is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as its honorary chairman. Over the course of his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation.
Born in Tokyo City, Miyazaki expressed interest in manga and animation from an early age. He joined Toei Animation in 1963, working as an inbetween artist and key animator on films like Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (1965), Puss in Boots (1969), and Animal Treasure Island (1971), before moving to A-Pro in 1971, where he co-directed Lupin the Third Part I (1971–1972) alongside Isao Takahata. After moving to Zuiyō Eizō (later Nippon Animation) in 1973, Miyazaki worked as an animator on World Masterpiece Theater and directed the television series Future Boy Conan (1978). He joined Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1979 to direct his first feature film The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) and the television series Sherlock Hound (1984–1985). He wrote and illustrated the manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982–1994) and directed the 1984 film adaptation produced by Topcraft.
Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985, writing and directing films such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), and Porco Rosso (1992), which were met with critical and commercial success in Japan. Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke (1997) was the first animated film to win the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year and briefly became the highest-grossing film in Japan; its Western distribution increased Ghibli's worldwide popularity and influence. Spirited Away (2001) became Japan's highest-grossing film and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature; it is frequently ranked among the greatest films of the 21st century. Miyazaki's later films—Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo (2008), and The Wind Rises (2013)—also enjoyed critical and commercial success. He retired from feature films in 2013 but later returned to make The Boy and the Heron (2023), which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Filmography
Feature films Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1979 The Castle of Cagliostro 1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Based on his own manga 1986 Castle in the Sky 1988 My Neighbor Totoro 1989 Kiki's Delivery Service 1992 Porco Rosso Based on his own manga1995Whisper of the Heart 1997 Princess Mononoke 2001 Spirited Away 2004 Howl's Moving Castle 2008 Ponyo 2010Arrietty2011From Up on Poppy Hill 2013 The Wind Rises Based on his own manga 2023 The Boy and the Heron
Executive producer only The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987) (TV documentary) Only Yesterday (1991) Pom Poko (1994)
Short films Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1995 On Your Mark Music video 2001 Whale Hunt 2002 Koro's Big Day Out Imaginary Flying Machines 2003 Mei and the Kittenbus Sequel to My Neighbor Totoro 2006 Mon Mon the Water Spider House-hunting The Day I Bought A Star 2010 Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess 2018 Boro the Caterpillar
Other credits Year Title Role Notes 2002 The Cat Returns Project concept 2006Tales from Earthsea Based on his graphic novel Shuna's Journey2007The Pixar StoryThanks Documentary 2010Toy Story 3 2011 Treasure Hunting Planning Short film La LunaThanks 2013 The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness Subject Documentary 2015Avengers: Age of Ultron Thanks2016Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki Subject TV documentary film 2017Mary and the Witch's Flower Thanks 201910 Years with Hayao Miyazaki Subject TV documentary mini series2020Earwig and the Witch Planning CG TV movie 2024Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron Subject DocumentaryMiyazaki, Spirit of Nature
Early works (animation) Work Year Format Role Wolf Boy Ken 1963 TV series In-between animation, direction by Isao Takahata and Sadao Tsukioka Doggie March Feature film In-between animation, direction by Akira Daikubara Shōnen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru 1964 TV series In-between and key animation, direction by Daisaku Shirakawa and Kimio Yabuki Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon 1965 Feature film In-between animation, direction by Masao Kuroda and Sane Yamamoto Sally the Witch 1966 TV series Key animation, direction by Toshio Katsuta and Hiroshi IkedaRainbow Sentai RobinTV series (episodes 34 and 38)Key animation The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun 1968 Feature film Key animation, storyboards, scene design, direction by Isao Takahata The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots 1969 Key animation, storyboards, design; direction by Kimio Yabuki Moomin TV series Key animation; direction by Masaaki Osumi, Noboru Ishiguro, Satoshi Dezaki, Ryosuke Takahashi and Rintaro Flying Phantom Ship Feature film Key animation, storyboards, design; direction by Hiroshi Ikeda Animal Treasure Island 1971 Story consultant, key animation, storyboards, scene design; direction by Hiroshi Ikeda Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Organizer, key animation, storyboards; direction by Hiroshi Shidara Lupin the 3rd Part I TV series (15 episodes) Co-direction, with Isao Takahata Yuki's Sun 1972 Television pilot (not produced) Direction Akado Suzunosuke TV series Storyboards Panda! Go, Panda! Short film Concept, screenplay, storyboards, scene design, key animation; direction by Isao Takahata Panda! Go, Panda!: The Rainy-Day Circus 1973 Screenplay, storyboards, scene design, art design, key animation; direction by Isao Takahata Heidi, Girl of the Alps 1974 TV series Scene design and layout; direction by Isao Takahata 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother 1976Rascal the Raccoon1977Key animation Future Boy Conan 1978 Direction Anne of Green Gables 1979 TV series (episodes 1–15) Scene design and layout; direction by Isao Takahata Lupin the 3rd Part II 1980 TV series (episodes 145 and 155) Direction; under the pseudonym "Tsutomu Teruki" Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie 1982 Feature film Key animation Sherlock Hound 1984 TV series (5/6 episodes) Direction, series direction Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water 1990 TV series Writer (original concept written in the 1970s); uncredited
Manga works The following list contains Hayao Miyazaki's works, both major and minor, since his debut as manga artist:
WorkYearsSummary Nagagutsu wo Haita Neko ([The Wonderful World of] Puss 'n Boots) 1969 Serialization in a newspaper of a feature film by Toei Doga (Toei Animation Studio), for which Miyazaki worked as a key animator. Based on Charles Perrault's book. Pero, the dandy cat, helps a boy defeat an Ogre and win the heart of a princess. Sabaku no Tami (People of the Desert) 1969–70 Written for a newspaper targeted for children. It deals with the devastation of war, betrayal, and the ugliness of the human nature under desperate situations. Doubutsu Takarajima (Animal Treasure Island) 1972 Serialization in a newspaper of a feature film by Toei Doga (Toei Animation Studio), for which Miyazaki worked as a key animator. A slapstick adventure story based on Stevenson's Treasure Island. Kaze no Tani no Naushika (Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind) 1982–94 Precursor and partial adaptation of the anime film of the same name, with a much more extended plot than the film. Imouto he (To my Sister) 1982 A six-page graphic poem about a dream a boy has in which he and his sick twin sister fly and travel around the world, and he can bring happiness to her. Shuna no Tabi (Shuna's Journey) 1983 An all-watercolor 147 page graphic novel considered by some as a Nausicaä prototype. It's about a prince of a very poor country who journeys in search of the Golden Wheat to save his people from starving. Miyazaki Hayao no Zassō Nōto (Hayao Miyazaki's Daydream Data Notes) 1984–92 Series of manga (or rather, "graphic essays") which Miyazaki had very sporadically written in a Japanese monthly scale model magazine, Model Graphix. They are totally independent manga stories, mecha ideas, or movie ideas about tanks, planes, or battle ships from the era before World War II - the "favorites" of Miyazaki. Hikōtei Jidai (The Age of the Flying Boat) 1989 A 15-page all watercolor manga, which the animated film Porco Rosso is based on. It was serialized in Model Graphix, as part of Miyazaki's Zassō Nōto series. Hansu no Kikan (The Return of Hans) 1994 An all-watercolor manga based on the fictional adventures of Hans, a German chief tank mechanic, at the end of World War II, serialized in Model Graphix. Kuuchuu de Oshokuji (Dining in the Air) An all-watercolor short manga about the history of in-flight meals. Doromamire no Tora (Tigers in the Mud) 1998–99 An all-watercolor manga based on the memoirs of Otto Carius, a German tank commander. It was serialized in Model Graphix, under a new series name Mousou Nouto (Delusion Notes). A Trip to Tynemouth 2006 An adapted manga version of a translated collection of three young adult short stories written by Robert Westall. Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) 2009 The story of Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter designer Jiro Horikoshi, which the animated film of the same name is based on. Published in Model Graphix with the subtitle Mousou Comeback. Teppou Samurai (Gun Samurai) 2015 A manga series about samurai in Japan's Warring States era.
Bibliography
Princess Mononoke: The First Story (1993) Starting Point: 1979–1996 (1996) Turning Point: 1997–2008 (2014, English translation)
References
External links Studio Ghibli