Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, author, and manga artist, he is a co-founder of Studio Ghibli (The others being: Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma) a film and animation studio.
He has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of anime feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the best animation filmmakers.

Miyazaki's works are known for themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the wholesomeness of natural and traditional patterns of living, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world.

Early Career 

Miyazaki's career began in 1963 as Miyazaki was employed at 'Toei Animation' as an in-between artist on the theatrical feature anime Doggie March and the television anime Wolf Boy Ken.

After working his way up through Toei animation eventually becoming chief secretary of Toei's labor union in 1964, Miyazaki later worked as chief animator, concept artist, and scene designer on The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun during this he worked closely with his mentor, Yasuo Ōtsuka, whose approach to animation profoundly influenced Miyazaki's work.

In August of 1971 Miyazaki left Toei Animation and moved to the animation company A-Pro, co-directed with Isao Takahata, 23 episodes of 'Lupin the third', designed and wrote two episodes of 'Panda! Go, Panda!', and also began pre-production on a series based on Pippi Longstockings, however this series was unfortunately cancelled and permission was refused to complete the project.

After leaving A-Pro to go to Zuiyo Eizo (Later known as Nippon Animation post 1975) in 1973 Miyazaki and Takahata worked on World Masterpiece theater with their animated series 'Heidi, Girl of the alps', and in 1978 Miyazaki was responsible for directing the television series, 'Future boy Conan'.

Studio Ghibli & Early films

After leaving Nippon Animation, Miyazaki co-founded the animation company Studio Ghibli in 1985, when the company received its first amount of funding from the publisher Tokuma Shoten, Ghibli  produced its first film Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986). For the setting design there was inspiration from Greek architecture, "European urbanistic temples", and Welsh mining towns, as Miyazaki witnessed the mining strike on his first visit to Wales in 1984, and admired the miner's dedication to their work and the community, a theme that is reflected throughout Miyazaki's films. That same year (1986) Studio Ghibli released the film Laputa and was the highest grossing film of the year in Japan that year.

Miyazaki's following film 'My Neighbor Totoro' was released alongside 'Grave of the Fireflies' in April of 1988 to ensure the financial status of Studio Ghibli, this simultaneous production was very busy and chaotic for the artists, as they switched between projects "She stayed at the company, eating box lunches, instant noodles and sweets delivered to the office. the only time she went home to her apartment was to do her laundry and come back with a change of clothes." I wish i had the energy and dedication for her work! - Starting Point: Hayao Miyazaki

My Neighbor Totoro features the theme of the relationship between the environment (Totoro) and humanity ( Mei and Satsuki), a contrast to Nausicaa, the places emphasis on technologies and humanities negative effect on nature. The film was commercially unsuccessful at the box office it sold 801,680 tickets and grossed ¥1.17 billion ($15 million) at the box office, although with successful  merchandising, the film received critical acclaim. "it would never have won its worldwide audience just because of its warm heart. It is also rich with human comedy in the way it observes the two remarkably convincing, lifelike little girls.... It is a little sad, a little scary, a little surprising and a little informative, just like life itself. It depends on a situation instead of a plot, and suggests that the wonder of life and the resources of imagination supply all the adventure you need"- Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times

In 1987 Studio Ghibli acquired the rights to create a film adaptation of Kiki's delivery service ( a novel by Eiko Kadono), however due to his work on My Neighbor Totoro dissatisfaction arose between, writers and Miyazaki leading to changes and eventually a meeting with Eiko Kadono inviting her to the studio allowing the project to continue. Originally intended to be a sixty minute special it was expanded into a feature film after Miyazaki completed the storyboard and screenplay, it premiered July 29th, 1989. It earned ¥2.15 billion at the box office, and was the highest-grossing film in Japan in 1989.

Themes and Inspirations

Hayao Miyazaki's Works follow a recurring theme of environmentalism, pacifism, feminism, Love, Family as well as this many of his films are noted for not pitting a hero against an unsympathetic antagonist.

Miyazaki's films often emphasize environmentalism and the earth's fragility, this may be because Miyasaki grew up during the Showa period (1926-1989) where nature was being destroyed for economic progress.

As well as emphasizing environmentalism several of Miyazaki's films feature anti-war themes. for instance in the film 'Princess Mononoke' could be considered pacifist film due to the protagonist, Ashitaka; instead of joining the campaign of revenge against humankind, as his ethnic history would lead him to do, Ashitaka strives for peace. Princess Mononoke do not depict traditional evil protagonist, instead depicting evils such as: greed, ill will, and delusion. As well as then if and when characters in Miyazaki's films are forced to engage in violence, it is shown as being a difficult task, for example in 'Howl's Moving Castle', Howl is forced to fight an inescapable battle in defense of those he loves, this forced decision hurts Howl deeply.

Miyazaki has also received praise for his depiction of female characters throughout his movies, "brave, self-sufficient girls that don't think twice about fighting for what they believe in with all their heart" Toshio Suzuki-The Birth of Studio Ghibli, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. 2005.

For example 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' was praised for its positive portrayal of women, as well as challenging gender expectations with the strong and independent nature of Nausicaa, in his movies female characters aren't objectified or sexualised, and possess complex, individual characteristics and personalities, seperate from a western media.