Hayao Miyazaki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hayao Miyazaki
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| 宮崎 駿 | |||||
Miyazaki in 2012
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| Born | January 5, 1941 |
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| Alma mater | Gakushuin University | ||||
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| Years active | 1963–present | ||||
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| Title | Honorary chairman | ||||
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Akemi Ōta
(m. 1965) |
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| Children | 2, including Goro | ||||
| Relatives | Daisuke Tsutsumi (nephew-in-law) | ||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 宮崎 駿 | ||||
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Hayao Miyazaki (born January 5, 1941) is a famous Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He is known for creating beautiful animated movies. He helped start Studio Ghibli, a very famous animation studio. Many people around the world see him as one of the best filmmakers in the history of animation.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo City, Japan. He loved manga and animation from a young age. He started working at Toei Animation in 1963. There, he worked on films like Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (1965) and Puss in Boots (1969). Later, he moved to other studios. In 1979, he directed his first full-length movie, The Castle of Cagliostro. He also wrote and drew the manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982–1994). He then directed the movie version in 1984.
In 1985, Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli. He wrote and directed many popular films there. These include Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). His film Princess Mononoke (1997) was a huge success in Japan. It helped Studio Ghibli become famous worldwide. Spirited Away (2001) became the highest-grossing film in Japan. It also won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. His later films, like Howl's Moving Castle (2004) and Ponyo (2008), were also very successful. He briefly retired in 2013 but returned to make The Boy and the Heron (2023), which also won an Academy Award.
Miyazaki's films often explore important ideas. These include how humans connect with nature and technology. They also show the importance of art and being peaceful in a difficult world. His main characters are often strong girls or young women. Many of his villains are not completely evil. Miyazaki has received many awards for his work. He is a big inspiration for many animators and directors today.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Hayao Miyazaki was born in Tokyo City, Japan, on January 5, 1941. He was the second of four sons. His father worked for his brother's company, which made parts for fighter planes during World War II. This meant his family had enough money during Miyazaki's childhood.
Miyazaki remembers seeing "bombed-out cities" when he was very young. In 1944, his family moved away from Tokyo for safety. The bombings left a strong mark on him. As a child, Miyazaki was often ill. From 1947 to 1955, his mother, Yoshiko, was also frequently ill. She was a thoughtful and strict woman. She had a big influence on Miyazaki and his later films.
Miyazaki started school in 1947. He wanted to become a manga artist. However, he found it hard to draw people. For several years, he mostly drew planes, tanks, and battleships. He was influenced by famous manga artists like Osamu Tezuka. Miyazaki often destroyed his early drawings. He felt he was copying others too much.
His interest in animation grew after watching Panda and the Magic Serpent (1958). This was Japan's first full-length color animated film. He loved the movie's heroine and was deeply moved by the story. After high school, Miyazaki studied political economy at Gakushuin University. He joined a "Children's Literature Research Club" there. In his free time, he would sketch and talk about life with his art teacher. He also drew many manga stories, though he never finished them.
Starting His Career
In 1963, Miyazaki got a job at Toei Animation. He started as an "in-between artist," drawing the frames between key animation drawings. He worked on films like Doggie March and Wolf Boy Ken. He also became a leader in the company's labor union.
Miyazaki worked closely with his mentor, Yasuo Ōtsuka. Ōtsuka's animation style greatly influenced Miyazaki. He also began working with Isao Takahata on The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968). This film was highly praised and important for animation. Miyazaki and Takahata would work together for many years.
Miyazaki drew a 12-chapter manga series to promote the film The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots (1969). He also wrote and drew another manga series called People of the Desert. In 1971, he left Toei Animation and joined A-Pro. There, he co-directed 23 episodes of Lupin the Third Part I. He also worked on two short films called Panda! Go, Panda! (1972 and 1973). These were directed by Takahata.
After moving to Zuiyō Eizō (later Nippon Animation), Miyazaki and Takahata worked on World Masterpiece Theater. This included the animation series Heidi, Girl of the Alps. Miyazaki also directed the TV series Future Boy Conan (1978).
Breakthrough Films
Miyazaki moved to Tokyo Movie Shinsha to direct his first feature film, The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). This movie was part of the Lupin III series. It was very popular and inspired many other filmmakers.
In 1982, Miyazaki started drawing a manga series called Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. He planned to stop drawing it when he got more animation work. But the manga became very popular. It sold over ten million copies. The main character, Nausicaä, was inspired by old stories and Japanese folk tales. The world in the manga was based on Miyazaki's readings about science and history.
After the first two volumes of the manga were finished, editors suggested making a short film. Miyazaki thought a full-length movie would be better. So, production began on the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1983. Topcraft was chosen as the animation studio. Miyazaki found it challenging to write the screenplay. He worked with Joe Hisaishi for the film's music. Hisaishi would later compose music for all of Miyazaki's feature films.
Miyazaki was inspired by how nature can recover even in polluted places. This helped him create the film's world. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was released on March 11, 1984. It was a big success and made Miyazaki famous as an animator. Many people praised its positive portrayal of women. The film is often seen as having anti-war and environmental themes. Miyazaki says he just wants to entertain. The success of the manga and film led to more collaborations. In 1984, Miyazaki and Takahata created a studio called Nibariki to manage their work.
Studio Ghibli's Beginnings
Creating Iconic Films (1985–1995)
After Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was a hit, Miyazaki and Takahata started their own animation company. They founded Studio Ghibli on June 15, 1985. The name "Ghibli" comes from an Italian word for "a hot wind that blows in the desert." Many animators who had worked with Miyazaki before joined the new studio.
In 1984, Miyazaki visited Wales and saw the mining towns. He was inspired by the miners' dedication. He used these ideas for his next film, Laputa: Castle in the Sky. This was the first film from Studio Ghibli. It was released in 1986 and did well, but Miyazaki and his team hoped for more success.
Miyazaki's next film was My Neighbor Totoro. The ideas for this film came from his own childhood memories. It was released in 1988 alongside Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies. Totoro explores the connection between nature and people. It also has a theme of a mother being ill, which was inspired by Miyazaki's own mother. The film was praised by critics. While it wasn't a huge box office hit at first, it became very popular later. Merchandise from the film, like Totoro toys, helped support Studio Ghibli for many years.
In 1987, Studio Ghibli decided to make a film based on the book Kiki's Delivery Service. Miyazaki ended up directing it himself. He felt the main character, Kiki, showed the feelings of young girls wanting to live on their own in cities. To prepare, Miyazaki and his team visited Sweden for inspiration. Kiki's Delivery Service premiered in 1989. It was a big success and became the highest-grossing film in Japan that year.
Miyazaki's next film was Porco Rosso (1992). It was based on a manga he had drawn. The film is about a pilot who looks like a pig. The Yugoslav Wars happening at the time influenced the film's serious tone. Miyazaki said he made the film for his "own pleasure" because he loved planes. The film was very successful and was the highest-grossing film in Japan in 1992.
During this time, Miyazaki also helped design Studio Ghibli's new building in Tokyo. He also worked on the final parts of his Nausicaä manga. He helped with other films too, like Pom Poko (1994) and Whisper of the Heart (1995).
Becoming Globally Famous (1995–2001)
Miyazaki's next big film was Princess Mononoke. He had thought about this story since the late 1970s. He chose the Muromachi period in Japan as the setting. He felt this was when people started trying to control nature instead of respecting it. Miyazaki planned for this to be his last film as a director.
In 1996, the Walt Disney Company made a deal to distribute Studio Ghibli's films around the world. Miyazaki agreed to this deal. For Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki and his team researched forests in Japan, like Yakushima. The film explores environmental and political ideas, similar to Nausicaä. It also looks at how women had more freedom in ancient times.
Princess Mononoke used some computer animation for the first time, mixed with traditional hand-drawn animation. It was the most expensive Japanese animated film at the time. When it premiered in 1997, it was highly praised. It became the first animated film to win the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year. It was also a huge commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film in Japan for a while. Even though it didn't make much money in America, it introduced Studio Ghibli to a global audience.
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Miyazaki left Studio Ghibli in 1998, planning to retire. But the sudden death of his chosen successor, Kondō, made him return. He officially came back to lead Studio Ghibli in 1999.
From 1998, Miyazaki also worked on designs for the Ghibli Museum. This museum showcases the studio's works and has exclusive short films. It opened in 2001. Miyazaki also helped develop The Cat Returns (2002), a film about cats.
Miyazaki's next film, Spirited Away, was inspired by five young girls he knew. He wanted to make a film for 10-year-old girls. He felt they needed a heroine they could look up to. The film explores themes of human greed and a journey into a spirit world. Spirited Away was released in 2001. It was a huge success, winning the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japan for almost 20 years. It was the first Japanese film to earn over $200 million internationally. It also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Many people consider it one of the greatest films of the 21st century. After finishing it, Miyazaki again said it would be his last film.
Later Works and Retirement (2001–Present)
In 2001, Studio Ghibli announced Howl's Moving Castle, based on a novel. Miyazaki was inspired by the idea of a castle moving across the countryside. He directed the film. Some computer animation was used for the castle's movements, but Miyazaki made sure it was mostly hand-drawn. He visited France to study the architecture for the film's setting. The war in the film was influenced by the Iraq War, which made Miyazaki angry.
Howl's Moving Castle was released in 2004 and was highly praised. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It was also very successful in Japan and worldwide. In 2005, Miyazaki received a special award, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, at the Venice Film Festival.
After Howl's Moving Castle, Miyazaki made more short films for the Ghibli Museum. He went back to using only traditional animation for these. His next major film was Ponyo, which began production in 2006. It was inspired by "The Little Mermaid" story. Miyazaki wanted the film to celebrate the joy of a child's world. He drew many of the sea and wave scenes himself. Ponyo was released in 2008 and was a critical and commercial success. It earned over five times its budget.
In 2009, Miyazaki started writing a manga called The Wind Rises. It told the story of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the famous Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter plane. Miyazaki also planned and produced Arrietty (2010) and co-wrote the screenplay for From Up on Poppy Hill (2011).
Miyazaki wanted his next film to be a sequel to Ponyo. But he was convinced to adapt his The Wind Rises manga into a film instead. The Wind Rises was announced in 2012. Miyazaki was inspired by Horikoshi's quote: "All I wanted to do was to make something beautiful." The film also drew from a novel about a man whose fiancée died from tuberculosis, which reminded Miyazaki of his mother's illness.
The Wind Rises shows Miyazaki's peaceful views. He felt that even though Horikoshi designed warplanes, he wasn't a military person. The film premiered in 2013 and was highly praised. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. It was also the highest-grossing film in Japan in 2013.
In September 2013, Miyazaki announced he was retiring from making feature films because of his age. He wanted to keep working on displays at the Ghibli Museum. In 2014, he received an honorary Academy Award for his impact on animation. He later developed Boro the Caterpillar, a short animated film for the Ghibli Museum.
In 2016, Miyazaki proposed a new feature film, The Boy and the Heron. He started animating it without official approval. The film opened in Japan in 2023 with very little marketing. Despite claims it would be his last film, Miyazaki continues to plan new projects. The Boy and the Heron won Miyazaki his second Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2024.
Miyazaki's Creative Process
Miyazaki doesn't use traditional screenplays for his films. Instead, he develops the story as he draws the storyboards. He has said, "We never know where the story will go but we just keep working on the film as it develops."
He uses traditional animation methods, drawing each frame by hand. In his later films, he has used computer-generated imagery (CGI) to make the visuals richer. But he always makes sure his films still feel like hand-drawn animation. He checks every single frame of his movies. For character designs, he draws the first versions. Then, other animators use these to create detailed drawings, which Miyazaki then perfects.
Miyazaki has been influenced by many Japanese artists, including Osamu Tezuka. He has also been inspired by Western artists and animators. These include Frédéric Back, Roald Dahl, and Yuri Norstein. Specific films that influenced him include The Snow Queen (1957). When he animates young children, Miyazaki often gets ideas from his friends' children and his own childhood memories.
Personal Life and Family
Miyazaki's wife, Akemi Ōta, was also an animator at Toei Animation. They met there in 1964 and married in 1965. They have two sons: Goro, born in 1967, and Keisuke, born in 1969. Becoming a father made Miyazaki want to create films that would please his children.
Miyazaki's wife stopped working in 1972 to raise their children. She felt it was important for Miyazaki to focus on his work. Miyazaki's dedication to his work meant he was often away from his children. His son Goro watched his father's films to "understand" him, as they rarely talked. Miyazaki has said he "tried to be a good father, but in the end [he] wasn't a very good parent."
Goro Miyazaki later became a director himself. He worked at the Ghibli Museum before directing films like Tales from Earthsea (2006) and From Up on Poppy Hill (2011). Keisuke, Miyazaki's other son, is a wood artist. He designed a woodcut print that appears in Whisper of the Heart.
Miyazaki's Legacy
Hayao Miyazaki has been called the "godfather of animation in Japan." People praise his amazing craftsmanship and the human touch in his films. The themes in his movies, like nature and peace, have inspired many younger artists. He is seen as one of the world's greatest animators.
Miyazaki's work has changed animation and filmmaking. It has helped many young viewers see the magic in everyday life. He is known for setting very high standards for himself and his team. His unique stories and clear style have captured audiences who might not usually watch anime. In 2021, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles had a special exhibit about his films.
Many animators, directors, and writers around the world say Miyazaki is a big inspiration. These include James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, and Steven Spielberg. Artists from studios like Pixar and Aardman Animations have signed tributes to him. He has also inspired video game designers and TV series creators.
Studio Ghibli has been looking for someone to lead the studio after Miyazaki and Suzuki. Kondō, who directed Whisper of the Heart, was considered but sadly passed away in 1998. While some candidates have been considered, the studio has not yet found a permanent successor.
Selected Films
- The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
- Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
- Porco Rosso (1992)
- Princess Mononoke (1997)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
- Ponyo (2008)
- The Wind Rises (2013)
- The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Awards and Honors
Miyazaki has won many awards for his films.
- He won the Ōfuji Noburō Award for films like The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988).
- He won the Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film for Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) and Spirited Away (2001).
- Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron both won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004) and The Wind Rises (2013) were also nominated for Academy Awards.
- In 2012, the Japanese government named him a Person of Cultural Merit for his great contributions to culture.
- Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2024.
- He also received an Academy Honorary Award in 2014 for his impact on animation and cinema.
Images for kids
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Miyazaki in 2012
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Several characters from Miyazaki's films were inspired by his mother Yoshiko.
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Miyazaki first worked with Isao Takahata (pictured) in 1964, starting a lifelong friendship and collaboration.
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Miyazaki used 3D rendering in Princess Mononoke (1997) to create writhing "demon flesh" and composite them onto the hand-drawn characters.
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Miyazaki opened his own personal office in 1998, named Buta-ya ("pig house").
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Miyazaki at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con
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Miyazaki's son, director Goro Miyazaki
See also
In Spanish: Hayao Miyazaki para niños
