One-of-a-kind animator, artist, and masterful storyteller, Hayao Miyazaki brought delightful “manga” (Japanese comic books) and “anime” (Japanese animation) films to venerating audiences via Studio Ghibli, which Miyazaki co-founded with director Isao Takahata in 1985.
Some of the first Studio Ghibli films made were Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), and Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), receiving recognition and success in Japan.
Miyazaki went from a cult film figure to a more widely acclaimed artist when Miramax released an English-dubbed version of Princess Mononoke (originally released in 1997) in 1999. When Disney released an English version of Ponyo (originally released in 2008) in 2009, it further escalated Miyazaki’s acclaim.
Miyazaki was born on this day, January 5, 1941, in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan.
“The concept of portraying evil and then destroying it – I know this is considered mainstream, but I think it is rotten. This idea that whenever something evil happens someone particular can be blamed and punished for it, in life and in politics is hopeless.”
-Hayao Miyazaki
