Prepare to enter the realm of fantasy and imagination — where reality and dreams collide in a kaleidoscopic mindscape of sheer visual genius. The magical tale centers on a revolutionary machine that allows scientists to enter and record a subject’s dream.

After being stolen, a fearless detective and brilliant therapist join forces to recover the device, searching both the real and dream worlds.

Directed by the late Satoshi Kon. Paprika was the last feature film before his death. It won several awards around the world, including the Tokyo Anime Award for Best Music, and the Feature Film Award in the 12th Animation Kobe Awards, in 2007.

Anime often has a dreamlike quality, whether it’s in the enchanted landscapes of Studio Ghibli, the magical realism of Makoto Shinkai, or the nightmarish imagery in the likes of Akira. Paprika explores this idea to its limits, with some surreal, visually dazzling displays that will linger in your dreams long after the film’s finished.

In the near future, a device is invented that allows its user to control people’s dreams. Initially used by psychiatrists in their therapy, it is soon stolen by less scrupulous forces and used for dream terrorism – torturing victims in their sleep with nightmares. Only one woman – a young therapist named Paprika – can find the device and stop its thief before they can unleash any more chaos.

This was the final film by the legendary director Satoshi Kon before his untimely death in 2010. It exemplifies his fascination with blurring the lines between fiction and reality, with some of the trippiest visuals you’re likely to ever see on the big screen. Paprika is believed to have been a major influence on Christopher Nolan’s Inception, but Kon wasn’t afraid to dream a little bigger – his imagination, combined with the limitless powers of animation, take us to the surreal madness of real nightmares in a way that Nolan could only, well, dream of.

Paprika was critically well-received upon release, with particular praise for its visuals (as you might expect) and symbolism. It won the award for best anime feature film at the Tokyo Anime Awards and was named the 20th best animated movie of all time by Time Magazine.