The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

Name: The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 28, 2014
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 75

2014

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Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: November 28, 2014 | Not Rated

Summary: Granted near-unfettered access to the notoriously insular Studio Ghibli, director Mami Sunada follows the three men who are the lifeblood of Ghibli – the eminent director Hayao Miyazaki, the producer Toshio Suzuki, and the elusive and influential “other director” Isao Takahata – over the course of a year as the studio rushes to complete twoGranted near-unfettered access to the notoriously insular Studio Ghibli, director Mami Sunada follows the three men who are the lifeblood of Ghibli – the eminent director Hayao Miyazaki, the producer Toshio Suzuki, and the elusive and influential “other director” Isao Takahata – over the course of a year as the studio rushes to complete two films, Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises and Takahata’s The Tale of The Princess Kaguya. The result is a rare fly on the wall look at the inner workings of one of the world’s most celebrated animation studios, and an insight into the dreams, passion and singular dedication of these remarkable creators. [GKIDS]… Expand

Director: Mami Sunada

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

100

David Ehrlich

Nov 25, 2014

Building to an emotional wallop that’s almost on par with anything found in one of Miyazaki’s or Takahata’s films, The Kingdom Of Dreams And Madness is pornographically interesting for Studio Ghibli fans; as a delicate depiction of the artistic spirit, it’s equally essential viewing for everyone else. Read full review

The Playlist Jessica Kiang

Feb 19, 2015

Without overly romanticizing it or suggesting that, ultimately, it is anything more than a business built around the talents of some very singular men, Sunada's film becomes a love letter of a most unusual kind, because it is addressed to a place that is unremarkable in every way except for the spirit that flowed through it. Read full review

Clarence Tsui

Jan 26, 2015

Sunada has managed the incredible task of editing all these anecdotes into a flowing whole, an unfettered celebration of cinema as a concoction of vision, persistence, collective faith and, of course, some canniness about how the world operates. Rather than diminishing the seventh art's magic, Sunada's documentary enhances it. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Nov 25, 2014

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a great name for a documentary about Hayao Miyazaki and his animation house, Japan’s Studio Ghibli. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Nov 30, 2014

If you’re not enraptured with the work of Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and the rest of the artists at Ghibli, it may not be precisely what you’re looking for, but Sanada captures something poetic about art and creativity that could speak to anyone, animation fan or otherwise. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Jan 26, 2015

The atmosphere inside Studio Ghibli may suggest a zen-like idyll, but animation is a painstaking — and sometimes painful — process, and though shaggy and somewhat ordinary in places, Sunada’s tour of the “Kingdom” makes us appreciate the magic all the more. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Nov 28, 2014

This affectionate documentary is more of a bonbon for longtime fans than an entryway for a broader audience. Read full review

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User Reviews

WhelfareWharf

Feb 14, 2015

Well, I wanted to see a documentary about Ghibli Studio and how they make dreams happen (not in reality, in movies and this stuff). I've seen it. I'm satisfied.

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