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Animated drama

Millennium Actress (2003): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Millennium Actress (2003) movie poster

Millennium Actress is a 2003 animated drama directed by Satoshi Kon, starring Miyoko Shôji. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards 2004. Critics gave it 70 on Metacritic.

award nomination
1
Metascore
70
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Millennium Actress (2003) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 27m (87 min)
Director
Satoshi Kon
Genres
Drama , Romance , Animation
Original language
Japanese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Millennium Actress About?

The premise of Millennium Actress without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A celebrated actress, nearing the end of her career, agrees to be the subject of a documentary. During filming, she shares her remarkable life story with the filmmakers, revealing a past filled with captivating roles and personal drama. The narrative interweaves her on-screen performances with the events of her life, exploring themes of love, loss, and the powerful connection between an actor’s identity and their art.

Millennium Actress Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • key
  • female protagonist
  • lost love
  • mature animation
  • japan
  • film star
  • anime animation
  • nonlinear narrative
  • in medias res
  • train station
  • aging
  • surrealism
+38 more
  • on set accident
  • nostalgia
  • innocent fugitive
  • fan saves life of idol
  • film within a film
  • fan idol relationship
  • interview
  • faith
  • photograph
  • for grown ups animation
  • actress plays multiple roles
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 2000s
  • nonlinear timeline
  • cameraman
  • actress
  • adult animation
  • cult film
  • rivalry
  • secret
  • promise
  • ulterior motive
  • snow
  • showa era
  • reference to mae west
  • rebelliousness
  • real movie shown in fictional situation
  • ninja master
  • ninja girl
  • movie trailer
  • mother daughter relationship
  • meiji period
  • manchuria
  • kamakura period
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Cast & crew

Millennium Actress Cast

Miyoko Shôji stars in Millennium Actress. Directed by Satoshi Kon.

From the director

More from Satoshi Kon

More films directed by Satoshi Kon, best-rated first: Paprika, Tokyo Godfathers and Perfect Blue.

Full filmography
Ratings

Millennium Actress Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Millennium Actress 70 on Metacritic.

Plot

Millennium Actress Plot Summary

What happens in Millennium Actress from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Chiyoko Fujiwara, a celebrated actress who once graced the silver screen for the Ginei film company, agrees to partake in a retrospective interview as the company prepares to demolish its old studio. This marks her first interview in three decades following her abrupt departure from the entertainment scene. Documentarian Genya Tachibana, an ardent admirer of Chiyoko, visits her residence alongside his cameraman, Kyoji Ida. Before the interview starts, Tachibana presents Chiyoko with a small box containing an antique key. She reflects on the key’s significance, noting that it “opens the most important thing,” which prompts a deep introspection into her life.

Full summary

The whole story of Millennium Actress, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

Millennium Actress Awards & Nominations

Millennium Actress earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards 2004.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Millennium Actress Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Millennium Actress.

Millennium Actress - Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Millennium Actress?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main journalist seeking to interview Chiyoko Fujiwara?

Seen Millennium Actress?

FAQ

Millennium Actress FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards, post-credit scenes and language of Millennium Actress, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Millennium Actress?

Millennium Actress runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).

When was Millennium Actress released?

Millennium Actress was released on September 12, 2003.

Who directed Millennium Actress?

Millennium Actress was directed by Satoshi Kon.

More films by Satoshi Kon

Who is in the cast of Millennium Actress?

Millennium Actress stars Miyoko Shôji.

How is Millennium Actress rated?

Millennium Actress has 70 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.

Was Millennium Actress nominated for any awards?

Millennium Actress received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Millennium Actress have a post-credit scene?

No. Millennium Actress has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Millennium Actress in?

The original language of Millennium Actress is Japanese.

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