RIP Satoshi Kon
The news of Satoshi Kon's death saddens me on several levels.
Not just that he was a talented animator and director, but that he really seemed to be talking to me directly and he was smarter than his audience. I've seen everything he directed and always waited impatiently for his next project. His work almost always dealt with the perception of reality, dreams and the human condition. His characters never failed to connect with me and I felt genuine happiness at their victories, sadness at their defeats and aching at their confusion.
The first movie of his I saw was Millenium Actress. I watched it during the afternoon of a sick day in the fall. It affected me enough that right after I picked up Kuzibah from work I made her come home and watch it with me immediately. I never watch a film twice in 5 hours. Never.
Yes, it IS that good.
Yes, it will make you talk to yourself.
Yes, I will be watching it again this week.
It was a few months after that that I was able to watch Perfect Blue, Mr. Kon's first film. It is as wonderful as it is disturbing. What is real? Does it matter?
Paranoia Agent was shown over 7 months on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. It never failed to evoke a sense of Holy Sh!t. It's not for everyone, but it is masterful.
Tokyo Godfathers broke the mold of what was a "normal" Kon film. A remake of John Ford's 3 Godfathers in current-day Japan. You will cry; I don't care who you are.
Paprika has to be where Chris Nolan got his idea for Inception. 'Nuff said.
I am saddened that there will not be more work from this great artist. Very sad indeed.
Not just that he was a talented animator and director, but that he really seemed to be talking to me directly and he was smarter than his audience. I've seen everything he directed and always waited impatiently for his next project. His work almost always dealt with the perception of reality, dreams and the human condition. His characters never failed to connect with me and I felt genuine happiness at their victories, sadness at their defeats and aching at their confusion.
The first movie of his I saw was Millenium Actress. I watched it during the afternoon of a sick day in the fall. It affected me enough that right after I picked up Kuzibah from work I made her come home and watch it with me immediately. I never watch a film twice in 5 hours. Never.
Yes, it IS that good.
Yes, it will make you talk to yourself.
Yes, I will be watching it again this week.
It was a few months after that that I was able to watch Perfect Blue, Mr. Kon's first film. It is as wonderful as it is disturbing. What is real? Does it matter?
Paranoia Agent was shown over 7 months on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. It never failed to evoke a sense of Holy Sh!t. It's not for everyone, but it is masterful.
Tokyo Godfathers broke the mold of what was a "normal" Kon film. A remake of John Ford's 3 Godfathers in current-day Japan. You will cry; I don't care who you are.
Paprika has to be where Chris Nolan got his idea for Inception. 'Nuff said.
I am saddened that there will not be more work from this great artist. Very sad indeed.