News

GKIDS Confirms Perfect Blue Film's U.S. Theatrical Release

GKIDS confirmed on Thursday that it has acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue film and will screen it in about 500 theaters in the United States in collaboration with Fathom Events. Screenings in Japanese with English subtitles will be held on Thursday, September 6 and screenings with the English dub will be held on Monday, September 10.

GKIDS did not confirm in its press release whether or not it has the home video rights to the film.

Fandango had already listed the Perfect Blue screenings. A teaser website opened and allowed visitors to sign up for the GKIDS mailing list. The site, designed to look like the protagonist Mima's late-90s blog, now has a link to buy tickets.

The 1997 feature film was the directorial debut for Kon, who went to make Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paranoia Agent and Paprika before his death in 2010. Set in contemporary Tokyo, the story concerns a pop singer, Mima, who tries to develop an acting career, only to experience threats and traumas as her mind breaks down and she is tormented by a ghostly version of her singer self. Manga Entertainment released the film on VHS and DVD.

Kon based his Perfect Blue anime film on Yoshikazu Takeuchi's Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis novel, which Seven Seas Entertainment shipped on February 6. Seven Seas also shipped Takeuchi's second Perfect Blue novel, Perfect Blue: Awaken from a Dream on April 24.

Thanks to Rukiia for the news tip.

Source: Press Release