Kensuke's Kingdom

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1:52

Kensuke's Kingdom

PG

2024

1h 25m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

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.

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Critics Consensus

Remaining loyal to its source material, Kensuke's Kingdom is a quietly engaging story with meticulous 2D animation that's more profound than average offerings

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Nick Bradshaw

Sight & Sound

Dec 19, 2025

Michael Morpurgo’s book about a 12-year-old boy washed ashore on a desert island is brought to life with imaginative hand-drawn animation in this delicate young fantasy adventure.

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Kambole Campbell

Time Out

Sep 11, 2024

3/5

Maudlin when it goes directly for the heartstrings, but it’s a pleasant enough coming-of-age fable. It’s hard not to wish for the film to lean a little more on its assured visual craft, especially as its story feels a little by the numbers.

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Yasmin Omar

Empire Magazine

Aug 7, 2024

3/5

Though low-stakes for an adventure film, this is nonetheless an engaging, found-family eco-fable that imparts an important conservationist message with considerable, at times impressionistic, style.

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Jan 21, 2025

3.5/5

There’s plenty for thoughtful children to engage with.

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Joel Copling

Spectrum Culture

Oct 24, 2024

Kensuke’s Kingdom is an adventure story in the classical tradition, defined by patience and attentiveness to its characters.

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Chris Sawin

Bounding Into Comics

Oct 21, 2024

3/5

The character animation seems purposely flat so that the elaborate backgrounds pop with rich detail and eye-catching color. The film is so visually complex that it’s kind of heartbreaking that its writing is so simple.

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Jesus Gonzalez

Oct 26, 2024

this movie was incredible, the animation is like an art canvas so beautiful

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Jason B

Oct 21, 2024

Fabulous film for the whole family.

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Noel L

@RT15930389 Nov 8, 2026

Incredible. The animation was great, the story was so touching even if it was a little like Castaway, and the message of friendship is something we should all take to heart

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Jim P

@RT08384096 Jan 19, 2026

A classic cartoon Cast Away, through a child's eyes. Now go and read the brilliant book. Twice!

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Pasty D

@RT79962875 Aug 5, 2025

Made the mistake of trying to watch this the day after we finished reading it to our son as a bedtime story. The book is brilliant, beautifully written and I just don't understand why the film makers ( including Frank Cotterall Boyce, another great writer of kid's stories) shifted so far from the original story. Me and my better half were incredulous. Basically I got so annoyed at the addition of an unnecessary character and the turning of Michael into a brat along with the rejigging of EVERY aspect that I've done something I never do and stopped watching it about 30 minutes in. I totally get the need to edit it down to reduce the run time but this has not been just butchered, it's been rewritten and badly. Why change how Michael ends up overboard, spends the first couple of days, meets Kensuke, where Kensuke lives on the island, etc etc? The animation is good and if you don't know the book or maybe if it's been a while since you read it you'll probably feel different but stupid as it sounds, I feel betrayed by this. I feel like writing to FCB to ask him why he ruined it. Can't remember when a film adaptation made me this angry.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 18, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Violence, Thematic Content and Peril!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Neil Boyle

Director

Kirk Hendry

Director

Cillian Murphy

Dad

Sally Hawkins

Mum

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Kensuke's Kingdom: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

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.

Director: Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry
Producer: Ruth Fielding, Camilla Deakin, Stéphan Roelants, Sarah Radclyffe, Barnaby Spurrier, Jean Labadie, Anne Labadie, Adrian Politowski, Martin Metz
Screenwriter: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Distributor: Blue Fox Entertainment
Production Co: Bankside Films, Align, British Film Institute
Rating: PG (Violence|Thematic Content|Peril)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 25m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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