Satoshi Kon

A visionary master and one of the most influential figures in Japanese animation, Satoshi Kon passed away prematurely, but left behind a legacy that continues to shape contemporary cinema. Throughout his entire filmography, Kon used animation to construct and explore worlds where dreams, memories, and reality intertwine, while delving into the fragility of identity and the limits of perception. Darren Aronofsky, Christopher Nolan, and Makoto Shinkai are just a few of the filmmakers deeply influenced by his work.

With a degree in graphic design, he began his professional career as a mangaka under the guidance of Katsuhiro Ōtomo, whose film Akira had a profound impact on his development. Rooted in the anime tradition, he has developed his own cinematic language, characterized by a hallucinogenic visual universe—where influences from David Lynch and Alfred Hitchcock are evident—but also by a keen interest in the human psyche and a critical eye toward the society of spectacle and consumerism. His critically acclaimed work has won numerous awards both within and outside Asia.

Between September and December, we present his most comprehensive retrospective ever shown in Portugal, featuring four feature films, one of his early works as a screenwriter, and a television series he directed. An invitation to travel through the dense visual and emotional labyrinths of the work of one of the most fascinating anime creators.