time purely for entertainment. I watched it again a few years ago and was enthralled by his genius. I have since gone back and watched/read every peice of media he had a hand in. A little sad you didn't talk about Magetic Rose from Memories. It was short but impactful. So much depth and insights into characters in such a short time. Much like a rose Satoshi Kon bloomed for a short time and left us with memories of great beauty.

Brilliant! Paranoia Agent is one of the all-time best anime series.

Satoshi kon. The legend. I wish he was still here and I met him in person to praise him. I even drew a portrait of him and it became my best! I hope he is well in heaven

Millennium Actress is my personal favourite. It hit me right in the core when I saw it the first time and second time and third time etc. Really, I love all his work and have been a big fan of his since 2007 when one of my friends introduced me to Paprika. The world was robbed of a brilliant artist who in my opinion is up there with the very best ones of all time and to this day I'm still not really over it. He deserved a long life and I would have loved to see where his career would've taken him, but at the same time I'm grateful for the art and stories he shared with us.

Perfect Blue was probably his undisputed masterpiece.

Kon is in a level of his own for sure, in anime a medium so full of copy-paste, Kon might be the most original with no one really doing things or able to do things like he has done, closer would be Mamoru Oshii probably, anyway great video, Kon is the reason i started watching anime for real and really appreciating it, my favorites have to be Perfect Blue and Magnetic Rose.

Millenium Actress. It might be my favourite movie period. It's transition paradise and it just puts me in a good mental state

my top 3 favorites: 1. Perfect Blue 2. Paranoia Agent 3. Millennium Actress Also, Magnetic Rose ;)

Nice video. I'd say that "Perfect Blue" is a demonstration of the emotional violence that the entertainment industry does to minds of those who work in it.

Satoshi Kun was outstanding. Recently watched Perfect Blue and was blown away. Also, been really enjoying your content! I can see this channel blowing up big time!

Suggestion: "The Philosophy of Neon Genesis Evangelion" :D

I watched perfect blue last year and it was one of the best animes I've ever seen and this year I watched paprika, and I liked it even better. I think Satoshi Kon is the best anime director after Myazaki and Takahata. I really respect his works

First of all, I have to say that I really love your analysis on Satoshi Kon's work. He's one of my favorite directors next to Hayao Miyazaki. Personally my favorite from him is "Millenium Actress" because it was the first movie I saw from him. His use of story telling is very impactful and I never get over how beautiful the soundtrack is. It's a shame that he was gone too soon.

He will always be alive.........❤️

Not much I can say but "Thank You"

Please don't take this comment the wrong way, but it's a pleasure to hear a young woman discussing manga and anime with such enthusiasm and a clear passion for the subject. So often manga/anime is stereotyped as just for geek boys and lonely middle age men (not including myself in either category). You've obviously researched your subject matter very well and it's professionally presented. Great work and thank you for the time you put into making this video. I enjoyed all of Kon's work, although I have to admit that his last offering 'Ohayo' brought a tear to my eye. Anyway, thanks again. I'm now off to look at your back catalogue.

Great video, I shed a tear. My favorite Is easely Tokyo Godfathers. Great film that always brings me a smile. But yeah he was a great director. I still need to watch Paranoia Agent and then I seen all of his animations

I remember watching paranoia agent when I was 9 and I enamoured by it. I had watched your standard anime before that as well as I had a vhs copy of Akira which I still love to this day. I feel that without watching paranoia agent I would not have fell in love with anime the way that I did.

The Music you used in the first bit deserves its own video for the Artist. Suzumu Hirasawa is a genius and has been making Music since the 80s. Last thing I remember was also that he was big on Environment and renewable Energy? At least his Live concents many years ago used it. Recommend his small outside concert "Susumu Hirasawa - Berserk Forces 1.5 Live 2001" Here on youtube. His "newer" concerts are a really cool sight to behold! People know him best for his Berserk Anime Song Forces.

Excellent analysis. I've never read _Opus_ but I'm reminded of Philip K. Dick's experience from a few years after he wrote _Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said_ , recounted at the end of the film _Waking Life_ . Long story short, Dick meets a woman at a party who tells him about her life and he realizes that the details she was describing came directly from that book he'd written, down to her name and the names of the people she knew. Shortly thereafter he gives a ride to a hitchhiker and as he pulls in to a gas station it dawns on him that he was experiencing one of the scenes from his novel. There's more to the story, including Dick's absurd-yet-intriguing theory for how he'd tapped into 'predicting' that info, but the content of _Opus_ sounds very similar. Actually the more I think on it, the more I start to see some clear overlaps between themes in Kon's work and Dick's, like the indiscernability of reality from fantasy, mistaken and ambiguous identity, warped consciousness to evade the mundane, etc... There might be an essay there. Anywho, gotta say my favorite Kon work remains _Paprika_ , both for its densely woven narrative and the spectacular effects. I did, however, make the mistake of showing it as extra credit to some of my students (college freshman) with virtually no exposure to anime, so needless to say they found it a bit too...out there. Definitely a classic of the form, though; would show again (maybe providing a bit of background). From one who philosophizes about anime a bit too much to another, this video is really appreciated. If I might make a humble suggestion...maybe something on Masaaki Yuasa? Keep up the fine work.

This brought me to tears. Thank you.

Today I just watched Perfect Blue for the first time and now I join you, eternally in love with the work of Satoshi Kon.

Satoshi Kon was such a genius. I love his films Paprika and Perfect Blue. I also love his memories trilogy and Tokyo Godfathers. I just finished watching Millennium actress and it tore my heart apart. Great video!

You forgot to mention Satoshi Kons involvement with JoJo Bizarre Adventure OVA

My top 3 works of Satoshi kon are 1) perfect blue 2) millennium actress 3)paprika

I have only watched perfect blue, but I just remembered that paprika is out on netflix

I find your voice is so calming. I don't know why.

I just recently watched Perfect Blue for the second time now! The realization that we live in a world filled with our own avatars such as our online personas on Discord, Instagram, Twitch, Twitter, and whatnot is unbelievably scary. We cater to these personas and try to project the most "perfect" version of ourselves online while harboring dark emotions towards our true selves. Satoshi Kon perfectly captivates the duality between reality and the projection of our alter egos. This is one of my favorite works of art. Rest in peace Satoshi Kon.

Thanks for this great video

i love your videos....and i love satoshi kon. this is great

Satoshi Kon is genious

I have watched Paprika when it first came out 10 over years ago and was blowned away back then. Watching this video makes me feel like rewatching the movie, and watch all of his other works as well. Thank you!

It's funny how much more fulfilling a series of seemingly sensless paradoxes can sometimes be than hard philosophical theory. Obviously anyone watching the back-catalogue of a youtube channel with "philosopher" in its name believes there is value in trying to make sense of the world, but sometimes there is also value in simply embracing the unknown, infinite, and infinitely complex mystery of life. That is what I feel watching Kon's work. His philosophy is not a set of principles and conclusions or even explicit questions, but observations and expressions and emotions in visual narrative. That, along with his remarkable vision in conveying it is what makes him special.

The ost "run" from millennium actress is ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Legend.

I loved all the hidden meanings and puns in "Paranoia agent", I don't understand japonesse so I had to dig up to trully apreciate it, and I'm sure I just grasped the surface

Really great video, thanks so much for making it!

Really enjoyed Perfect Blue and Paranoia Agent. Millennium Actress got in the feels because it's ending i.e. the rocketship scene being a metaphor for her passing away.

I've only seen Perfect Blue, and while I'm familiar with some of the other titles mentioned, I haven't seen them. Soon tho... Paprika is on the list.

Very recently watched 'Perfect Blue' & consistently found out about Satoshi Kon. Am so amazed&awed, by his portfolio. For the short time he was, not only did he give us much, but so good. 'quality and quantity'

I never seen a video that's been out this long not have a single dislike

I loved your voice ms narrator

'Anime Philosopher' Well pleased with your Video. Good insight into the Work of an Amazing Artist. Satoshi Kon gone too soon. Just joined your Chanel and look forward to viewing previous Vids and future ones to come.

Tokyo Godfathers, Paranoia Agent, and Millennium Actress, in that order. Godfathers cause it was my first Kon movie, while Paranoia Agent got to me personally but the charm that Tokyo Godfathers has just grew on me through the years.

All of them although I haven’t seen millennium actress - gone but will never be forgotten

I literally want to cry because i‘m so impressed by what‘s going on in his mind but the fact that he couldn‘t express all his feelings ideas and all because he died early breaks my heart

I have the deepest respect for Kon and introduce anyone who will listen to his work. My first was Perfect Blue, my favourite is Tokyo Godfathers and most watched by friends is Paprika

most of people picked out Kon's Perfect Blue in the first place, some of other put either Paprika or Tokyo Godfathers, but for me personally, there would not (be) any Kon's works whose as closer, and hit me the most, as a adolesence than Millennium Actress. put simply, it was life-changing.

I tend to do thise whenever i subscribe to a channel, so here goes: This is pretty good! Keep it up! U just earned a subscriber!

that what makes Paranoia Agent in my top list

I fucking LOVE Satoshi Kon! Millennium Actress is one of my favorite movies of all time. In fact, if I had to use one movie to describe myself, that's it. I have a tendency to get obsessed with fiction, and this idea of how important it can be in your life... As well as how it can haunt you, because it isn't, in fact, real in the way you want it to be.

A genius lost too soon.

Millennium actress was my first Kon film and is my favorite. My mothers favorite is Tokyo godfathers

Imagine if ghibli and kon had the chance to make a movie together. it would have been one of the most beautiful thing with the story and visuals. Edit: Also Studio Shaft as it is now would be awesoem ( watch magia record for the visual and animation. That might be alot of styles)

Aside from thr video being completely awesome as always...... FACE REVEAL!!!!!

Kon's movies will be alive untill the end of this world.

Tokyo Godfathers is my favourite of his films

opus mask is in perfect blue

Perfect blue all the way!! Such a classic

I love them all ^^

Are you ready to watch millennium actress in theaters this August!

If only Satoshi Kon was alive today...

Why must people die from such a horrifying disease?

Its crazy how all of these youtubers have obsessive personalities

Her voice sounds like an anime character

Nice music

Perfect Blue. Best.

wait, where can we go to see the ending for Opus manga? I had no idea there was an unfinished ending to it and now I must know.

Amazing that satoshi was this good at making art, but also the creator of bitcoin.

What about Magnetic Rose? I think you missed one.

Nothing to do with satoshi but the girl narrating this has a cute funny accent

Great video, and also one of my favourite film directors. Just a small addition, but didn't Satoshi Kon also help adapt Katsuhiro Otomo's manga short story, 'Magnetic Rose' which he wrote as part of Otomo's 1995 anthology film, 'Memories'? A lot of the themes of the interplay between the real and the unreal in that segment, especially in regard to the use of the simulated perfect 'simulacra' of the space station carrying opera house of that story to entice and deceive its protagonists seem to echo in Kon's later works to me. This other KZfaq video I have just found seems to back up Kon's important contribution, which he seems to have done before working on his manga 'Opus': kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qp10driDzcycn4U.html

Add subtitle pls

I have only watched blue valentine.... And it was very disturbing..... Waiting to watch other works of him

Sahtowshee KaaaAAWN. Sounds about weeb.

I don't understand your use of the 10 foot pole saying. "I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole" is an insult. Meaning, literally, I won't go near it. Why did you use it with Satoshi Kon?

not a single dislike UwU

It’s sooo refreshing to hear a female analysis that doesn’t dissolve into, radical left propaganda