Hayao Miyazaki, a masterful storyteller of his own kind and creator of Japanese animated films, would always be able to recall the brutal times of the second world war, as he was born on January 5, 1941, in Tokyo, Japan, the same year that his country and the United States went to a full-on battle.
Hayao Miyazaki relocated to Telecom Animation Film in 1979, where he made his debut as a director. His first feature directorial debut, The Castle of Cagliostro, left a lasting impact, even influencing John Lassetter, who would later become an animator and director at Pixar. Miyazaki established Studio Ghibli (Jib-lee) in 1985, which released its debut movie in the following year, “Laputa: Castle in the Sky.” The film chronicles the pursuit of an orphan girl named Sheeta and a boy named Pazu by government agent Muska, the army, and a group of pirates.
Miyazaki directs all of his animated films, except for his anti-war fairytale Porco Rosso, for children or early teenagers. However, he is no stranger to adults who can confide in his films, since Miyazaki writes his characters with emotional authenticity. A good example would be ‘Castle in the Sky’, where he allows his characters to tackle the tragedies of life. Miyazaki tends to cover a wide range of subjects in his films, from environmental issues and adolescence to, most importantly, the relationship between nature and mankind. ‘Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind’ explores how nature purges itself of human devastation and how humans have developed a tendency to ruin the balance of nature. Princess Mononoke, set in an ironworker town amidst a forest, delves into the conflict between human progress and environmental preservation. Miyazaki deals with adolescence in ‘Spirited Away’ and ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’, which are tales of young girls coming of age, whereas Howl’s Moving Castle evokes his distaste for war. Miyazaki has also expanded his artistry with fictionalized biographies. ‘The Wind Rises’ is a retelling of Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the Mitsubishi A5M and A6M Zero fighter planes utilized by the Japanese Empire in WWII. The synergy between inventive design and engineering that goes into creating an aircraft appeals to Miyazaki. The conflicts in former Yugoslavia also influenced his perspective on the futility of war.
His movies all have distinctive visual styles, and each one has its own color palette and shape collection. Miyazaki has long been a fervent supporter of time-consuming, traditional hand-drawn techniques. Since Princess Mononoke, Studio Ghibli has enhanced various scenes with computer animation. It produces scenarios that are impossible to sketch by hand, like the transformation of the Boar God into a demon.
In collaboration with his Ghibli crew, Miyazaki co-writes and co-directs his own films. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind served as a showcase for his subjects and graphic aesthetics. With his mindful creations, Miyazaki rose to familiarity with the global west as well. ‘My Neighbor Totoro’, a film about a big forest beast and two kids with a sick mother, gained world-wide appreciation and is considered one of his iconic films. Spirited Away, which debuted in 2001 and portrays the psyche and ideas of 10-year-olds in a wholly surreal scenario, received the American Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in addition to accolades in Japan.
Hayao Miyazaki has become one of the most well-known figures in anime and animation in general. In addition to co-owning Studio Ghibli, he has influenced the business as a director, producer, screenwriter, animator, novelist, and manga artist. One of Miyazaki’s most recurring themes is the idea that people can resolve problems amicably without resorting to violence. Films by Hayao Miyazaki are renowned for appearing to be imaginary stories, but they are in fact highly sophisticated and profound. Miyazaki instills positivity in his work because he believes that having a good attitude toward the world is critical.
Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement in 2013, but returned in 2023 with ‘The Boy and the Heron’, his new feature film, which won Miyazaki his second Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards. We have seen the majority of the films and adore them for a variety of reasons. Our family suggests My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Whisper of the Heart, The Cat Returns, and Ponyo if you’re seeking movies suitable for younger children. Hayao Miyazaki’s works serve as constant reminders that our world is wonderful, and we must do everything in our power to preserve it. His protagonists make better choices and errors, and his antagonists are sometimes not wholly evil. I gain inspiration from my daily life, Hayao once said.