Satoshi Kon's film Paprika is receiving a 4K remaster that will expand to 82 theaters across Japan starting August 7, 2026, with a 4K UHD plus Blu-ray set scheduled for September 9, marking the film's 20th anniversary.
The 4K remaster of Satoshi Kon's Paprika, first shown in a limited revival run in January 2026, is expanding to a nationwide theatrical release. The film will play in 82 theaters across Japan starting August 7, 2026. A 4K UHD plus Blu-ray set is scheduled for release on September 9. The expansion follows the film's 20th anniversary this year.
Kon's work continues to reach new audiences. Katsuhiro Ōtomo, who contributed to Kon's film Perfect Blue, recently opened a new feature animation studio called Oval Gear. That studio's first project is already in production, though no release window or title has been shared. Ōtomo's last full-length directorial work was Steamboy in 2004.
The Paprika remaster's expansion from a limited revival to a nationwide 82-theater release signals sustained audience demand for Kon's work two decades after its original debut. No further projects or releases involving Kon's other works have been announced in the stories covered.
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The 4K remaster of Satoshi Kon's Paprika will expand to 82 theaters across Japan starting August 7, 2026, following a January revival run. A 4K UHD plus Blu-ray set is scheduled for September 9. The film marks its 20th anniversary this year.
Director and manga artist Katsuhiro Ōtomo has founded a new animation studio called Oval Gear. The studio will focus on feature-length work. Its first project is already in production. The company is hiring animators and production staff as it builds out its team. Ōtomo is best known for the 1988 film Akira, which he directed and wrote based on his own manga. His other directing credits include the anthology Memories, the steampunk feature Steamboy, and the science-fiction story Roujin Z. He also contributed to Perfect Blue, the psychological thriller directed by the late Satoshi Kon. The formation of Oval Gear marks a return to feature animation for Ōtomo, whose last full-length directorial work was Steamboy in 2004. The studio name and its immediate hiring push suggest a permanent production base rather than a one-off project team. No release window or title for the first film has been shared.