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It's episode 289…and you're tarnished and filthy.

Perfect Blue (1997) follows the story of Mima, a Japanese pop idol who gives up singing at the advice of her management in order to pursue an acting career instead. What follows is a descent into paranoia and doubt as Mima begins to lose track of who she is, all as mysterious murders occur in her vicinity.

Part one of Anime Horror/inspiration for legally distinct Hollywood movie season kicks off with a bang, as we discuss an artful treatise on the nature of identity, the often problematic sexualisation of young women in Japanese media, whether truck drivers should be more urgent with braking and well-trodden path of Disney actor to sexually explicit pop star.

All of which leads to one question: How would you survive?

Whatever happens, one thing's for sure: illusions can't come to life.

Next time on the main feed, we're watching another Satoshi Kon staple with Paprika (2006), while it's Red Dot (2021) on the Patreon bonus feed.