Paprika with Aaron Wood - Episode 34

Paprika (2006) Is Better Than Inception?Talking Satoshi Kon, Dreams, and Fandoms with Aaron WoodThis week, we’re diving into a movie I love with someone I think you’re going to love too—illustrator, designer, and board game artist Aaron Wood.We’re talking Paprika (2006), Satoshi Kon’s visually wild, brain-bending anime that’s basically Inception before Inception—but weirder, and honestly, better.Aaron had never seen it before, so we use that as a jumping-off point to explore:The ethics of dream-sharingThe strange line between identity and avatars (online and in dreams)Why animation might be the only way to tell this kind of storyAaron’s work in fandom from the inside out—WPA-style fantasy posters, sci-fi tourism art, and board game design for games like Twilight ImperiumTopics we hit include:🎭 The uncanny valley vs. hand-drawn magic🎤 Why Vocaloids are both cool and unsettling📺 The live-action Paprika remake (we're already anxious)🌐 How fandoms, internet identities, and dreams blur together😱 That time Aaron’s parents betrayed him… with Return of the Jedi🎬 Why sometimes we just need a little nudge to finally watch a movieThis episode’s full of heart, nerdy insights, and plenty of sidetracks about art, animation, and how we experience stories.—Follow the host:Kt Baldassaro (MovieRuntime)TikTok: @movieruntimeInstagram: @movieruntimeLetterboxd: movieruntimeBluesky: movieruntime.bsky.socialFollow the guest:Aaron Wood – Illustrator, graphic designer, and board game artistEtsy: JustOneScarfInstagram: @aaronwooddesignsTikTok: @aaronwooddesignsTwitter/X: @justonescarf—🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:Spotify: tinyurl.com/mr8ct67cApple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/3rarkktxOther platforms: tinyurl.com/y43c2cc7