NOTE: This proposal will solely focus on his film counterpart, not the original novel version as I haven’t read it yet.
"I love you just the way you are…" Yeah right, creep!
| “ | Don't make me get rough with you. | „ |
| ~ Osanai warning Paprika. |
Taking a look at a anime movie this time, having seen it over and over again thanks to how great it is, I've got a qualifier that I feel has a shot.
What’s the Work?[]
Paprika is a 2006 animated masterpiece directed by the late, incredible Satoshi Kon based on the 1993 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui. Focusing on cold Dr. Atsuko Chiba, she regularly enters patients’ dreams as Paprika: a fun-loving woman who likes to help others with their mental health. When the DC Mini devices are suddenly swiped from the creator Dr. Kōsaku Tokita, it’s up to her alongside Tokita and Dr. Toratarō Shima to find the culprits while also assisting Detective Toshini Konakawa.
Who is Dr. Morio Osanai and What Has He Done?[]
Dr. Morio Osanai is introduced analyzing the chief (aka Shima)'s dream alongside Dr. Chiba and Dr. Tokita. Osanai questions Kei Himuro's motives for nearly forcing the chief to commit suicide by infesting his dream with a parade and they all enter his residence. Osanai expresses his jealousy at Chiba’s prowess and Tokota’s genius as they search. Osanai winds up saving Chiba’s life when she nearly plummets off a balcony. Osanai talks at the restaurant including an incident where a jellyfish stinged him. Osanai then begins to suspect something more is going on.
Osanai talks to Tokita in his room to check on him and telling him not to waste such an interesting piece of equipment. Osanai is concerned for Chiba but he also warns that the Chairman has forbidden all use of the DC Mini and psychotherapy machines: angrily blaming Tokita’s immaturity for all of the mess.
Osanai is later revealed to be the Chairman’s assistant behind the plot. Paprika sees a statue of him in Himuro’s dream, then discovers that he’s been rendered comatose, his free will essentially gone to just to benefit Osanai and the Chairman’s goals.
Osanai is sent by the Chairman to get Paprika. Paprika escapes through a painting of the Sphinx and Oedipus, only for Osanai to take the form of the latter. Osanai takes place in the Parade right next to the Chairman’s side, both planning to continue the dream. Osanai uses butterflies to ensnare Paprika.
Paprika is trapped in a butterfly room with hundreds of them dead within walls, implying that Osanai is a serial killer. Osanai reveals his motives as wanting to get a higher place; to merge dreams and reality and threatens Paprika to not get in his way. Osanai reveals he nearly killed Chiba as a "friendly warning" but Paprika calls him out for his petty behavior. Osanai slaps Paprika and then attempts to rape her: peeling her skin off to show an unconscious and naked Chiba, who he also tries to force himself on.
Detective Konakawa luckily manages to break into the dream when he hears Paprika’s screams. Osanai wants the Chairman to spare Chiba’s life, if only for his perverted needs, only for Konakawa to save Chiba. Osanai chases after Konakawa and holds a rope to strangle him, but he breaks free using his strength and smarts. Osanai then forces Konakawa to relieve his bad memories, but Konakawa simply holds his gun and shoots him: killing him both in the dream world and in real life: but not before Chiba gets traumatized by it.
Heinous Standards?[]
Now, the Chairman, Dr. Seijirō Inui may be the mastermind behind corrupting people into madness, sending two of his colleagues into the hospital, overriding Himuro’s consciousness, and trying to remake reality in his own image, but he literally needed Osanai’s body to be able to accomplish much of it, and Osanai has some unique crimes which I'll detail below:
Osanai is heavily implied to be a serial killer of women. Osanai takes them to his room, and then murders them once he’s finished having his fun… displaying many/several butterflies across the walls as a trophy. Notice that Paprika has the same wings the rest of the butterflies (which are a representation) do and that he yells at her to act nicely while she’s in the place. Not only that, but Osanai proceeds to literally rip apart Paprika’s skin painfully to get to Chiba, who he then brings closer with the explicit intent to defile her. Osanai also straps rope on Konakawa in a desperate bid to choke him to death, and forces him to relieve memories as a final gesture of mockery: taunting that he remembers it all.
All of that is to say that Osanai does just enough to pass the heinous standards even with the Chairman/Inui in play.
Mitigating Factors?[]
Osanai might’ve slept with Himuro prior to his coma but his motives are entirely selfish and he visibly reacts with disgust once Paprika points this out to him. Aside from that, he and the Chairman are nothing more than partners and they clash at least once especially in regards to Paprika/Chiba. Osanai acts friendly with Tokita, but is revealed to secretly resent him simply for being smarter than he is.
Osanai claims that he deeply adores Paprika/Chiba for what she is, but it falls apart because he's just envious of her looks and is willing to molest her when she refuses his advances. Osanai even pleads for the Chairman to not kill her, saying once again that he loves her but it’s quite obvious it’s solely to have her to himself afterwards and he outright ignores her in favor of targeting Konakawa.
Overall, he has no redeeming qualities.
Final Verdict?[]
Tentative yes to this slimeball.