Did "Inception" steal from "Paprika"?

Talking of films about dreams, Nolan's "Inception" may be familiar to many right now. But back when the film was first released, some fans questioned whether it had stolen from a previous one called "Paprika".

"Paprika" was made by the Japanese anime director Satoshi Kon in 2006. It tells the story of how "Paprika", a dream detective, enters patients' dreams to find out the truth.

I think it's natural for people who have seen the two films to have such doubt. Because the two are amazingly similar in the setting of dreams, the arrangement of shots, and the composition of space.

Despite this, Nolan stated that he did not know Satoshi Kon and had never heard of that animation.

It might be unreasonable to question such a big-name Hollywood director as Nolan. But "Paprika" was released four years earlier than "Inception". And there are so many similarities between the two. A mere "never heard of" sounds just an inadequate explanation.

Did "Inception" plagiarize "Paprika"?

Let's take a look at their similar scenes.

1. Street in a broken mirror

When "Paprika" in Kon's animation enters a dream, a crack of space draws her attention. A touch makes the whole space break like shattered glass. She then enters a new dream.

In "Inception", Leonardo and Elliot Page enter a dream and build scenes. When Elliot reached out to the big mirror, it was shattered, bringing her into another dream.

Even if the two talented directors came cross the same idea, details of the scenes they created should have, by no means, been exactly the same. It can be unconvincing if Nolan's fans defend that it's just a coincidence.

2. Hotel corridor

In "Paprika", the police inspector enters a twisted and shaking hotel corridor and sees a shooting. Later, his body floats in the air, and the space around begins to twist.

There is also a shooting scene in the hotel corridor in Nolan's film. This corridor is also affected by dream and thus becomes weightless. The main characters start to spin and float in this space.

The scenes resemble each other, both showing gunfight, floating people, rotating space, with the same hotel corridor setting. But there is one thing different. The film looks not as good as the animation. The rotating space in "Paprika" gives a stronger sense of distortion, which is more consistent with the setting of dream. Nolan misses the essence.

3. Elevator to different dreams

In both films, there is an elevator leading to different dreams. Every time the elevator opens, a completely different world unfolds.

In "Paprika", each floor of the elevator represents one of the police inspector's dreams. In "Inception", every floor houses Leonardo's memories. The police inspector in "Paprika" is most afraid to go to the 17th floor, because it reminds him of the obstacles he once encountered in filming with friends. In "Inception", Leonardo fears most to go to Level B, which has the memory of the last time he saw his wife. It is fair to say that the setting of dream and the selection of shots are almost the same in both films.

In addition to the three sets of scenes above, there are other similar details.

1. The same settings of dream

In both films, there is "dream in dream". When the protagonists think they have woken up, they are still in the dream, merely a shallower dream.

In both films, dream and reality are indistinguishable. Getting hurt in the dream also affects one in the real life.

2. The female characters dress alike

Elliot Page and "Paprika" look the same in their clothes, both in red shirts and slim leg pants.

3. The same composition of frame

Both films have in common the shots with multiple mirrors, and even the composition as a whole. The real characters are on the far right of the frame.

With so many similarities, comparative screenshots of "Paprika" and "Inception" have often been taken to Nolan, with frequent doubts as "Have you watched "Paprika"? "Do you know Satoshi Kon?”

Nolan replies calmly, "I don't know him."

Kon, however, accused Nolan on the blog before his death, saying, "I don't understand why people try to cover up the fact that they have been influenced by others? Why not have the courage to admit this?”

Replying to his blog, Nolan insisted, "I still don't know him."

In fact, a film called Requiem For A Dream is also similar to Kon's another film called Perfect Blue. Kon once asked in person Darren Aronofsky whether he had copied his creative ideas. Darren admitted. But instead of "plagiarism", Darren called his film "a homage".

Nolan insists that he has never watched "Paprika". However, I think film shots honestly tell the undeniable fact. If a rip-off is too much to be admitted, it's OK to refer it to a homage, just as Darren.