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Showing posts with the label Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue: Awaken From A Dream: Am I Still Asleep?

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 Recently, I decided to slowly go through Yoshikazu Takeuchi's Perfect Blue: Awaken From A Dream. It's a collection of three short stories from within the Perfect Blue universe. This was a funny way to describe this collection as the first two stories actually preceded the Perfect Blue tale, according to Takeuchi in the afterword. But if you're trying to sell your collection of Idol-themed Horror, it would make the most sense to tie them to the most popular one. A move that most likely resulted in the translation of these in the first place. So, what compelled me to read these stories was the fact that they pertained to Perfect Blue funnily enough. A true win for this marketing decision.  Yet, my takeaway at the end of it pertained more towards my love of this style of Horror, rather than the Perfect Blueness. When I talk about that Perfect Blueness, I mean the reality-bending nightmare aspect. The Wake Me From This Dream and Cry Your Tears stories do have similar ethereal ...

The Music Of Horror: Some of My Favorite Composers

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 Today is Halloween, and I should make another Horror post. And so I will. With the topic this time being about the sounds. As much as I like my audio design in this genre, I did want to focus more on the composition side. Whether it's Movies, Television, or Games. Horror has pretty much always been on the ball with the creaks and crunches. But the one's that can nail the composition go much further for me than those that neglect or lack in this department.  This opinion very much comes from my viewer monkey brain, and not with actual music expertise. So, some scores that sound great and move people, may not do it for me. This is all just to preface my very good opinions that no one is going to care about. But that's enough messing around, let's just dive right in. What makes an exceptional Horror score for me? Well, it mostly comes down to the emotions of the scene, and the build-up in many ways. There's plenty of media in the Horror Space that feature very talente...

Perfect Blue: See, I'm Real

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 I want to start this off by saying, RIP to David Lynch. A Master of Horror, who's influence is seen at so many levels of media. Without people like him, we don't get many of the movies, shows, or games that we do. But the reason I am here, is for Perfect Blue.  An incredible and uncomfortable film that was made by Satoshi Kon and the talented team at Madhouse. Prior to my first watch, I really didn't know much about the movie. And I think that is important. Because my only frame of reference was that the main character, Mima, was an idol and being stalked. But what I experienced was much more harrowing.  Perfect Blue goes on the shelf as one of those movies that makes even the most steeled individuals uncomfortable. I say this because I am one of those individuals. I can watch and play most Horror media without being phased. I grew up on stuff like Friday the 13th. Gore is not going to deter me from anything. But there comes a time when even I get tripped up. While there...