The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

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Hagrid R Feb 15, 2018 The definitive look into the mind of an artist and an enlightening walk through the process of animation under one of the strangest men in the world, this doc about animation legend Hayao Miyazaki examines the struggles of working through the final act of an impressive career. Filled with eye candy shots of Japan, and a relaxing, playful directing style and score, this is a film bound to leave you smiling, yet also motivated to make something great. See more

Poe W Sep 1, 2017 Tolle Doku über das Studio Ghibli.

Harry R Mar 30, 2017 It may feel like a "Making of" feature for "The Wind Rises" DVD, but this transcendents that with an undeniable heart and filmic beauty worthy of the studio itself. See more

Finn M Mar 27, 2017 A profile on a well-known figure is mainly on print, either as an article or a book. When it comes to film, namely a documentary - or a bibliographical film if late - the focus on the person's honor gets the spotlight behind his/her achievements. After all, while the achievements or creations has shined before, it's well-deserved for the person behind those to shine besides his/her name attached to the main events. One of the most acclaimed filmmakers Hayao Miyazaki got a high-profile documentary that not just showcases his year before retirement, but the sampled filmmaking process surrounding his swan song as another masterpiece "The Wind Rises", including a look into how Studio Ghibli works. How masterfully talented the anime films released from Ghibli seems to always go into a wondrous direction with occasional emotions, this documentary unconsciously reflected on that with a realistic presentation of the felt cultural environment and added value to the appreciation of the films, particularly the ones directed by Miyazaki. Based on how much of the production into "The Wind Rises" was caught on camera that includes the animating and writing process and decision-making, composing score and voice-acting towards a brief screening of both progression and final film, this film offered those who've seen and enjoy the beauty and storytelling of the Ghibli films a look on how the cultural Japanese magic came into the animated form. In addition to the added depth of appreciation and enjoyment, the foreign high-profile documentary is also a documentary that can also be categorized as one of those documentaries on films that shows the work-in-progress, the struggles within, the human relationships among the crew and the special exhibition at a personal level. It's all under the repetitively aforementioned cultural environment that was felt when touring the studio and the local community surrounding it - with some personally historical background - through Miyazaki's eyes. I consider the Studio Ghibli films, the studio itself and the filmmaker himself Japanese version of Disney, and this documentary with a fitting descriptive title proves that through the sense of masterful animated storytelling appreciation and insightfulness. "The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness" is a worthy addition to the Ghibli assortment of beautiful films that has the continuous quality under the documentary genre. The organization of (seemingly) year-long footages that were selected and edited without any thought of lacking to anything or questioning credibility because this is a profile and the genre's usual flaws doesn't apply. My average enjoyment to documentaries is usually rated at four stars with very few rated a half-star higher due to special interest informational-wise. This enriching foreign documentary is valuable that gives further appreciativeness to Hayao Miyazaki's works of art and a clarifying insightful look into the titular-described studio's process of filmmaking. So overall, this documentary is one of the best I've seen so far. (A) See more

George G Feb 16, 2017 It's revealing to see that such an internationally renowned film studio is still run like a cottage industry!

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The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

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