Spirited Away is a part of many people’s childhood, having watched it in theaters when it was released in 2001 and marveling at the visuals. However, during the Fantasia Film Festival held in Canada on July 28, 2001, Satoshi Kon also released Millennium Actress.
Hayao Miyazaki might have had a guaranteed hit on his hands with the fantasy movie, but Kon’s movie is a surrealist masterpiece that deserves more recognition than it’s received.
Millennium Actress is perhaps Kon’s most underrated work, while Spirited Away is Miyazaki’s most recognized. It’s iconic for all the right reasons, and we can’t deny how much it deserves it. However, Millennium Actress should be hailed as a masterpiece of the same calibre.
Satoshi Kon’s Millennium Actress Surpasses Spirited Away in Its Own Strengths
In many ways, Millennium Actress and Spirited Away would be comparing apples to oranges. They are nothing alike, other than the year they came out. However, we can all agree that Satoshi Kon’s work of art deserves to be recognized alongside Hayao Miyazaki. They complement and contrast each other’s styles.
We also argue that it’s better than Spirited Away
So, what is Millennium Actress about? It follows Chiyoko Fujiwara, a former legendary actress, who accepts an interview 30 years after retiring and staying silent for those decades. The interviewer, Genya Tachibana, who is also a fan of Chiyoko, and his cameraman, Kyoji Ida, visit her house for the report, but discover the tragic truth behind her life.
It’s not nearly as disturbing as Perfect Blue or as mind-bending as Paprika, but it holds its own even after 24 years. The visuals in the movie are impeccable, and the narration of Chiyoko’s life is full of twists and turns. She blurs the line between her life and the movies she’s acted in.
It’s not a Satoshi Kon movie if you aren’t questioning what reality is. Millennium Actress is a perfect blend of comedy, tragedy, and every emotion possible. From Genya’s devotion to Chiyoko to Eiko’s jealousy towards her, the nuance in the story is unmatched. Spirited Away did not present nearly this much range, with how light-hearted the story was.
Why Satoshi Kon Deserves to Be Remembered as One of the Best Directors
Satoshi Kon’s works are among the most influential anime movies in the industry. Perfect Blue and Paprika went on to inspire critically acclaimed movies, such as Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, and Christopher Nolan’s Inception. Some scenes were ripped straight out of the animated movies, too.
The director has a knack for presenting disturbing themes in a surreal and visually striking way. Kon isn’t afraid to tackle complex themes. Even in Tokyo Godfathers, another movie that deserves more respect, the plot involved a transgender character as the kindest person. He was ahead of his time.
No director could blend reality and fiction like the late Satoshi Kon could. Hayao Miyazaki is an expert in fantasy and presenting dark themes through light-hearted visuals, but the Millennium Actress director went with a different approach. We can appreciate both for their contribution to the movie industry.
Do you like Millennium Actress more or Spirited Away? Let us know your choice and why in the comments below!
Millennium Actress can currently be streamed on Prime Video, Tubi, and Crunchyroll. Spirited Away can currently be streamed on Prime Video.
