Hayao Miyazaki 宮崎 駿 – the Living Walt Disney of Japan
October 1st, 2012
Jennie · Staff Recommendations
What would you say if I asked you to name a few of the greatest living animation film makers? Would Hayao Miyazaki be one of them?
Hayao Miyazaki is considered one of the greatest living directors and animated film makers of our time. The Jacob Burns Film Center in Mount Pleasant, which presents the best of independent, documentary, and international cinema, showcased many of his films in August. If you missed the chance to watch his movies there, don’t fret. You can borrow the DVDs from your library and view them in your own home.
Hayao Miyazaki, born in Tokyo in 1941, began his film career in the 1960s. His interest and talent in the visual arts was obvious at a young age and he started his animation career right after high school. In 1984, he founded Studio Ghibli with his longtime friend Takahata. Although his early movies were all successes in Japan, it was his 1997 animated film Princess Mononoke that caught Disney’s attention. Currently, Disney has distribution rights to many of Ghibli films.
Miyazaki uses digital and traditional animation methods that are similar to what Disney film makers use. Animated movies by both Disney and Ghibli studios have fantasy creatures with magical and super powers. But unlike Disney movies, which cater to a younger audience and are often humorous and light hearted, Miyazaki’s films target both adults and children. The storylines are often more complex with multiple leading characters for sophisticated moviegoers. Many of his movies explore the relationship between humans and nature. Good and evil coexist in the characters. Aside from the major differences between the two studios in content and audience, there is a distinctive visual appearance to Miyazaki’s characters. Almost all of the characters in his films have large eyes, small noses, and small mouths, similar to characters in Japanese manga drawings.
The Japanese friends of my children introduced Miyazaki’s films to my family more than a decade ago. These Japanese children came to live in Harrison with their parents who are the overseas workers of Japanese companies. While the Japanese children immerse themselves in American life, they bring Japanese arts and culture to their neighbors and classmates in Harrison. This month, the library will present a Japanese Film series featuring independent Japanese film makers. Although many more Japanese animated movies have been introduced to the American audience in recent years, Miyazaki’s films are still my favorites. The following movies are my top choices for children and adults:
My Neighbor Totoro – Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki – MPAA rating: G, 87 min. – trailerThis is my favorite one. It is a heart-warming and music-filled film about two young sisters living in rural Japan and their adventures with Totoro, a giant mysterious forest spirit who can be seen only by children. Borrow this from your library and experience the timeless classic film that Roger Ebert calls “one of the very few that come along that are magical for all ages.”
Kiki’s Delivery Service – Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki – MPAA rating: G, 103 min. – trailerThis is my favorite one. It is a heart-warming and music-filled film about two young sisters living in rural Japan and their adventures with Totoro, a giant mysterious forest spirit who can be seen only by children. Borrow this from your library and experience the timeless classic film that Roger Ebert calls “one of the very few that come along that are magical for all ages.”
Howl’s Moving Castle – Script and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on the novel of the same title by Diana Wynne Jones – MPAA rating: PG; for frightening images and brief mild language, 119 min. – trailerA seemly plain young lady, Sophie, is cursed by a jealous witch and turned into an old woman. Her only hope of breaking the spell lies in the dashing and irresponsible young wizard Howl and his companions living in his legged, walking home – his “moving castle”. Sophie’s honesty and determination win her a few valuable new friends and even move Howl’s notoriously cold heart while bringing an end to an unnecessary and destructive war. The movie has several themes of personal freedom, elimination of war, and love. This movie is suitable for third graders and up.
Spirited Away – Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki – MPAA rating: PG; for scary moments, 124 min. – trailerWinner of multiple awards including the Best Animated Feature of the 75th Academy Award, Best Film of the 2001 Japanese Academy Awards and the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival, this film is derived from Japanese folklore and is about a 10 year old girl who is separated from her parents and trapped in the spirited world of ghosts, witches, monsters and other odd looking creatures. She must endure the hardships of adjusting to a strange world and find the courage to save her parents and herself. This movie contains some horror elements and has a few scary moments. This could be a Halloween movie choice for children 10 years old and up.
Nausicaä of the valley of the wind – written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki – MPAA rating: PG; for violence, 117 min. – trailerThe story is set a thousand years after a global war. Nausicaä is a courageous and peace-loving princess who has a deep understanding of nature. To stop a kingdom from eradicating a jungle of mutant giant insects, she befriends the giant toxic insects, stops the war among kingdoms, and reunites man and nature. This is one of Miyazaki’s earlier movies. It prefigures characters in many of his later movies such as Chihiro in Spirited Away and Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke and has many elements including the importance of ecological balance, courageous heroines, colorful side characters, and strong interpersonal relationships that Miyazaki developed further in his later films. This movie is for middle school students and up.
Princess Mononoke – Directed by Hayao Miyazaki – MPAA Rating: PG-13 for images of violence and gore –trailerThis thrilling and exquisite fantasy brought Miyazaki international acclaim. The story is set in the medieval times in Japan. Ashitaka, a young prince, is cursed while forced to kill a boar-like demon to save his endangered clan. The demon itself is cursed by the anger and hatred it held towards the destructive humans. On his journey to find a cure, Ashitaka is entangled in the battle between a human clan and the forest’s animal gods, led by Princess Mononoke, who was raised by a wolf. No one is completely right or totally wrong and no one is simply a good guy or a bad guy. Everyone has good and evil side. The infectious curse of hatred is capable of afflicting both human and animals. The movie explores all sides of environmental issues in a very subtle manner. The moral issues are not simplified in the movie. The movie is packed with action, emotion, breathtaking imagery, and beautiful music.Roger Ebert calls the movie “one of the most visually inventive films, a great achievement and a wonderful experience, and one of the best films of the year”. Although the movie does not focus nor dwell on violence, there are several very bloody and violent scenes (such as beheading). It is not suitable for preteens. Adults and sophisticated high school students will find the movie captivating.