Paprika (2006 film)

Paprika (パプリカ Papurika?) is a Japanese animated science fiction film, based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1993 novel Paprika, about a female research psychologist involved in a project to develop a device that will permit therapists to help patients by entering their dreams.

The film was directed by Satoshi Kon, animated by Madhouse Studios and produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment. The music was composed by Susumu Hirasawa, who also composed the soundtrack for Kon's award-winning film, Millennium Actress, and equally lauded television series, Paranoia Agent.

Its world premiere took place at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2006. It also competed at the 19th Tokyo International Film Festival from October 21—29, 2006 as the opening screening for the 2006 TIFF Animation CG Festival.. It was also shown at the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, as the closing film of the Anime Marathon at the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian, and at the 2007 Greater Philadelphia Cherry Blossom Festival. It was also a part of the 44th New York Film Festival, playing on October 7, 2006. Furthermore, it played at the Sarasota Film Festival on April 21, 2007, in Sarasota, Florida. Additionally it was shown at the 39th International Film Festival in Auckland, New Zealand on July 22, 2007 and will be shown as the festival travels around New Zealand. It saw theatrical releases on November 25, 2006 in Japan and May 25 2007 in the United States.