One of the first anime’s I have watched was Spirited Away; Hayao Miyazaki was the man behind this incredible movie. I had never seen anything like it and from the day I had watched it I was completely hooked on it. So who is this amazing genius you ask? Well let me tell you. Hayao Miyazaki is a prominent director of many popular animated feature films. He is also the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, an animation studio and production company. He remained largely unknown to the West, outside of animation communities, until Miramax released his 1997 Princess Mononoke. By that time, his films had already enjoyed both commercial and critical success in Japan and Central Asia. For instance, Princess Mononoke was the highest-grossing film of all time in Japan. His later film, Spirited Away, had that distinction as well, and was the first anime film to win an Academy Award. Howl's Moving Castle was also nominated but did not receive the award.
Miyazaki's films often incorporate common themes, such as humanity's relationship to nature and technology, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic. The protagonists of his films are often strong, independent girls or young women; the villains, when present, are often morally ambiguous characters with redeeming qualities.
Miyazaki's films have generally been financially successful, and this success has invited comparisons with American animator Walt Disney. In 2006, Time Magazine voted Miyazaki one of the most influential Asians of the past 60 years.
What I found so captivating about Miyazaki’s animations were the amazing environments. Usually set in the country with sunny blue sky’s and lush meadows. What is unusual about the character development in his animes is that it is extremely gradual; it’s eased in with out you realizing it.
For those of you who have only just beginner fans of anime, check out Miyazaki’s movies, they are perfect for getting started.
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