This 97%-Rated Animated Gem Took 8 Years to Make – and It Was Worth Every Second

In 2023, Kensuke's Kingdom, an animated movie and adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel of the same name which is part of the UK school curriculum, was released.

After eight long years, the film finally reached the screen, but it went largely unnoticed. Here, we explain why this underrated animated gem is a must-see.

What Is 'Kensuke's Kingdom' About?

10-year-old Michael and his family set off on a round-the-world voyage aboard the yacht Peggy Sue. After his parents refused to let him take his dog, Stella, with him, the boy secretly brings her on board.

During a violent storm, Michael and Stella are thrown overboard and wash ashore on an unknown island. At first, they try to survive alone, but they soon discover another inhabitant of the island: a quiet Japanese man named Kensuke who has lived there for many years.

The two don't speak the same language – Michael only speaks English, and Kensuke only speaks Japanese – but they manage to communicate anyway. Kensuke teaches Michael how to survive in the wild and to respect the world around him, in turn, Michael helps Kensuke cope with the traumas of his past.

'Kensuke's Kingdom' Is a Visual Masterpiece With a Rich Creation History

Kensuke's Kingdom is a striking example of a feature-length 2D animation with beautiful and meticulous attention to detail. Reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, the background animation creates a feeling of total immersion in a tropical paradise.

Work on the adaptation took eight long years: funding was inconsistent, and at one point, the team almost resigned themselves to the fact that they wouldn't be able to finish the movie.

Fortunately, a confluence of circumstances allowed them to complete the project: due to the pandemic, the British Film Institute lost most of its planned live-action films and decided to invest in animation.

Directors Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry thus secured a team of 300 people ready to start working immediately. Pencil and pen sketches quickly evolved into captivatingly simple animations, and delicate lines created strong connections between the creatures and their environment.

'Kensuke's Kingdom' Is a Heartwarming Tale of Friendship and Coming of Age

In the opening scenes, Michael comes across as a capricious and irresponsible child, for example, out of boredom, he puts a dog in danger. However, life on the island helps him mature – he learns to take responsibility for his actions and appreciate the world around him.

In turn, Kensuke reveals his tragic story: he was a soldier during World War II, and his wife and child died in the bombing of Nagasaki. He ended up on the island, where he found purpose in caring for animals and became their protector.

The movie touches on serious topics – war, poaching, and ecology – with surprising sensitivity while remaining accessible to children. When poachers arrive on the island, Michael and Kensuke must unite to protect their fragile paradise.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Kensuke's Kingdom'?

• Kensuke's Kingdom has 97% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, Kensuke's Kingdom scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Kensuke's Kingdom'?

Kensuke's Kingdom is available to stream on Tubi.