This series is my occasional countdown to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I’ve done it two or three times with varying levels of success, and I am once again embarking on a quest to spend 100 days writing 100 posts about anime, manga, animation, comics, film, and conventions. We’ll see what happens.
100 Days of Anime 2026
Day 013/100
Theme of the Day: “Shōjo S” by Scandal from Bleach (2009)
Currently Watching: Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig
When I first wrote about Satoshi Kon’s works in 2018, they were a lot harder to watch. I bought or rented the digital version of Millennium Actress, I downloaded VLC to get a region-locked version of Tokyo Godfathers working, and I don’t remember how I watched Perfect Blue or Paprika. Paranoia Agent may have been found on the high seas.
In 2026, all of Kon’s work has a decent quality and fairly affordable Blu Ray release you can pick up via your retailer of choice. Until just now, I’d forgotten I’ve got the Blu Ray of Millennium Actress displayed proudly on my anime and manga shelf.
If you’re looking to stream Kon’s work, things get more complicated, but I think Perfect Blue and Paranoia Agent are the only works locked behind a paywall.
Perfect Blue is on HBO Max or you can rent or buy it via Prime Video, Apple TV or Fandango. (I’m just learning that Fandango sells digital movies now.)
Millennium Actress is also on HBO Max plus Retro Crush and Asian Crush. I’ve heard of the Crush platforms but never tried them. You can watch it for free(?) on Plex with ads, and you can rent or buy from Apple TV or Fandango (but not Prime Video.)
Tokyo Godfathers is on something called Hoopla for free. It’s also on Tubi for free with ads, and you can rent or buy it from Apple TV or Fandango (but once again not Prime Video.)
Paprika is on Sony Pictures Core, another thing I didn’t know existed until today. It can be watched for free with ads on Youtube and Tubi. You can buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango.
Finally, Paranoia Agent is on Crunchyroll, and you can buy it on Apple TV or Fandango.
I found all that on JustWatch, which is a handy platform, although I don’t like its UI. You could have found all that out for yourself, so I suppose I owe you a nickels worth of my own thoughts.
It’s a shame that Crunchyroll has become what it is. I still use it, and it’s never been perfect, but I feel like over the last several years its transformed from a flawed but useful component of a much healthier ecosystem to a bloated snake eating its own tail.
Much has been said by more knowledgeable folks about the consumption and subsequent destruction if RightStuf, and much more has been said about the use of “AI” translators.
And while Crunchyroll continues to swell, the broader streaming space atomizes around it. There are too many platforms and too many people asking me for $5 a month ad infinitum to watch someone else’s movie.
Remember, kids: Uncle Chase says support the people that make the art that matters to you when you’re able. Buy physical media, and only spend money on digital media that you can store locally and keep back ups.
That was probably more like a pennies worth of my thoughts, but we don’t make those anymore so a nickel will have to do. Sorry, no change. Until next time.
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