The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Best movie of this year hands down!

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I've seen only one Studio Ghibli movie, and that was Porco Rosso, one of the earlier features of Studio Ghibli. I like behind-the-scenes documentaries and The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a maudlin, very insightful look at Hayao Miyazaki and his thoughts and philosophy about animation. I especially liked the juxtaposition with the loyal cat at the Studio, the outside greenery, the transmission towers. It's sort of a stream of consciousness and we get an insight into one of the great animation directors of our time.We also see Hayao's loyal PA and the other staff members, who take exercise breaks led by Hayao.Seeing the lights go out on the Studio was sad and reminded me when the tents folded for good in the M*A*S*H.

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness stays true to its name, offering a deep, touching, and realistic insight into the dreams and madness rampant in the production of Hayao Miyazaki's 'last' masterpiece, 'The Wind Rises'. To the surprise of many, the documentary doesn't dive into Studio Ghibli's rich heritage. With the exception of Miyazaki's partnership with Isao Takahata, we learn little to nothing of his life, family, education, and works. Even less documented is the production process from concept to film. If you're looking for structure, biopsy, behind the scenes, and feel-good tangents, this is not it.'Hello, please allow me to observe you working.' - the hanging note in the opening scenes summarizes the film's 'unobtrusive' approach. Unlike the typical American documentary, the Kingdom of Dreams and Madness drops the head-on interviews, spotlights, and overall busy atmosphere, in favour of capturing the routine of the team at Ghibli. Lacking the excitement and glorification one would expect from such a talented budget, the already 120 minute long time line feels slow. Watching sometimes feels as tedious as the animation process itself. Though, the result is a treasure: an unbiased look at what it means to be, and work for Miyazaki; the crew's timid involvement allows Miyazaki to open up, giving us an unexpected glimpse into what goes on in his head, and leads to a touching, raw, understanding of 'the suffering of film making'.There's one thing to take away from The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness: Miyazaki's philosophy. In a place where we expect happiness, motivation, and fusion, we instead find cynicism, bitterness, frustration, and chaos. Albeit delivered politely and comically, Miyazaki's words are not what we expect to hear. Through rants about bowing to not being able to draw A6M Zero's, Miyazaki channels his surrender within the modern world. 'Today, all of humanity's dreams are cursed somehow'. You can't create your own happiness, because you cannot control how others see your creations. 'The notion that one's goal in life is to be happy, that your own happiness is the goal... I just don't buy it.' The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is nothing you would expect, and everything you need to know. At first hard to follow, it quickly immerses you in a philosophical trance. Be sure to leave time to ponder at this solid 10.

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a documentary following the life of legendary anime writer Hayao Miyazaki. This documentary focuses on the mannerisms, quirks, and what drives Miyazaki to do what he does as both an artist and a storyboard creator. The ideal audience for this film would obviously be fans of the works of Hayao Miyazaki, but even if you are not familiar with his works you could still watch it and get full enjoyment out of it. Before you watch this film I do recommend watching other films by Miyazaki such as Spirited Away, The Wind Rises, and My Neighbor Totoro, so as to gain understanding of his style. While watching this film you may notice the great detail Miyazaki goes into in each aspect of his life, both professional and personal. Notice the way he writes his storyboards diligently every day, or watches the sunset every evening. Miyazaki is not one to leave others to do his work for him while he sits idly by. The documentary focuses on the struggles he has pushed through to be as successful as he currently is, though I doubt he would own up to his success due to his humility. Miyazaki writes more than stories, he writes metaphors and wisdom. If you watch this film with an open eye you will see the symbolism that seems to be prevalent throughout his movies. The way the camera will focus on the sunset or close in on a phrase seen on the wall all have inverse meanings. Keep your eyes open and you will see between the blurred lines of the camera lens. A main point Miyazaki pushes is to not lose focus on the deeper meaning of his grand tales because they are animated and supposedly for children. This film notes that in his youth Miyazaki lived through an air raid that left him with an awe and appreciation towards flight. Specifically in the A6M3 Zero or just Zero aircraft which he has had an addiction to draw perfectly for many years now. During the film Miyazaki follows the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the creator of the Zero and notes that all of men's dreams are cursed. He believes that no matter what you do or create, it will eventually be used for evil. Miyazaki even believes that philosophy about his own works. Miyazaki feels that the government has become too restrictive of what he can and cannot write about which makes him even more militant to what he wants to write. Though he is vigorous, his vigor will one day run out and he fears there will not be anyone to take his place. In my humble opinion I would say this film is very informative and exciting to the audience it is trying to reach. Others may find it dragging in some places, but may still find it intriguing.

THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS AND MADNESS is a documentary exploring the dying days of Studio Ghibli and in particular lead animator Hayao Miyazaki. Set during the making of THE WIND RISES, this is a reflective journey, tinged with sadness and nostalgia, that sees the famed cartoonist looking back over his life and work as well as discussing the challenges of both present and future.Needless to say, this is a must see for anybody who considers themselves a fan of Studio Ghibli. Unlike western-made documentaries, this takes the straightforward approach of simply grabbing a camera, following Miyazaki and his crew around, and asking the occasional question. The unobtrusive approach works well, somehow getting you into the heart and soul of the studio, and it feels refreshing for there to be no talking head interviews, no movie clips interspersed into the narrative. Somehow, THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS AND MADNESS manages to capture a little of the Studio Ghibli magic itself.