Why I love Hayao Miyazaki
One huge aspect of the film and TV industry I adore is the fact that no style is definitive in the current climate, nor should it be. Animation is where this statement holds truest I feel, as millions of creators sit at their desks and worktops trying their hardest to produce something truly unique. Not only through a compelling story, but aesthetically too.
“I’m not a storyteller, I’m a man who draws pictures (laughs). However, I do believe in the power of story. I believe that stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings, that they can stimulate, amaze and inspire their listeners.” - Hayao Miyazaki, 2002 interview
Hayao Miyazaki as an Animator famously is known for his extraordinary creatures and stunning backgrounds, however every single one of his movies include very plain looking people. He has stated numerous times that he prefers to make his main characters appear “simple”, as this betters the connection between the audience and the story that he’s trying to tell. Miyazaki’s best trait, in my opinion, is his ability to create a truly affectionate atmosphere. What I mean by that is that when I watch any one of his works, I never feel like anything is out of place - even though he does everything to make it seem like it should be. Making me connect to a fantastical creature to the point of familiarity, is one of my favourite aspects about Anime and Hayao Miyazaki does this oh so well. If I were to define Hayao Miyazaki’s style in one sentence, it would be: Surrounding ordinary with extraordinary.
“I can only create animation in 2D. There is no other choice for me. I don’t even know how to use a Smartphone”
Solely using hand-drawn animation in most of his works, Hayao Miyazaki I can say has a definitive style that he sticks to and abides by. He creates a connection between the audience and character by putting us in this unique world, constantly reminding us that even though no one is special to start off with, it is the curiosity and determination that allows us to plant our feet wherever we want to. The world renowned Director does rely on his one style and abides by it, with recurring elements in each of his films which help define Miyazaki’s particular storytelling techniques.
“It was through observing the daughter of a friend that I realised there were no films out there for her, no films that directly spoke to her. Certainly, girls like her see films that contain characters their age, but they can’t identify with them, because they are imaginary characters that don’t resemble them at all”
The 50 year veteran of Japanese Animation has recurring themes and factors in each of his films. Most of his main characters are female, which has given the younger generation hope for their future while bringing much critical acclaim. The way Miyazaki handles female leads in his films is great, by not following the stereotypical “fearful and dainty turned into strong and beautiful”. Instead, from my point of view, the man treats his main characters as simply that, main characters. He has stated many times that he prefers to use females as it falls in the unknown category for him, but what I see each and every time is someone who appreciates what it is like to be a young child - no matter if you are a boy or a girl, as a child we all are filled with fear, curiosity and longing to fit in.
“Many of my movies have strong female leads – brave, self-sufficient girls that don’t think twice about fighting for what they believe in 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.”
I actually cite this as one of the reasons his two most popular works involve females as lead characters - My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001). It’s not about putting females as leads just to create a buzz in the film industry, but more importantly to write compelling characters for the audience to digest and be intrigued by. Breaking away from the uninteresting tropes of usual “chick flicks” Hayao Miyazaki tries to shape his female characters how he envisions the life of a 10 year old girl to be, producing something truly special for girls of all ages to relate to and enjoy.
“Anime may depict fictional worlds, but I nonetheless believe that at its core it must have a certain realism. Even if the world depicted is a lie, the trick is to make it seem as real as possible”
The hardest task of any storyteller is to effectively world build. Putting all your time and effort into a reality that we don’t live in is hard to implement effectively, but this was always a strength of the storyteller. Miyazaki’s worlds are a mash of real life problems that feel very familiar to what we deal with in the real world, but taken to a whole new level with the inclusion of ambiguous fantastical creatures and elements. All Ghibli films, not just Miyazaki’s, somehow always manage to hit that perfect balance of reality and fantasy, as all animators intend to bring their ideas to life. After all, that is what it means to animate. To bring to life.
“The animator must fabricate a world that seems so real, viewers will think the world depicted might possibly exist”
Why I adore this one man’s particular world building, is quite simple to be honest: Hayao Miyazaki is an amazing liar. Yes, I do say that as a compliment. I believe that to create a world that is intended to immerse your audience into vulnerability, you must first be able to lie to the world around you. This animator does this brilliantly, ensuring that every second tries to entice its viewer. By including realism in every aspect, we are able to not only connect to the world, but develop.
Take the “soot sprites” in Totoro, we see Mei trapping one in her hands and scurrying across the rooms in this vast new home. The way she is animated, her minute movements, from her eyes widening to jumping and running around, every frame is done with accuracy to create a sense of illusive reality. From walking, to portraying excitement, nothing is left out to entice the audience into the film, and into this world. You leave yourself vulnerable and allow yourself to drift into this fantasy which has suddenly become more real than it should have ever been. That is how I feel when watching Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s works. Lying to himself about what is real to create such worlds is what I find truly interesting about world building and how this one man who rarely watches movies, can create such ideas.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg as to why I love the work, motives and values of the well respected Mr. Hayao Miyazaki. With his “final” project coming up in the next year, endless praise and love will come from around the world for everything he has given us, and he deserves every single bit of it. Never change, Mr. Miyazaki, thank you for introducing me to a different side of animation and storytelling that I didn’t even think was possible.
“Don’t follow the instructions of just one person. Strive to find your own path”
Check out my piece on the late Isao Takahata here
