The eco-smart and naturalistic story-teller Hayao Miyazaki is, without a doubt, one of Japan's most superb Japanese animation directors of the day. He interlaces true-to-life economic situations with amazing animated visuals. He can take a complex scenario and weave it into a visual narrative that allows almost anyone of any age to relate. He travels and finds inspiration for his movies through these journeys. For example much of his setup for Castle in the Sky was based on struggling Welsh miners. He had visited some mining sites and saw all the abandoned machinery and mines and felt it could work well with his theme of a small group fighting for survival against a stronger power.
His fondness for aircraft came in great part from visiting Italy and falling in love with Italian planes. The first tv series he directed was Future Boy Conan, and through this show his fondness for steam technology was noticeable. His feature length directorial debut was Castle of Cogliostro, featuring the story and characters of Lupin III.
Long story short, he went on to create Studio Ghibli with his partner Isao Takahata. He also went on to create amazing movies such as Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro and more. Their movie Princess Mononoke is the highest grossing Japanese film. The success of these films is typically credited to his lovable characters, beautiful backgrounds and the connection with man and nature.
"Only if nature exists can mankind exist, so only nature makes wars and all those other moving stories possible. Because of this, I don't feel interested in outer space movies, since there's nothing much in space but darkness. So all my animation and comics involve land, sea and sky- they all revolve around what happens on earth." - Miyazaki
The animation style is unmistakeable. The character styles are simplified and unique, yet this allows for exceptional character emotion and depth. Miyazaki was mentored in this style by Yasuji Mori and craftily applies it in his movies.
I would highly recommend to everyone that they watch something by Miyazaki and observe the animation and story. Every story brings something new and unique to the table with amazing and imaginative characters.
Feature Length Films by Miyazaki:
Castle of Cagliostro
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds
Castle in the Sky
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki's Delivery Service
Porco Rosso
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
Ref:
Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, Helen McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 1999
Hayao Miyazaki Wikipedia
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