+

poster of Kensuke's Kingdom
Rating: 6.7/10 by 22 users

Kensuke's Kingdom (2024)

A young boy and his family set off on a sailing trip of a lifetime until a violent storm erupts, sweeping Michael and his dog overboard. After washing up on a remote island, terrified, they struggle to survive and adjust to life alone, One day, Michael discovers he is not alone when he is confronted by a mysterious Japanese man who has lived there secretly since World War II, angry that Michael has arrived. However, as dangerous invaders threaten their fragile island paradise, Michael and the old man, Kensuke, join forces to save their secret world.

Directing:
  • Neil Boyle
  • Kirk Hendry
Writing:
  • Frank Cottrell Boyce
  • Michael Morpurgo
Stars:
Release Date: Wed, Feb 07, 2024

Rating: 6.7/10 by 22 users

Alternative Title:
ケンスケの王国 - JP
El Reino de Kensuke - MX

Country:
France
Luxembourg
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 24 minutes
Budget: $11,000,000
Revenue: $2,919,215

Plot Keyword: based on novel or book, world war ii, pacifism, orphan, based on children's book, unlikely friendship, japanese soldier, shipwrecked, 1940s, nagasaki, animated adaptation

Sally Hawkins
Mum (voice)
Raffey Cassidy
Becky (voice)
Aaron MacGregor
Michael (voice)
Ken Watanabe
Kensuke (voice)
Alfred Kodai Berglund
Michiya (Kensuke's Son) (voice)
Ken Ochiai
Nagasaki Announcer (voice)
Cavin Cornwall
Additional Voices

CinemaSerf

When his parents lose their jobs, they decide to sell up and spend a year circumnavigating the globe on their boat - the "Peggy Sue". Unbeknown to his parents, though, teenage son "Michael" has smuggled their dog "Stella" aboard and is feeding her from their supply of digestive biscuits! Of course this isn't a secret he can keep for long, and actually it shows us that "Michael" isn't actually the most grown up of boys as he seems to view parental instructions more like optional guidelines. That rather comes home to roost when a storm hits the boat and both he and his canine companion are washed overboard and then ashore a small island. There's no food, no water - and a baking sun, so you wouldn't think much for his chances - except. Well, they awake to find some hand-prepared sushi and freshly cracked coconut milk on the hollowed out log they were using as shelter. Maybe this island isn't as hostile as he'd first thought? Well the jellyfish certainly have it in for him, and that's when he meets his benefactor - an old gent who would appear to have been on the island for a very long time. Gradually, the two - with no common language - start to trust one and other and "Kensuke" starts to impart to the boy some of his own values as they learn to collaborate with nature on this increasingly attractive paradise. Desperate for rescue when he arrived - is he still so desperate now? We learn a little of the backstory of the island's sole human occupant which adds some richness, and some sadness, to two straightforwardly engaging characterisations and with an animation that reminded me a little, in style, of the "Snowman" (1982) and a fitting musical accompaniment from Stuart Hancock I found this to be a short, sweet and enjoyably poignant story of learning a little about self-reliance and not so much about self-importance.


My Favorite

Welcome back!

Support Us

Like Movienade?

Please buy us a coffee

scan qr code