Hayao Miyazaki’s Followers (3,401)

Hayao Miyazaki

Born

in Tokyo City, Empire of Japan

January 05, 1941

Genre

Comics & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Influences

Ursula K. Le Guin, Diana Wynne Jones, Lewis Carroll ...more

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Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on hi Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation. ...more

Combine Editions
Hayao Miyazaki’s books

Average rating: 4.48 · 97,079 ratings · 6,889 reviews · 363 distinct works • Similar authors

	Shuna's Journey by Hayao Miyazaki, Alex Dudok de Wit (Translator) 4.33 avg rating — 12,148 ratings — published 1983 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 1 4.45 avg rating — 9,776 ratings — published 1982 — 26 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art of Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki (Introduction), Yuji Oniki (Translator), Alvin Lu (Editor) 4.55 avg rating — 4,284 ratings — published 2001 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 2 by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator) 4.51 avg rating — 4,018 ratings — published 1983	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Spirited Away, Volume 1 by Hayao Miyazaki, Yuji Oniki, Cindy Davis Hewitt 4.58 avg rating — 3,879 ratings — published 2001 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: The Complete Series 4.76 avg rating — 3,661 ratings — published 1995 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art of Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki, Yuji Oniki (Translator) 4.55 avg rating — 3,693 ratings — published 2004 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 3 by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator) 4.55 avg rating — 3,440 ratings — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Howl's Moving Castle Picture Book (Howl's Moving Castle Film Comics, #1) 4.44 avg rating — 3,320 ratings — published 2004	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 4 by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator) 4.57 avg rating — 3,114 ratings — published 1987 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Hayao Miyazaki…

Series by Hayao Miyazaki

風の谷のナウシカ [Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä] (7 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator)

4.55 avg rating — 33,607 ratings

千と千尋の神隠し [Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi] (5 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.53 avg rating — 6,694 ratings

Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.56 avg rating — 5,601 ratings

ハウルの動く城 [Howl no Ugoku Shiro] (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki (Screenplay),

Diana Wynne Jones (Novel)

4.42 avg rating — 5,446 ratings

となりのトトロ [Tonari no Totoro] (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.45 avg rating — 2,981 ratings

More series by Hayao Miyazaki…

Quotes by Hayao Miyazaki (?)

“You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side, but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two.”
― Hayao Miyazaki

818 likes

“I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue. Rather, I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutually inspire each other to live - if I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.”
― Hayao Miyazaki

tags: friendship, love, romance

720 likes

“Many of my movies have strong female leads- brave, self-sufficient girls that don't think twice about fighting for what they believe with all their heart. They'll need a friend, or a supporter, but never a savior. Any woman is just as capable of being a hero as any man.”
― Hayao Miyazaki

tags: brave, feminism, friend, movies, passion, self-sufficient, studio-ghibli, support

475 likes

See all Hayao Miyazaki's quotes »

Polls

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE: Do you prefer the book or the movie?

Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones

The book

Diana Wynne Jones

73 votes, 53.3%

The movie

Hayao Miyazaki

64 votes, 46.7%

137 total votes

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Hayao Miyazaki’s Followers (3,401)

Hayao Miyazaki

Combine EditionsHayao Miyazaki’s books

Series by Hayao Miyazaki

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Hayao Miyazaki’s books