Following the lead of Dario Argento more closely than the typical conventions of Japanese animation, Perfect Blue mixes the former's elements of mystery and suspense with the latter's more surreal elements to create a frightening cocktail of delirium and obsession. An interesting study in celebrity obsession, viewers witness not only the haunting delusions of a troubled fan who is unable to accept the protagonist's new career direction, but also visually experience the protagonist's doubts and deepening regret for taking that direction, which affect her ability to function under her new and more mature image. Bringing traditional elements of the mystery genre into the modern age via advances in technology such as the Internet, it's truly unsettling to view the increasingly interchangeable elements of anonymity and celebrity; in the increasingly voyeuristic age of technology, no one is ever truly alone.