The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
An intimate portrait of Studio Ghibli’s artists and staff as imagination collides with the exhausting realities of animation production.
Overview
Step behind the curtain of one of animation's most beloved studios and witness the artistry in action.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- poetic
- intimate
- reflective
- animation appreciation
- creative inspiration
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary as a captivating, poetic, and emotionally resonant portrait of Studio Ghibli and the difficult artistic labor behind animation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film observes employees, routines, offices, and production practices at Studio Ghibli.
The simultaneous production of two films reveals the demanding and sometimes painful process of animation work.
The documentary focuses on filmmakers and staff working toward releases rather than recounting the plots of the films being made.
Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and their colleagues are shown negotiating artistic and production responsibilities.
Films like The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, and why
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
behind-the-scenes documentary portrait of a major animation studio and its creative process
Tim's Vermeer
intimate documentary about artistic labor, perfectionism, and the pressure of creation
The Pixar Story
observational portrait of demanding creative work shaped by craftsmanship and collaboration
Movie Details
- Director
- Mami Sunada
- Release Date
- 2013-11-16
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (193)
Cast
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Isao Takahata
- Toshio Suzuki
- Hideaki Anno
- Yoshiaki Nishimura
- Joe Hisaishi
- Goro Miyazaki
- Michiyo Yasuda
- Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness about?
- An intimate portrait of Studio Ghibli’s artists and staff as imagination collides with the exhausting realities of animation production.
- What is The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness.
- What did critics think of The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary as a captivating, poetic, and emotionally resonant portrait of Studio Ghibli and the difficult artistic labor behind animation.
- Which films are like The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness?
- Films with a similar feel include Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Tim's Vermeer, and The Pixar Story.
- How long is The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness?
- The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness?
- In United States, The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
