The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

Sunada Mami, Dwango Co., Ltd., 夢と狂気の王国 (Yume to kyoki no okoku) 2013, “Copyrighted Image”

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a two-hour long documentary on Studio Ghibli. The studio is one of the most well-known and beloved anime studios of all time. The popularity of their films is attributed to not only anime fans, but also people who aren’t fans of Japanese animation. The documentary is about Studio Ghibli, of course. But, the person that gets the most attention in the whole studio is Hayao Miyazaki, the most famous director in Ghibli. The documentary was firmed during the production of The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki’s final film.

The atmosphere of the films makes me feel that it is a personal film about Studio Ghibli, as it doesn’t have the professional feel of other documentaries. It doesn’t mean that it’s not professional, as the camera is of high-quality and shots are excellent. It just feels more personal and you actually get to know many of the staff that works at Ghibli. We see the studio rush to complete The Wind Rises, and you actually get to see them work tirelessly to get it done. However, the film also pays attention to the people who work at Ghibli, and is not only a look at the work they do, but also the people that do it. When you think of Studio Ghibli, you think of a creative and out-of-this-world studio that has provided us with fantastical feats of animation over the years. However, it is more human, for a lack of better word, than you may think.

If you were looking for a “how anime is made” film, you will be disappointed. Then again, you will be impressed at how they portray the “characters” in the film. The film focuses on all sorts of things. The film shows us a variety of things from the history of the studio, to how the staff is able to put together their own individual talents to make animated films, and basically how the people there are. However, as Toshio Suzuki put it in the film, “Ghibli is about human connections.” The people in Studio Ghibli are given the chance to voice their opinions on anything. We get to know what kind of person they are. It’s almost like these people are characters that we get to know. It has that charm that Ghibli films have, even though it is not an animation. It almost feels magical watching this, and it captures the audience’s attention perfectly. The film especially focuses on Hayao Miyazaki, which we get to know so much about. Throughout the film, the focus has always been him. We get to know him personally and he raises many of his thoughts which range from animation to politics, to even what life means to him.

We also see that these people are still people. We get to see a side of Hayao Miyazaki we have never seen before. His appearance in public is quite rare, as he only attends professional events such as press conference. So, in this film, he is more personal, and thus he reveals some intriguing and even shocking things about what he thinks. He talks in the film about how he doesn’t believe that the goal in life is for one to be happy. He says he has never been happy in life. Also, through further research, Hayao Miyazaki has never had a good relationship with his son, Goro Miyazaki. And his son even posts on the web how his father never came home early to see his son and always neglected his family. We see that these people are still people, something that can never be seen otherwise unless presented and viewed through this light.

I found it fascinating and enlightening to be able to know these people personally. Behind that friendly white beard and pair of glasses, is a man who has his flaws and regrets as well, and isn’t as friendly looking as you may think just by looking at him. When you hear the name “Hayao Miyazaki”, you have a vague impression of him and you just think that Hayao Miyazaki is just “Hayao Miyazaki,” the director of some of the best pieces of animated film around. However, he really doesn’t think he is a master or a genius. In fact, he even questions why films are relevant and why they receive so much attention. The first impression of a viewer would be “No, you are great. Don’t view yourself as lowly as that.” However, after listening to him, you understand why he thinks so. The film was intriguing and enjoyable. The film will spark your curiosity, and will leave you in anticipation throughout the film as you wonder what will surprise you next. It had the “Ghibli feel,” where the viewer is overwhelmed with wonder and fantasy, and while this is set in reality, it somehow has that feeling you get when you watch a Ghibli film.

The Kingdom of Dreams of Madness is, in my opinion, the best documentary about Studio Ghibli ever made. The film does not go too much detail into Miyazaki’s career or Ghibli’s history, but instead it focuses on the emotions of Hayao Miyazaki and the staff that works at Studio Ghibli. It focuses on them and what they think, and not as much in what they do. There are countless sources that have information on Studio Ghibli, but I have seen none that are as emotionally attaching as this. I would recommend watching this even if you aren’t an anime fan, because it was a unique experience that I think everyone who has watched a Ghibli film would enjoy.