What is the plot?

The story begins in the electric haze of a Tokyo concert hall, late 1990s, where the air pulses with the adoration of hundreds of fans. On stage, under the harsh white lights, Mima Kirigoe performs for the last time with her idol group, CHAM!. Her voice blends with the other two members, but tonight, her eyes are distant, her smile tinged with melancholy. As the final song fades, Mima steps forward, her announcement trembling in the charged silence: she is leaving CHAM! to become an actress. The crowd's reaction is instant--some cheer, many gasp, and a few, including a pale, bug-eyed man known only as Me-Mania, stare in disbelief, their devotion curdling into something darker.

Backstage, the mood is tense. Rumi Hidaka, Mima's manager and a former idol herself, hovers protectively. "Are you sure about this, Mima?" she asks, worry shadowing her features. Tadokoro, Mima's agent, is more pragmatic, already discussing new opportunities. The other CHAM! members, their eyes rimmed red, embrace Mima, wishing her luck, but the air is thick with unspoken fears and the ache of parting.

Mima's new life begins in the sterile corridors of a TV studio, where she lands a minor role in the crime drama Double Bind. The show's world is a far cry from the pastel innocence of idol life. Here, Mima is cast as a victim, her lines sparse, her presence overlooked. Yet Tadokoro pushes for more, and soon, Mima is offered a larger, more controversial part--one that requires her to perform in a brutal rape scene. Rumi is appalled. "This isn't you, Mima. You don't have to do this." But Mima, determined to shed her idol image, agrees. The filming is harrowing: surrounded by actors, pinned to the floor, her screams echo through the set, blurring the line between performance and trauma. When the director calls cut, Mima lies trembling, her face streaked with tears--real, not staged.

The transition is not gentle. Mima's fans, once adoring, now turn on her. She receives a fax at her apartment, a single word in bold black: "TRAITOR." Her mailbox fills with hate mail. Yet the most insidious intrusion is digital--a website called "Mima's Room," written in her voice, chronicling her every move, down to the groceries she buys and the thoughts she never shares aloud. The entries are disturbingly intimate. "Today, I went to the store and bought milk. I was careful to avoid the fans." Mima's hands shake as she scrolls, her reflection in the computer screen flickering, uncertain.

She confides in Rumi, who urges her to ignore it. "It's just a fan. Don't give them power." But the sense of being watched grows. On the subway, she catches glimpses of Me-Mania, his eyes never leaving her. At home, she finds her fish dead in their bowl, the water clouded red. Her safe spaces shrink. The boundaries between her real life and her roles--on Double Bind, as a former idol, as herself--begin to dissolve.

The hallucinations start quietly. At first, it's just a flash of her old self in a shop window: Mima in her CHAM! costume, hair ribbons bouncing, lips curled in a mocking smile. "You're not the real Mima," the apparition taunts, her voice high and sweet. "I am." These visions become more frequent, more menacing. Mima wakes to find herself standing in her apartment, unsure how she got there. She discovers bloody clothes hidden in her closet, her own handwriting on notes she doesn't remember writing. She begins to doubt her own mind.

The world around her grows dangerous. Murano, a sleazy photographer, pressures her into a nude photoshoot. The session is exploitative, the camera's lens cold and unblinking. When the photos are published, Mima is wracked with shame and guilt. Soon after, Murano is found dead in his studio, stabbed repeatedly. The police question Mima, but she can't recall where she was that night. Her memories are fragmented, unreliable. She sees flashes: a bloody hand, a scream, a knife glinting in the dark. She fears she may have killed him.

The killings continue. An unnamed screenwriter who contributed to "Mima's Room" is murdered, his body discovered in a pool of blood. Again, Mima finds herself at the scene, her hands trembling, unable to remember how she got there. The evidence mounts--bloody clothes, cryptic notes, gaps in her memory. The line between victim and perpetrator blurs.

On the set of Double Bind, life and fiction intertwine. The show's plot mirrors Mima's unraveling: her character, driven mad by trauma, kills her sister and assumes her identity, suffering from dissociative identity disorder. The scenes are filmed in the same studio where Mima spends her days, the boundaries between script and reality dissolving. "Am I just a character?" Mima wonders, her voice barely a whisper.

Meanwhile, Me-Mania's obsession intensifies. He receives emails from "the real Mima," instructing him to "eliminate the impostor." He believes the actress Mima is a fake, a usurper who must be destroyed to preserve the purity of the idol he worships. He begins to stalk her in earnest, his devotion twisted into violence.

The tension reaches a fever pitch after the final episode of Double Bind wraps. The studio is empty, the lights dim. Mima, exhausted, gathers her things. Suddenly, Me-Mania appears, his face contorted with rage and longing. "You're not Mima!" he screams, advancing. He pins her to the floor, his hands at her throat, his intent unmistakable. "The real Mima would never do those things!" he spits, referring to her acting and the nude photos. Mima struggles, her vision narrowing. In a desperate act of self-preservation, she grabs a hammer and strikes him, the blow sickeningly final. Blood pools beneath Me-Mania's head as he collapses, dead. Mima staggers away, her breath ragged, her hands stained.

But the nightmare is not over. As she flees, she is intercepted by Rumi, who appears calm, almost maternal. "Come with me, Mima. You need to rest." Numb, Mima follows her through the neon-lit streets to Rumi's apartment. Inside, horror dawns: the room is an exact replica of Mima's own, down to the smallest detail. Posters, plush toys, even the arrangement of furniture--everything is the same. On the desk, Mima sees the "Mima's Room" website open, the diary entries still being written. It is Rumi who has been chronicling her life, Rumi who has been watching, Rumi who has orchestrated the terror.

Rumi stands before her, dressed in Mima's CHAM! costume, her hair styled in twin ribbons, her eyes glassy and distant. "You're the fake," Rumi says, her voice eerily childlike. "I'm the real Mima." In her hand, she clutches a broken glass shard, its edge catching the light. She lunges at Mima, slashing wildly. Mima dodges, the glass slicing her arm. The chase spills out into the city, Rumi pursuing her through deserted streets, her movements erratic, puppet-like.

They reach a rooftop, the city sprawling below. Rumi corners Mima, her face twisted in a manic grin. "Give it back!" she shrieks. In the struggle, Mima grabs a mirror shard, holding it up defensively. Rumi, seeing her own reflection, hesitates, her identity fracturing. Mima thrusts the shard forward, catching Rumi in the side. Stunned, Rumi stumbles backward, crashing through a window.

Dazed, Rumi staggers into the street below, headlights bearing down on her. In her delusion, she sees not a truck but stage lights, the adoring gaze of an audience. She smiles, striking a pose, oblivious to the danger. At the last moment, Mima lunges forward, pulling Rumi to safety as the truck screeches past. Both women collapse on the pavement, the city's neon glow flickering overhead.

In the aftermath, Rumi is institutionalized, her mind lost in a perpetual performance. She believes herself to be the real Mima, singing to invisible crowds, her days a loop of idol fantasy. Mima, her wounds healing, rises from the ashes of her ordeal. She becomes a successful actress, her name no longer a battleground.

One day, Mima visits Rumi at the psychiatric hospital. Rumi sits by the window, humming a CHAM! song, her eyes unfocused. The doctor explains, "She still believes she's a pop idol most of the time." Mima nods, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "I learned a lot from her," she says softly.

As Mima leaves, two nurses whisper in the corridor. "Was that Mima Kirigoe?" one asks. "No way. The real Mima wouldn't come here." Mima pauses at her car, catching her reflection in the rearview mirror. For the first time in months, her gaze is steady, her smile genuine. "I'm real," she says, her voice clear and certain.

The city stretches out before her, indifferent and alive. Mima drives away, the boundaries of her identity reclaimed, the ghosts of her past finally at rest.

What is the ending?

In the ending of Perfect Blue, Mima confronts her doppelgänger, a manifestation of her former pop idol self, in a climactic struggle. After a series of harrowing events, she ultimately defeats her stalker, who has been responsible for the chaos in her life. The film concludes with Mima finding a sense of resolution, albeit with lingering trauma from her experiences.


As the film approaches its climax, Mima Kirigoe, now a struggling actress, finds herself increasingly haunted by her past as a pop idol. The line between her reality and the disturbing visions of her former self begins to blur. In a dimly lit room, Mima is confronted by her stalker, who has been obsessively following her every move. This stalker, who has taken on the guise of Mima's idealized pop persona, represents the darker aspects of her identity that she has tried to escape.

The confrontation escalates as Mima grapples with her own psyche. The room is filled with tension, shadows flickering across the walls as Mima's internal struggle manifests physically. She fights against the doppelgänger, a representation of her lost innocence and the pressures of fame. The struggle is not just a physical one; it is a battle for Mima's identity and autonomy. As she wrestles with her past, the emotional weight of her choices and the trauma she has endured come crashing down on her.

In a moment of clarity, Mima manages to overpower her stalker, who is revealed to be a deeply disturbed individual unable to separate fantasy from reality. The confrontation culminates in a violent struggle, and Mima, fueled by her desire to reclaim her life, ultimately stabs her stalker. The act is both liberating and horrifying, as Mima realizes the extent of the darkness that has surrounded her.

Following this intense climax, the film shifts to a quieter scene. Mima is seen in a hospital room, recovering from the traumatic events. The atmosphere is somber, yet there is a sense of relief. She has survived the ordeal, but the scars of her experiences remain. Mima's journey has taken her through a harrowing transformation, and while she has defeated her stalker, the psychological toll is evident in her demeanor.

As the film draws to a close, Mima is shown attending a film premiere, stepping into the public eye once more. The camera captures her expression--a mixture of determination and vulnerability. She has emerged from the chaos, but the lingering effects of her past are palpable. The audience is left with a sense of ambiguity regarding Mima's future; she has fought to reclaim her identity, yet the shadows of her past continue to loom over her.

In the final moments, the film emphasizes the complexity of Mima's character. She is no longer just a pop idol or a victim; she is a survivor who has faced the darkest parts of herself. The fate of the main characters is stark: Mima has triumphed over her stalker, but the victory is bittersweet, as she must now navigate a world that has forever changed her. The film closes on a haunting note, leaving viewers to ponder the cost of fame and the fragility of identity.

Is there a post-credit scene?

The movie "Perfect Blue," produced in 1998, does not have a post-credit scene. The film concludes with a powerful and unsettling climax that leaves the audience reflecting on the themes of identity, reality, and the psychological toll of fame. After the final scenes, the credits roll without any additional content or scenes following them. The focus remains on the intense narrative and the psychological journey of the protagonist, Mima Kirigoe, rather than extending the story further in a post-credit sequence.

What motivates Mima to leave her idol group and pursue an acting career?

Mima's decision to leave her idol group, CHAM, is driven by her desire for personal growth and to break free from the constraints of her image as a pop idol. She feels stifled by the expectations placed on her and yearns to explore her potential as an actress, despite the risks involved.

How does Mima's mental state deteriorate throughout the film?

Mima's mental state deteriorates as she faces increasing pressure from her new acting career, the demands of her fans, and the unsettling presence of a stalker. The blurring of reality and her roles in various projects leads to hallucinations and paranoia, culminating in a profound identity crisis.

What role does the character of Rumi play in Mima's life?

Rumi, Mima's manager, initially appears supportive of her transition from idol to actress. However, as the story progresses, Rumi becomes increasingly obsessed with Mima's idol persona, leading to a conflict where Rumi's desire to protect Mima morphs into a dangerous fixation that ultimately threatens Mima's safety.

How does the stalker influence the events of the story?

The stalker, who is obsessed with Mima, plays a crucial role in escalating the tension and horror of the narrative. His invasive presence and the disturbing messages he sends contribute to Mima's growing paranoia and fear, pushing her further into a psychological spiral as she struggles to discern reality from delusion.

What significance does the 'Perfect Blue' song hold in the film?

The song 'Perfect Blue' symbolizes Mima's lost innocence and the duality of her identity. It serves as a haunting reminder of her past as a pop idol, contrasting sharply with her current struggles and the darker themes of her new acting roles, encapsulating her internal conflict and the pressures of her transformation.

Is this family friendly?

"Perfect Blue," produced in 1998, is not considered family-friendly due to its mature themes and graphic content. Here are some potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects that may affect children or sensitive viewers:

  1. Violence and Gore: The film contains scenes of violence, including graphic depictions of murder and psychological torment, which can be disturbing.

  2. Sexual Content: There are explicit scenes that involve sexual situations and themes of exploitation, which may be inappropriate for younger audiences.

  3. Psychological Horror: The film delves into themes of identity crisis, mental illness, and paranoia, which can be unsettling and may provoke anxiety in sensitive viewers.

  4. Stalking and Harassment: The protagonist experiences intense stalking and harassment, leading to feelings of fear and vulnerability, which can be distressing.

  5. Suicidal Themes: The narrative touches on themes of despair and suicidal ideation, which can be triggering for some individuals.

Overall, "Perfect Blue" explores dark and complex themes that are best suited for mature audiences.