Peelander-Z, a cartoon-punk quartet, came to Earth from Planet Peelander to make people happy. Or that's what Kengo, aka Peelander-Yellow, claims in Jonathan Yi and Michael Haertlein's documentary about growing up and moving on. In truth, they hail from New York by way of Japan, they aren't exactly the most adept musicians, and Kengo freely admits they're 10 percent music and 90 percent theater. Other members include bassist Kotaro (Peelander-Red), drummer Akihiko (Peelander-Green), and keyboard player Yumi (Peelander-Pink), Kengo's wife (former member, Peelander-Blue, drops by briefly to pay his respects).

When they tour, newlywed Kotaro has to leave his wife behind, contributing to his decision, after 12 years of hair dye and hotel rooms, to leave the band. To send him off, they play one last gig all clad in red. As Kotaro attempts to launch a new career, Kengo welcomes bassist Akiteru (Peelander-Purple) into the fold, but when the lineup shifts again, the band's future hangs in the balance.

Though the players are Asian, and though the featured fans are Caucasian, this isn't a story about immigration or cultural dislocation, since the filmmakers prioritize relationships over race. Whether you love or loathe Peelander-Z's shouty music, charismatic control-freak Kengo is sure to provoke reactions. Is he a madman, a genius, or something else altogether? By the end, it becomes clear why the directors titled their film Mad Tiger.