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 also co-founded Studio Ghibli, along with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. He was almost unknown in the West until the release of Princess Mononoke in 1997. His later film, Spirited Away, went on to be the first anime to ever win an Academy Award. Howl's Moving Castle was nominated for an Academy Award but did not win.

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.

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. And in Princess Mononoke, San, being raised by wolfs, is very angry at man for destroying their forests.

Anti-War
Anti-War is a big theme in both Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and in Princess Mononoke. In both movies, the main characters are trying to stop all of the wars. Nausicaa wants the stop the animals from fighting, as well as the main battle against the Pejitans and the Ohmu.

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.

Politics
Miyazaki's early interest in Marxism is apparent in a few of his films, like Porco Rosso. In Castle in the Sky, the working class is portrayed in idealized terms.

Influences
Miyazaki's main influence comes from French animator Paul Grimault. Also influencing him a lot is the Russian film, The Snow Queen. Other contemporary animation directors that influence him are Yuri Nordstein from Russia and Frederick Bach from Canada.

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)

Producer

 * The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987 film)
 * Kiki's Delivery Service (1989 film)
 * Only Yesterday (1991 film)
 * Pom Poko (1994 film)
 * Whisper of the Heart (1995 film)
 * The Cat Returns (2002 film)
 * Howl's Moving Castle (2004 film)
 * House-hunting (2006 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)
 * Monmon the Water Spider (2006 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum)

Writer

 * Panda! Go, Panda! (1972 film)
 * Panda! Go, Panda! and the Rainy-Day Circus (1973 short film)
 * Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979 film)
 * The New Lupin III (1980 series)
 * Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984 film) (Manga) (Screenplay)
 * Castle in the Sky (1986 film) (Story) (Screenplay)
 * My Neighbor Totoro (1988 film)
 * Kiki's Delivery Service (1989 film) (Screenplay)
 * Porco Rosso (1992 film) (Story) (Screenplay)
 * On Your Mark (1995 music video) (Writer)
 * Whisper of the Heart (1995 film) (Screenplay)
 * Princess Mononoke (1997 film) (Screenplay)
 * Spirited Away (2001 film) (Story) (Screenplay)
 * 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)
 * Howl's Moving Castle (2004 film) (Screenplay)
 * 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) (Idea) (Screenplay)

Art Director

 * Panda! Go, Panda! and the Rainy-Day Circus (1973 short film)

Art Department

 * Hols: Prince of the Sun (1968 film) (Scene Designer)
 * Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974 series) (Scene Designer)
 * 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976 series) (Scene Designer)
 * Future Boy Conan (1978 series) (Storyboard Artist)
 * Anne of Green Gables (1979 series) (Scene Designer)
 * My Neighbor Totoro (1988 film) (Storyboard Artist)
 * Whisper of the Heart (1995 film) (Storyboard Artist)

Animation Department

 * Doggie March (1963 film) (Inbetween Artist)
 * Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (1965 film) (Inbetween Artist)
 * Hols: Prince of the Sun (1968 film) (Animator)
 * Puss 'n Boots (1969 film) (Key Animator)
 * Flying Phantom Ship (1969 film) (Animator)
 * Animal Treasure Island (1971 film) (Key Animator)
 * Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1971 film) (Key Animator)
 * Ninja Girl Ecchan (1971 series) (Key Animator)
 * 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976 series) (Animator) (Layout Artist)
 * Future Boy Conan (1978 series) (Character Designer)
 * Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979 film) (Character Designer)
 * Space Adventure Cobra (1982 film) (Key Animator)

Editor

 * Castle in the Sky (1986 film)
 * Porco Rosso (1992 film)
 * Princess Mononoke (1997 film)
 * Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (film due out in 2008)

Soundtrack

 * Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (film due out in 2008) (Writer: Ponyo on the Cliff)

Miscellaneous Crew

 * Animal Treasure Island (1971 film) (Story Consultant)
 * Panda! Go, Panda! (1972 film) (Screen Design)
 * Panda! Go, Panda! and the Rainy-Day Circus (1973 film) (Screen Designer)
 * Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974 series) (Screen Layout)
 * Future Boy Conan (1984 series) (Director: Archive Footage)
 * Sherlock Hound, the Detective (1984 series) (Technical Director)
 * Pom Poko (1994 film) (Planner)
 * The Cat Returns (2002 film) (Project Concept)
 * The Invention of Destruction in the Imaginary Machines (2002 film) (Planner)

Actor

 * Mei and the Kittenbus (2002 short film exclusive to the Studio Ghibli Museum) - Neko Bachan

Self

 * The Art of 'Spirited Away' (2003 video)
 * Princess Mononoke: Making of a Masterpiece (2004 video)
 * Ghibli et le mystère Miyazaki (2005 TV special)
 * Voyage de Chihiro: La philosophie du studio Ghibli, Le (2005 video)

Thanks

 * StarCraft (1998 video game) (as Miyazaki Hayao)