Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿, Miyazaki Hayao, born January 5, 1941 in Tokyo, Japan) is a famous director of many popular anime films. He was the director, writer, and producer of the 2001 animated film Spirited Away. He also co-founded Studio Ghibli, along with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. Spirited Away went on to be the first anime to ever win an Academy Award.

Miyazaki's films usually have common themes among them, including the typical struggle between good and evil, evironmentalism, and politics. The protagonists are usually strong, independent girls or young women and the villains are typically uncertain in nature with redeeming qualities.

He was announced to retire right after his last feature film, The Wind Rises, but will continue to work on short films.

Themes
= Good & Evil = Most of Miyazaki's films feature some sort of struggle between good and evil. For example, in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaa is struggling to save the Valley of the Wind after it is invaded by the Tolmekians. Also, in Castle in the Sky, Pazu must save Sheeta after she is captured by Muska.

= Environment = Several of Miyazaki's film go into man's concern for nature. Such as, in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaa spend a portion of the movie doing research to find a cure for the toxin plaguing their lands. In Princess Mononoke, San, being raised by wolves, is very angry at mankind for destroying their forests.

= Flight = Flight is a recurring theme in many of Miyazaki's films, in one form or another. In Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaa uses a glider to get to places. And there are many airships in the movie, as well. There are also airships in Castle in the Sky and Porco Rosso, as well. And Porco Rosso is a air delivery pilot. In Kiki's Delivery Service, Kiki regularly flies around on a broom and there is a blimp, as well as a homemade plane in the movie, too. In Spirited Away, Haku can turn into a dragon to fly around. In My Neighbor Totoro, Totoro flies around on a spinning top. And then, in Howl's Moving Castle, Howl can turn in a bird and fly around.

= Visual Devices = The use of visual devices is common in all of Miyazaki's film. He will pan away from the action for a few seconds to add a momentary lull to the movie. For instance, showing raindrops hitting a rock and darkening it has been used in several of his movies.

= Influences = Miyazaki's main influence was the French animator Paul Grimault. Other contemporary animation directors that influenced him were Yuri Nordstein from Russia, and Frederick Bach from Canada.

Filmography
= Director =
 * Lupin III (1971-1972 series)
 * Yuki's Sun (1972 pilot film for an unreleased series)
 * Future Boy Conan (1978 series)
 * Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979 film)
 * The New Lupin III (1980 series)
 * Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984 film)
 * Sherlock Hound, the Detective (1984-1985 series)
 * Castle in the Sky (1986 film)
 * My Neighbor Totoro (1988 film)
 * Kiki's Delivery Service (1989 film)
 * Porco Rosso (1992 film)
 * On Your Mark (1995 music video)
 * Princess Mononoke (1997 film)
 * Spirited Away (2001 film)
 * The Whale Hunt (2001 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Koro's Big Day Out (2001 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Mei and the Kittenbus (2002 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Imaginary Flying Machines (2002 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Ornithopter Story: Fly! Hiyodori Tengu Go! (2002 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Howl's Moving Castle (2004 film)
 * Monmon the Water Spider (2006 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * House-hunting (2006 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * The Day I Harvested A Star (2006 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (film due out in 2008)
 * Film Guruguru (Ongoing short film project exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Untitled Hayao Miyazaki-directed Documentary (TBA)