Christopher Nolan is known for his visually striking cinematography, genre-defining films, and impressive plotlines. Although most of Nolan’s work seems to be mind-blowing and original, even the most celebrated director of all time needs a little bit of help and influence from other cinematic creations.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Wanatabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, and Elliot Page, ‘Inception’ is the most impressive sci-fi film created by Christopher Nolan. However, the film has drawn several influences from a 2006 anime film.
Which Anime Film Supposedly Inspired Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’?
‘Inception’ revolves around Dom Cobb, a professional thief who steals classified information from people’s subconscious by entering their dreams. Cobb has the opportunity to have his criminal record erased by implanting specific information into his target’s minds. Although the film seemed to set an example of an exceptional noir film, its core ideas were borrowed from the 2006 Japanese anime film ‘Paprika’ directed by Satoshi Kon.
Anime has fascinated the genre’s hardcore fans as well as Hollywood enthusiasts for quite a while, and it has attracted a lot of audiences in recent years. From the storyline, characters, or a certain scene, both industries have taken inspiration from one another. Coming to ‘Inception‘ and ‘Paprika’, the premise of both was similar along with the machine that was used to interfere with a person’s dream. Certain shots seem to have been directly taken from ‘Paprika’, one among the many including the scene in the rotating hallway. So, people think Christopher Nolan stole the plotline from ‘Paprika‘.
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What Makes ‘Inception’ Different From ‘Paprika’?
Although a few scenes or pieces of tech seem similar in both films, the difference ends there. ‘Inception’ is a mind-altering and game-changing film of the industry, meaning that Christopher Nolan did not blindly copy scenes from ‘Paprika’. While ‘Paprika’ contains many elements of a science fiction project, including advanced technology, robots, and a futuristic aesthetic, it distinguishes itself from other sci-fi projects by emphasizing the fantastical aspects of its storytelling through its dream sequences.
On the other hand, ‘Inception’ focused on the scientific side of the dream exploration rather than the fantastical one. It highlighted the effects of guilt, and regret, and their unique relation to time. The film also portrayed the agonizing effects of strong negative emotions on the human psyche. Whereas ‘Paprika’ provides the viewers with a thought-provoking adventure about freedom of thought and expression, Additionally, ‘Inception‘ challenges viewers to tap into their moral compass and consider how far one is willing to go to exploit a piece of technology only for their benefit.
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