TRIVIA PRESS QUOTES

Hayao Miyazaki [1941 - ]

Date of Birth: 5 January 1941
Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Also Known As: Tsutomu Teruki

BIOGRAPHY

Hayao Miyazaki was born in 1941 in the affluent suburb of Akebono-cho in Tokyo's Bunkyo-ku district. Devotees of his work, familiar with his recurring motifs of powered flight and eccentric flying machines, won’t be surprised to learn that his father Katsuji Miyazaki was a director of Miyazaki Airplane, a company run by Miyazaki's uncle which spent the war years making parts for the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. A fascination with aircraft was clearly instilled in the young Miyazaki, one which find many creative outlets in his later work.

As a child of the Second World War, Miyazaki's young years were unsettled. As the war drew to its conclusion and Japan faced imminent defeat, the Miyazaki family were evacuated to the safer Utsunomiya City and Kanuma City in Tochigi Prefecture, the latter being the home base of Miyazaki Airplane. Miyazaki was still a refugee when he started school in 1947 at the age of six.

That same year, Miyazaki's mother was struck down with with spinal tuberculosis and was admitted to hospital where she spent the next few years bed-ridden, before being allowed home to recuperate. It would take until 1955 for Mrs Miyazaki to be free of the illness and the trauma of being separated from his mother was later relived in Miyazaki's Tonari no Totoro / My Neighbour Totoro [1988].

The young Miyazaki sought solace in his burgeouning love of comics and soon started drawing. His technical skills were somewhat limited and he spent much time sketching aircraft and military equipment as, by his own admission, his figure work wasn't terribly good. His love of animation developed in 1958, while studying at Toyotama High. There, he saw the first Japanese feature-length color animated film, Taiji Yabushita and Kazuhiko Okabe's Hakuja den, which fired his imagination.

Like many anime and manga artists of his generation, Miyazaki was heavily influenced bythe legendary Osamu Tezuka. He passionately devouted Tezuka's work during the 1950s and 60s, as well as drawing inspiration from the likes of Sanpei Shirato and Tetsuji Fukushima.

Surprisingly, on graduating from Toyotama High, Miyazaki didn't enter the film or manga industries, choosing instead to enrol at Gakushuin University where he studied economics. His love of comics and literature didn't fade, however, and he was an active member of the university's "children's literature research club."

That love developed to such an extent that when he graduated with degrees in Political Science and Economics in 1963, Miyazaki landed a job at at Toei Douga, Toei's animation unit, where he trained for three months to become an in-betweener, the animator who draws the interim stages of an animated sequence after the key animator has drawn the starting and finishing points. Within months of joining the company, he was in-betweening on the feature film Wan wan chushingura [1963] before landing regular paid work on Toei's first television anime, Okami shônen Ken [1963 - 1965].

The regular work enabled Miyazaki to rent an apartment in Nerima-ku, Tokyo, and he was an enthusiastic and active supporter of workers' rights - he hadn't been at the company long before he was leading his fellow animators in an industrial dispute. Miyazaki soon became Chief Secretary of Toei Douga's union where he was assisted by Isao Takahata as Vice-Chairman. The friendship that developed between Miyazaki and Takahata was to be a strong and lasting one. About this same time, Miyazaki met and started dating another member of the animation team, Akemi Ota.

Miyazaki was getting plenty of work on TV, but really wanted to make the move back into features. In 1965, he offered to help Takahata with the production of Taiyo no oji: Horusu no daiboken [1968], making a pact with Takahata and animation director Yasuo Otsuka to complete the film no matter how long it took, hoping that it would act as a calling card for all of them. As work progressed, Miyazaki found time to marry Akemi Ota and fathered a son, born in 1967 with a second boy following in 1968.

The television work kept coming and Miyakazi found himself in demand as a key animator on a number of projects, including some big screen work. But it was never quite enough for Miyazaki and in 1971, he left Toei Douga to follow Takahata and Otabe who had already decamped to Tokyo Movie's anime production unit at A-Pro. He also entered into negotiations, alongside Yutaka Fujioka, president of Tokyo Movie, to try to get the rights to the Pippi Longstockings books, even travelling to Sweden to help smooth the way, though sadly the project fell through.

His stay at A-Pro was short-lived as again the seemingly inseperable trio of Miyazaki, Takahata and Otabe upped sticks and headed for Zuiyo Pictures where Miyazaki did scene designing and organising on Alps no shojo Heidi [1974], managing to work a research trip to Switzerland out of the deal! He did the same thing again while working on Haha wo tazunete sanzen-ri [1976], this time taking a research trip to Italy and Argentina.

The trip to Italy made quite an impact on Miyazaki and he fell madly in love with the country. He was soon working with Italian animator Marco Pagott and other Italian film-makers on the TV series Meitantei Holmes which had a troubled production history and which wasn't finished until 1984.

At the turn of the 80s, Miyazaki had made it to the director's chair and was passing on his skills to a new generation of animators when he became chief instructor at the company Telecom. He also helped them out with a couple of episodes of Rupan sansei Part II [1977], the follow up to the 1971 show that he had also worked on/ For these episodes, he assumed the pseudonym Teruki Tsutomu.

During 1982, Miyazaki occupied himself with his most ambitious project to date, the massive manga Kaze no tani no Naushika, the epic tale of the young princess Nausicaa finding a way to reconcile humanity and nature in a ruined post-apocalyptic future. The strip was serialised in the popular magazine Animage and was so huge that it didn't finally get finished until 1994. Initially, Miyazaki was reluctant to adapt the manga to film, especially as the strip was so far away from being completed in the early 1980s. But the popularity of the comic was so great that Miyazaki found it impossible to resist for too long.

Miyazaki and Takahata took the project to production house Topcraft and, despite the death of Miyazaki's mother just a month before production began, the film version of Kaze no tani no Naushika / Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind / Warriors of the Wind was soon under way. The finished film was a huge hit among animation fans and marked the first real example of the Miyazaki style that was to become so beloved in years to come.

Eager to protect his future projects, Miyazaki quit his post at Tokyo Movie Shinsha while Kaze no tani no Naushika was in production and set up his own office which he dubbed Nibariki, which would exist solely to manage his copyrights. But even bigger plans were being hatched. Takahata, musing on where their respective careers would take them next, proposed the creation of a new production studio. Moving into offices in Kichijoji, Tokyo, Miyazaki and Takahata founded Studio Ghibli, soon to become one of the most respected production houses in Japan. The duo recruited Toshio Suzuki, from the Tokuma publishing company that put out Animage, and former Topcraft president Toru Hara.

This meeting of minds and talents created a company that has created some of the best animation ever produced anywhere. Initially acting as the production company for films by Miyazaki and Takahata, Ghibli later gave newer animators and directors their first breaks. Miyazaki's first three productions for Ghibli remain among his very best, the steampunk classic Tenku no shiro Rapyuta / Castle in the Sky [1986], the semi-autobiographical Tonari no Totoro / My Neighbour Totoro [1988] and the almost impossibly charming Majo no takkyûbin / Kiki's Delivery Service [1989], while Takahata contributed the heart-breaking Hotaru no haka / Grave of the Fireflies [1988].

Miyazaki's love of both aviation and Italy found its ultimate voice in the wonderful Kurenai no buta / Porco Rosso [1992], but the astonishing pace of work that Miyazaki imposed on himself was beginning to take its toll. Unlike many animators, Miyazaki the director also continues to draw many of the cells in his films himself, a massive undertaking, especially when one considers that between 1984 and 1992, he had overseen six films as director, as well as executive producing Takahata's Omohide poro poro / Only Yesterday [1991].

It would be five years before Miyazaki would make another film and it was announced several times that he would retire after it was made. But Mononoke Hime / Princess Mononoke [1997] proved to be an immense hit, even breaking the Western markets that heretofore had only fitfully recognised Miyazaki's talents. Until James Cameron's Titanic [1997] sailed into Tokyo later that year, Mononoke was the biggest grossing film in Japanese cinema history.

With Disney now on board to distribute Miyazaki's films in the States, it seemed an inopportune time for Miyazaki to call it a day. So the retirement was put on hold for a while and he, having aimed Mononoke at young adults, he decided to go back to making a film aimed at younger children. The result, released in 2001, was the extraordinary Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi / Spirited Away, Miyazaki's masterpiece and the richly deserved winner of the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Miyazaki's latest film, Hauru no ugoku shiro / Howl's Moving Castle [2004] is again being touted as his last before retirement again beckons. If it is, and if it's even a tenth the film Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi is, it'll be a fitting end to one of the most extraordinary and fruitful careers in animation.
KEVIN LYONS

GENRE FILMOGRAPHY

* = television

1963
Wan wan chushingura
[in-between animation]
Doggie March
Watchdog Bow Wow
Woof Woof Chushingura
- English language title

1963 - 1965
Okami shônen Ken
[in-between animation] *
Wolf Boy Ken - Engliah language title

1964 - 1965
Shounen ninja kaze no fujimaru
: episodes unknown [key animator] *
Boy Ninja: Fujimaru the Wind - English language title

1965
Gariba no uchu ryoko
[inbetween artist]
Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon - US title
Space Gulliver

1965 - 1966
Hassuru panchi
: episode unknown [key aimator]
Hustle Punch - English language title

1967
Mahoutsukai Sarii
: episodes 77 and 80 [key animator] *
Mahô tsukai Sally - alternative spelling
Mini-fée - French title
La princesa Sally - Mexican title
Sally la brujita - Mexican title
Sally la maga - Italian title
Sally, the Witch - English language title

Reinbou Sentai Robin: episodes 34 and 38 [key animator]
Krieger des Regenbogen Robin - German title
Rainbow sentai Robin
Rainbow Trooper Robin
- English language title
Robin, brigade de l'arc-en-ciel - French title

1968
Taiyo no oji: Horusu no daiboken
[scene designer]
La grande avventura del principe Valiant - Italian title
Little Norse Prince - US television title
Prince of the Sun: The Great Adventure of Horus
La princesa encantada
- Spanish title

1969
Himitsu no Akko-chan
: episodes 44 and 61 [key animator] *
Akko-chan
Akko's Secret
- English language title
Caroline - French title
The Magic Mirror
Lo specchio magico
- Italian title

Nagagutsu wo haita neko [key animator]
Puss-in-Boots - English language title
Puss 'n' Boots
- English language title

Soratobu yureisen [key animator]
The Flying Ghost Ship - English language title
Letayuschy Corabl-Prizrak - Russian title

1969 - 1970
Muumin
: episode 23 [key animator]
Moomin - English language title
Wadi Al Aman - Arabic title

1971
Ari-Baba to yonjuppiki no tozoku
[key animator]
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves - English language title
Ali Babà e i 40 ladroni - Italian title

Dobutsu takarajima [script, story consultant, key animator]
Gli allegri pirati dell'isola del tesoro - Italian title
Animal Treasure Island - UK title
Seikkailu aarresaarella - Finnish title

Rupan sansei [director] *
Lupin III
Lupin III La prima serie
- Italian title
Lupin the 3rd
Lupin the Third

Sarutobi ecchan [key animator] *
Ecchan the Ninja - English language title
Hela Supergirl - Italian title
Ninja Girl Ecchan - English language title

1972
Panda kopanda
[script, screen designer]
Panda! Go Panda! - US title

Yuki no taiyou [key animation] *
Yuki's Sun - English language title

1972 - 1973
Akado suzunosuke
: episodes 26 and 27 [storyboard artist] *
Red-armored Suzunosuke - English language title

1973
Panda kopanda amefuri saakasu no maki
[script, screen designer, art director]

1973 - 1974
Kouya no shounen isamu
: episode 15 [key animator] *
Wasteland Boy Isamu - English language title

Samurai jaiantsu: episode 1 [key animator] *
Samurai Giants - English language title

1974
Alps no shojo Heidi
[scene designer, screen layout] *
Arupusu no shoujo Haiji
Heidi
Heidi: Girl of the Alps

1975
Furandâsu no inu
: episode 15 [animator] *
A Dog of Flanders - English language title
Flanders no Inu - alternative Japanese title
Karupisu kodomo gekijo furandaasu no inu - alternative title
Niklaas, ein Junge aus Flandern - German title
El perro de Flandes - Spanish title

1976
Haha wo tazunete sanzen-ri
[animator, layout artist, scene designer] *
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
Marco de los Apeninos a los Andes
- Spanish title
Marco - German title

1977
Araiguma rascal
: episodes 4-6, 10, 12-22, 24-28 [key animator] *
Rascal der Waschbär - German title
Rascal the Raccoon
Rascal, il moi amico arsetto
- Italian title

Rupan sansei Part II: episodes 145 and 155 [director (as Tsutomu Teruki)] *
Lupin, l'incorreggibile Lupin - Italian title
Lupin III: Tales of the Wolf
The New Lupin III
Shin Lupin III
- alternative title

Sougen no ko tenguri [layouts]
Tenguri, the Boy of the Plains

1978
Mirai shônen Conan
[director, character designer, storyboard artist] *
Conan ragazzo del futuro - Italian title
Conan, el niño del futuro - Spanish title
Conan, el noi del futur - Catalan Spanish title
Conan, le fils du futur - French title
Future Boy Conan

1979
Akage no An
: episodes 1-15 [layout artist, scene designer] *
Anna dai capelli rossi - Italian title
Anne mit den roten Haaren - German title
Anne of Green Gables

Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro [script, director]
Arsene Lupin and the Castle of Cagliostro
The Castle of Cagliostro
Le château de Cagliostro
- French title
Hardyman räumt auf - German title
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro

1980 - 1981
Tetsujin 28go [Shin]
: episode 8 [key animator]
The New Adventures of Gigantor
New Iron Man No.28
New Tetsujin-28

1982
Cobra gekijoban
[key animator]
Kobura
Space Adventure Cobra

1984
Cliff Hanger
[director (uncredited)] +

Kaze no tani no Naushika [script, director]
Guerreros del viento - Spanish title
Kaze no tani no Nausicaa
Nausicaä
Nausicaä de la vallée du vent
- French title
Nausicaä della valle del vento - Italian title
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds - US title
Sternen-Krieger - German video title
Vindens krigare - Swedish title
Warriors of the Wind – UK / US title

Mirai shônen Conan tokubetsu hen-kyodaiki gigant no fukkatsu [director]

1984 - 1985
Meitantei Holmes
: episodes 2, 4, 5, 12, 17 and 26 [director] *
Il fiuto di Sherlock Holmes - Italian title
Sherlock Holmes - French title
Sherlock Hound, the Detective

1986
Tenku no shiro Rapyuta
[script, comic, director, lyrics (Kimi wo nosete)]
El castillo en el cielo - Spanish DVD title
Castle in the Sky
- UK / US title
Le château dans le ciel - French title
La fortaleza celeste - Spanish title
Laputa: Castle in the Sky - US title
Laputa: Un castillo en el cielo - Argentinean title

1988
StarCraft
[thanks] +

Tonari no Totoro [script, director, lyrics]
Long Mao
Mi vecino Totoro
- Argentinean / Spanish title
Mijn buurman Totoro - Dutch title
Min nabo Totoro - Danish television title
Il mio vicino Totoro - Italian title
Mon voisin Totoro - French title
My Neighbor Totoro - US title
Näkymätön ystävä - Finnish title

1989
Akai karasu to yuureisen
[ghost ship designer]
Red Crow and Ghost Ship - English language title

Majo no takkyûbin [producer, script, director]
El delivery de Kiki - Argentinean title
Kiki, A Aprendiz de Feiticeira
Kiki - Consegne a domicilio
- Italian title
Kiki, entregas a domicilio - Spanish title
Kiki, la petite sorcière - French title
Kiki's Delivery Service - UK / US title
Kiki's vliegende koeriersdienst - Dutch title
Mo nu zhai ji bian - Cantonese title
Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja - Spanish title

1991
Omohide poro poro
[executive producer]
Memories of Teardrops
Memories of Yesterday
Only Yesterday
Souvenirs, goutte à goutte
- French title

1992
Kurenai no buta
[script, director, editor]
Crimson Pig
Porco Rosso - O Último Herói Romântico
- Brazilian title
Porco rosso - Italian title
Porco Rosso - English language title
Pòrco rósso - Spanish title
Punainen sika - Finnish title

Nandarou [director, key animator] *

Sora iro no tane [director] *
The Blue Seed

1994
Heisei tanuki gassen pompoko
[executive producer, planner]
Pom Poko
The Raccoon War

1995
Mimi wo sumaseba
[producer, script]
If You Listen Closely
Whisper of the Heart

On Your Mark [script, director]

1997
Mononoke-hime
[script, director, editor]
A Princesa Mononoke – Portugese title
La princesa Mononoke - Spanish title
Princess Mononoke – English language title
Princesse Mononoké – French Belgian / French title
Principessa Mononoke - Italian title
Prinzessin Mononoke – German title

2001
Kujira tori
[script, director]
The Whale Hunt

Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi [script, director]
Chihiro og heksene – Norwegian title
Chihiroren bidaia - Basque Spanish title
Chihiros Reise – German title
Chihiros Reise ins Zauberland – Austrian title
La città incantata - Italian title
Henkien kätkemä - Finnish title
Sen – alternative title
Sen and the Mysterious Disappearance of Chihiro
Spirited Away
– English language title
A Viagem de Chihiro – Portugese title
El viaje de Chihiro – Argentinian / Spanish title
El viatge de Chihiro – Catalan Spanish title
Le voyage de Chihiro – French Belgian / French title

2002
Kusoh no kikai-tachi no naka no hakai no hatsumei
[planner]
The Invention of Destruction in the Imaginary Machines - English language title

Neko no ongaeshi [project concept]
The Cat Returns - English language / German title
Kissojen valtakunta - Finnish title
Le royaume des chats - French title

2003
The Art of Spirited Away
[performer (himself)]

2004
Hauru no ugoku shiro
[script, director]
Howl's Moving Castle - English language title

NON-GENRE FILMOGRAPHY

1987
Yanagawa horiwari monogatari
[producer]
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals


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