Toshio Suzuki facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toshio Suzuki
Suzuki at the Venice premiere of Howl's Moving Castle in 2004
Born	(1948-08-19) August 19, 1948 (age 76) Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Alma mater	Keio University
Occupation	Film producer Co-Founder and chairman of Studio Ghibli
Years active	1972–present
Employer	Tokuma Shoten (1972–1989) Studio Ghibli (1989–present)

Toshio Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 敏夫, Hepburn: Suzuki Toshio, born August 19, 1948) is a famous Japanese film producer. He is one of the people who started Studio Ghibli, and he is now its chairman. He used to be the president of the studio.

Early Life and Education

Toshio Suzuki was born in Nagoya, Japan, in 1948. He went to Keio University in 1967. He studied literature and finished his degree in 1972.

Starting His Career in Media

Working at Tokuma Shoten

After graduating from college, Suzuki began working at a company called Tokuma Shoten. He joined the planning team for a magazine about entertainment called Asahi Geino. Here, he wrote about manga (Japanese comics).

In 1973, he became an editor for a special comic magazine. He worked with many famous film directors and manga artists, like Osamu Tezuka. This helped him make many friends in the entertainment world.

Later, in 1978, he became an editor for a new monthly magazine called Animage. This magazine was all about anime and manga.

How Studio Ghibli Began

While working at Animage, Suzuki met two important animation directors: Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. He wanted to write an article about them for his magazine.

Suzuki and Miyazaki became good friends and started working together. Suzuki helped Miyazaki create his famous manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. He was also very important in getting the Nausicaä animated movie made. This movie was released in 1984.

Building Studio Ghibli

Founding Studio Ghibli in 1985

After the success of Nausicaä, Studio Ghibli was officially started in June 1985. Hayao Miyazaki has said that without Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli would not exist. Isao Takahata, another co-founder, also agreed that Suzuki was key to the studio's creation.

Suzuki helped produce many early Studio Ghibli films. In 1986, he was part of the team for Laputa: Castle in the Sky. He also became the editor-in-chief of Animage magazine.

Producing Famous Ghibli Films

In 1988, Suzuki helped make two classic Ghibli films: My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies. He suggested releasing them together in theaters, which helped them become popular.

In 1989, he officially joined Studio Ghibli as a producer. He worked on many beloved movies, including:

• Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
• Only Yesterday (1991)
• Porco Rosso (1992)
• Pom Poko (1994)
• Whisper of the Heart (1995)

In 1995, Suzuki chose the title for the next big Ghibli film, Princess Mononoke, which was released in 1997. That same year, Studio Ghibli joined with Tokuma Shoten, and Suzuki became the first president of the studio.

Award-Winning Films

Suzuki continued to produce many more successful films:

• My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
• Spirited Away (2001), which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
• The Cat Returns (2002)
• Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

In 2001, the Ghibli Museum also opened, a place where fans can explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

Later Career and Awards

Studio Ghibli's Independence

In 2004, Studio Ghibli became an independent company, separate from Tokuma Shoten. Suzuki was named the president of the new company. He stepped down from this role in 2008 but continued to work as a producer and managing director.

Retirement and Continued Work

In 2014, Suzuki retired from being a full-time producer. However, he still helps with many projects. He was a co-producer for The Red Turtle (2016) and the main producer for Earwig and the Witch (2020) and The Boy and the Heron (2023).

Awards and Recognition

Toshio Suzuki has received many awards for his work as a film producer:

• He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for The Wind Rises (2013) and The Red Turtle (2016).
• He won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for The Boy and the Heron (2023) alongside Hayao Miyazaki.
• In 2014, he won the Grand Prize at the MEXT Art Encouragement Prizes for his work on The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
• In 2022, he received the Winsor McCay Award at the Annie Awards. This award celebrates people who have made a big difference in animation.

Filmography

Toshio Suzuki has been a part of many amazing films. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Toshio Suzuki (productor) para niños