Hayao Miyazaki

- Hayao Miyazaki ・宮崎駿 -

Kiki from "Kiki's Delivery Service／魔女の宅急便" (Below)

Hayao Miyazaki was born on January 5th 1941 in Tokyo, Japan.
He graduated from Gakushuin University in 1963, with majors in; *Political Science
*Economics

宮崎駿監督は、1941年1月5日東京で生まれて、

学習院大学の政治経済学部卒業しました。

As with Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki is a master animator who in many ways follows a tradition previously laid down by Walt Disney, in that his characters and stories are accessible by children and adults alike from almost every cultural background.
His great strenghth is that he is able to draft simplistic human figures, which he somehow manages to instil with accurate and emotionally motivated human movement (for example Chihiro's temper tantrum, in the begining of "Spirited Away").

He fastidiosly observes the human form and the way in which we move. He then uses these movements to fill the characters with believable life and emotion. Miyazaki's animation techniques allow his characters to appear to be acting which in my opinion is only equalled by the giants of animation such as Walt Disney.

Miyazaki's observations of the world surrounding him result in many of his family members and friends being cast as the basis for his animation characters. As a result Miyazaki's characters often appear similar from one film to another (as do Osamu Tezuka's).
This gift of observation also results in the creating of realistic looking animation landscapes which are infact combinations of elements gathered from countries which include Japan, Australia and France.

Cel (above) from "Laputa : Castle in the Sky／天空の城ラピュタ " 　

Miyazaki's works often deal with the themes of puberty and the tradition from childhood to adult life. He has gained both praise and criticism for this choice of subject matter. Within his own studio he is regarded as a strong advocate of feminism.
Much of Miyazaki's work also explores the negative impact of humans upon nature.

Cel (above) from "Nausicaa／風の谷のナウシカ "
Miyazaki manages to create a nostalgic and sentimental atmosphere within his animation which is said to be very much based on his own childhood memories. In some ways the landscapes and stories in his works are his adult reflections of his childhood years and his coming to "grips" with a past that had its share of sadness. The hospitalised mother in "My neighbour Totoro" is based on Miyazaki's own experiences with his mothers hospitalisation in the late 1940's.

Miyazaki's works are truly a celebration of life and of the beauty of the world we exist within.

Advertising "flyer" for "Spirited Away／千と千尋の神隠し " (Japan)
The pastel colours, the softness and feelings contained within his stories all contribute to rendering Miyakaki's animation works as the great masterpieces that they are.

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Above are some of the many Hayao Miyazaki film titles on video and DVD.

All images above ar from Geoffrey Clifton's collection

ANIMATION UTOPIA