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Studio Ghibli Documentary Film to Open This Fall

Director Mami Sunada (Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salaryman) is helming a new documentary film about the acclaimed anime company Studio Ghibli. The documentary follows Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki as he works on the Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) film, director Isao Takahata as he works on the film Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (The Tale of Princess Kaguya), and producer Toshio Suzuki as he works on both projects. The documentary, titled Yume to Kyōki no Ōkoku (The Kingdom of Dreams & Madness), will open in theaters in Japan this fall.

At the ceremony for the 36th Yomiuri Documentary awards last year, Sunada said that she had already begun scripting and preparing a fictional story as her second work after Ending Note. However, when the Yume to Kyōki no Ōkoku project was brought to her, she was moved, saying it was an honor. She then began to delve deeper into just why it was an honor to be involved with the Ghibli directors and producer. According to those involved, Sunada seemed as invisible as air as she filmed the actions of the staff in the Ghibli office, letting them proceed with their work with no interruption.

Sunada also explained why she put the word "Madness" in the title of the film:

I think that having a dream entails having a bit of madness, no matter what the profession. There are times when you will go to extremes, and times when you are feared by others for that.

Although Sunada intends for this film to open in theaters this fall, she is still filming at the studio while Kaguya-hime no Monogatari is being produced. (Kaguya-hime no Monogatari was delayed from this summer to this fall.)

Sunada's first film, Ending Note, followed the final days of her late father:

Source: Yomiuri Online via tsk06

Image © Studio Ghibli