Animated film is not simply for kids. More and more people are coming to grips with this now that Pixar is creating some of the best films to come out of Hollywood in years, but there was one man that understood the power of animation long before Pixar became popular: Hayao Miyazaki.
Miyazaki is not only a master of hand-drawn animation, but also a master storyteller. His films are nuanced and complex, yet feature themes and tropes that resonate with every single member of his audience. His characters are richly-developed, and he mixes this incredible knack for storytelling with visuals that are breathtakingly beautiful and stunningly haunting at the same time.
Today, I want to thank Hayao Miyazaki for being inspirational.
Hayao Miyazaki’s remarkable ability to convey emotion and share truth through rich and sensual storytelling is something I strive for constantly. I strongly encourage you all to check out My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, two of my favorite Miyazaki films, if you haven’t seen them already. They have been, and continue to be, and inspiration to me.
Every Sunday for the next little while, I’ll be writing one or two paragraphs about people that inspire me as a kind of thank you for making me want to do and be better. Who inspires you?
What Miyazaki seems to have mastered that few (if any) American filmmakers have, is the ability to create a great children’s movie without a villain.
You’re absolutely right David. I’ve always wondered why the villain is so central to American film, when Miyazaki does so well without having one at all.
oh hey - did you know that I went to the Ghibli Museum last summer? It was really cool to see the re-creations of Miyazaki’s studio, and all these little maquettes (some moving) from films.
Have you seen Grave of the Fireflies? It’s a really sad Miyazaki film.
When I was in Japan, the big hit was Ponyo. I’m excited to see it when it comes out with english subtitles!
And I kind of disagree about the villains - there are definitely evil characters in Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies… but I haven’t seen Totorro so maybe that one is villain-free?
I think what I was getting from David’s statement wasn’t that there were no villainous characters in Miyazaki’s films, but that his work wasn’t based on a central protagonist vs central antagonist premise like many other kinds of animated film. There are ‘evil’ characters, but I find that Miyazaki’s films aren’t necessarily about overcoming and dominating the villain like most American film.
I haven’t seen Grave of the Fireflies just yet, but I plan on checking it out for sure. And I’m so jealous you went to the Ghibli Museum. You’ll have to tell me more about it some time!
I wasn’t saying that there are no villains in any of Miyazaki’s films. There certainly is one in Castle of Cagliostro!
But there is none in My Neighbor Totoro.
ok - I understand, and I agree.
I’ll tell you more about the Ghibli museum another time. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside, and I was obedient and put my camera away, although all these Japanese tourists were taking tons of photos! booo!
Can’t wait to hear more about it Angelune!
I think the villains in his films are usually developed to the point of not being villains. They’re usually introduced as antagonists, then you learn about them and see their point of view. Sometimes a minor character (Madame Suliman, Jigo) is there to get you through the climax who is more like two-dimensional evil, but more often he balances everyone’s motivations so they’re at worst short-sighted and selfish but not evil — just like real life. *sniff*