Paprika (2006)

When the prototype of a device that can see people’s dreams is stolen, Dr. Atsuko Chiba, with the help of her co-workers and her dream world alter-ego Paprika, must find the thief before everyone’s dreams merge with reality and take over. Using animation to tell a story that couldn’t be told conventionally, it’s a candy-colored festival for the eyes. I’m not sure I would have understood half of what was going on without reading along to a synopsis. Even if the dreams in the film weren’t like anything I’ve personally experienced, watching it gave the feeling that it was pulling imagery from deep inside my own brain to throw on screen. The DVD interestingly allowed the film to be simultaneously watched with subtitles and English dubbing which offered an interesting comparison making me wonder which parts were closer to the original Japanese.