Because you clicked on this article, I'm assuming you know something about either Paprika (2006) or Napping Princess (2017). Either that, or you're an anime fan, or just looking to read something in your spare time. Whatever brought you here, welcome! ;)
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| Napping Princess |
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| Paprika |
So, when it comes to these two films, I have to say that I like both and think both are generally well-made. However, there are things about both films that are critically better and worse than the other. I want to pull out one specific difference in the two films: the way they treat dream worlds and whether or not that treatment is effective. In films sometimes, we jump into the dreams/imaginations of the protagonists, or supporting characters, and we either feel encompassed in a believable experience, or come out saying, "WTH was that??" I'm going to address this very treatment of dreams and imaginations and their relationship with reality in the movies Paprika (2006) and Napping Princess (2017) to see which one did it better. But first, I'll give you a brief summary/evaluation of each of the films for background.
**Spoilers below**
Satoshi Kon's Paprika (2006)
If you like themes of insanity and artificial life all in one movie, this is the film for you. Paprika somehow inserts the audience into the tricked-out imagination of a crazy person. It's actually a really cool experience because you feel like you're exploring someone else's brain. That is, the movie isn't just taking Paprika's hand into the minds of mental health patients, but is a jump into the pool of insanity itself. And this insanity is contrasted by the brief moments of normalcy in the film.
Probably the most iconic scene in the film is the parade scene, which (WOW), is something else, to say the least. When you watch that scene with all the creepy dolls, quirky music, etc., I think that is when you decide if you like the film or not. Or, simply put, if you can handle the parade scene, you can find it in you to put Paprika on your list of good anime movies. I was one of these, despite the fact that this parade can be an unforgettable nightmare for years to come.
All in all, I enjoyed this movie, but I must warn that it is not for everybody. You have to be ready to deal with some really dramatic, potentially emotional moments when you see the characters suffer from mental illness. Although this can be a problem for some, it is simultaneously a super interesting analysis of what it means to help someone with mental illness, or even to be hurt by them. Either way you slice it, this movie does a great analysis on this touchy subject in general, which I thought was really cool.
Kenji Kamiyama's Napping Princess (2016)
This movie actually inspired me to write this article because it made me think a lot about dreams and about how movies can make us feel like we are truly experiencing someone else's thoughts, or emotions. Napping Princess did a really good job mixing dreams with reality from the beginning to about 3/4 of the way through. The scenery is done so well, both the world of reality and the world of dreams throughout the movie was fun to experience. 10/10 on that part.
Also, I really liked that the dream world wasn't just a dream completely disconnected from the reality of the characters, but started as separate and then became fully integrated into reality. At the same time though, for a film to really do this successfully, the dream and reality have to make sense together in some way, and I felt Paprika accomplished this better.
Although there were many aspects of the movie that were great, there were parts that fell short and shattered the wonder created by the first and second acts of the movie. That is, when the dream world and reality merged completely, it became confusing and, frankly, pretentious. This was especially true near the end of the movie, because there was no visible line between dream and reality; it is not possible to fully understand without being told what actually happened to Kokone when she fell inside the building. In many ways this particular scene and others like it could have been done better, but this scene bothered me the most. In many ways, it ruined the film for me and robbed me of the whimsy I felt in the first part of the film. I think all of this could have been resolved with a simple shift in the ways in which reality and dreams were merged.
For example, if there would have simply been more flashes back to reality, the dream segments would have made more sense. Specifically, the end scene is almost completely a dream, but then it rips you too suddenly back to reality, where the protagonist is suddenly falling down from a high-up floor in a tall building. There were really two separate worlds here, rather than one cohesive reality; something I believe Paprika was able to accomplish.
Both Films Compared
I've talked already about the ways these films approach dreams/imagination/thoughts and reality, but here I'll compare the two works more directly. Personally, I like the cuteness and comedy of Napping Princess slightly more than the jarring, and even anxiety-creating world of Paprika. That said, I think Paprika was a much better movie, critically speaking. The way Paprika melded reality and dreams was just nothing short of masterful and fascinating, which makes me want to watch it again, just to provoke thought and reflection about the way life and human psychology really works.
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| From: Napping Princess |
Napping Princess, on the other hand, though beautiful and generally a good movie, just didn't do it for me critically speaking. Don't get me wrong, the art is great, the characters are relatable, and the concept for the story of great as well. But the execution of the story did it in, and prevented it from being fully realized in its effectiveness as a work of storytelling art. (It gave me more of a "WTH was that?" Moment, rather than the "Wow" factor I think it might have been going for.)
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| From: Paprika |
Overall, I would recommend either of these films, even though I think one is better than the other critically. However, please keep in mind that Paprika is definitely for adults, and Napping Princess is more geared towards kids (it is a GKIDS Movie). So, go forth and watch, and let us know if you agree/disagree with us in the comments below.
Author: Corey Cherrington
Edited by: Logan Christensen
Edited by: Logan Christensen
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