Biography of Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿, Miyazaki Hayao, born 5 January 1941) is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a film and animation studio, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of animated feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation.

Early Life

Miyazaki’s career started in a family business called Miyzaki Airplanes, where warplanes were manufactured to help the Japanese during World War II. It was in 1958, where he began his interest in animation, after witnessing Japan’s first color feature-length production by Toei Animation, Hakujaden. This inspired Miyazaki to want to be a comic book artist. After graduating Gakushuin University, he pursued his love for the arts.

Career

Later down the road, Miyazaki worked as an animator for Toei Animation, where he learned the basics of animation and began climbing the artistic ladder. Toei Animation was so impressed by his works; they promoted him to become an animation leader. Miyazaki’s then released his first co-film with Tasui Otsuka and Isao Takahata, Prince of the Sun.

By the 70s, Miyazaki jumped from studio to studio, ranging from A Pro, and Zuiyo Pictures. It was then where Miyazaki became a figure in the animation industry.

In 1984, with the help of Tokma production, Miyzaki released Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

The film was not a smash hit, but made very good profits in the box office. And due to this, Studio Ghibli was formed.

It was here where Miyazaki produced his award winning films. Such films include:

• Spirited Away


• My Neighbor Totoro


• Kiki’s Delivery Service


• Howl’s Moving Castle

and many more.

Miyazaki’s success sky rocketed, reaching an international level. He created some of the most successful films in Japanese history and established himself as an equal to Walt Disney.

His philosophy and views

Miyazaki's works are characterized by the recurrence of 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.

Retirement and Current Plans

After he shocked and saddened millions of people all around the world by announcing his retirement, he returned once again to creating movies.