Animation: The Miyazaki Phenomenon

 

Hayao Miyazaki

 

"Animators can only draw from their own experiences of pain and shock and emotions."

- Hayao Miyazaki

I believe that the most important phenomenon in animation history is the relatively recent popularity of Hayao Miyazaki’s films and their recognition as legitimate filmmaking here in the U.S. For so long, North American audiences had perceived animation to be a genre of filmmaking that was geared almost exclusively for children.

Director, writer and animator Hayao Miyazaki is the genius and driving force behind such classic animated features as “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

The titular castle from "Howl"

 

Miyazaki’s films are sophisticated, in both story and animation. His distinct style blends fantasy and magic with themes of love, family, environmentalism, and growing up.

I think that the popularization of these films (made popular by their Oscar nominations), has not only battled the concept that cartoons are for children and that the Japanese variety are all run-of-the-mill anime.

 

"Spirited Away" won Best Animated Picture in 2001

 

The popularity of Miyazaki’s work has opened the door for Studio Ghibli and other Japanese animated features and filmmakers.

 

Miyazaki’s works have a personal touch to them, dignified and sophisticated, but sensitive and deeply moving, as they are often about fantasy and childhood. They can be frightening and strange, but also whimsical and breath-taking. The scope and power of these films has ensured Miyazaki’s respected position as one of the world’s most well-loved animation directors.

 

Miyazaki began filmmaking back in the late seventies and began to see a bit of recognition after “Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind” was released in Japan in 1984. Miyazaki became an absolute hit in 1997 after the release of his feature length “Princess Mononoke,” which broke all box office records in Japan at the time. His next film (and my personal favorite of his work), “Spirited Away,” was nominated for an academy award and won an Oscar for best Animated Picture.

 

The award drew American attention to the Japanese filmmaker. That was the first time that I had heard about it, so I looked up the film and it just blew me away! I'd wondered why I'd never heard of this man and his beautiful films before. I'd never seen a trailer for a Miyazaki film on any of my VHS tapes that I watched, until after the success of "Spirited Away." Disney was really starting to push Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's work and more adults and children were taking notice.

 

The amazingly detailed and rich style that Miyazaki's films are known for.

Since the release of "Princess Mononoke" in Japan and "Spirited Away" in The United States, Hayao Miyazaki's genius has been recognized and he has been hailed as a master filmmaker. His fanbase is huge, particularly among young adults and fans of Japanese animation. Miyazaki's films have served to draw attention to Japanese animation as more than "anime" as we traditionally know it, with scantily clad girls and giant robots. Miyazaki's films are mature and beautiful, often with heavy subject matter mixed with fanciful imagery. Miyazaki's work appeals to not only for children, but something far more universal. The films of Hayao Miyazaki appeal to the child in all of us.