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Studio Ghibli Documentary Film to Open This Fall

Japanese director Mami Sunada directs Kingdom of Dreams & Madness, a behind-the-scenes view of Studio Ghibli directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahataas and producer Toshio Suzuki as they complete their forthcoming animated features.

Japanese director Mami Sunada (Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salaryman) is directing a new documentary about the acclaimed animation producer Studio Ghibli, according to a report by the Anime News Network.

The documentary follows Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki as he completes The Wind Rises, and director Isao Takahata as he works on The Tale of Princess Kaguya, as well as producer Toshio Suzuki as he works on both projects. Entitled The Kingdom of Dreams & Madness, the documentary feature will open in theaters in Japan this fall, but there’s no word yet on when it will arrive in the U.S.

At the ceremony for the 36th Yomiuri Documentary awards last year, Sunada reportedly said that she had already begun scripting and preparing a fictional story as her second work following Ending Note. However, when the Yume to Kyōki no Ōkoku project was brought to her, she was moved, saying it was an honor. According to those involved, Sunada seemed as invisible as air as she filmed the actions of the staff in the Ghibli office, allowing them to proceed with their work without interruption.

“I think that having a dream entails having a bit of madness, no matter what the profession,” Sunada commented about the film’s title. “There are times when you will go to extremes, and times when you are feared by others for that.”

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.

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