Anime's True Storyteller
You might have never heard of Hayao Miyazaki.
But you would have watched one or two of his movies already and not even know it.
There's “Princess Mononoke,” “Spirited Away,” “Castle in the Sky,” “Kiki Delivery's Service,” “Ponyo,” “Howling's Moving Castle,” and many more.
I'm willing to bet you saw at least one of them.
Miyazaki hails as one of the foremost and influential animators from Japan whose crisp and simple style often is colorful, always a visual delight. I call him the Walt Disney of Japan. There are many similarities.
His films often have young, innocent children or older teen adults as the protagonist. They are central to the emotional core of the story. His characters are often strong, easily identified by youngsters of today.
Not only that, Disney films have recently repackaged many of Miyazaki's films as Disney presentations complete with a new English audio track for those who do not like subtitles. The voices are some of the most well known actors in the business today: Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, Billy Bob Thornton, David Ogden Stiers, John Ratzenberger and many more gave their voice talents to create an English version of the stories.
For those who prefer the original Japanese tracks, you get that too on the Disney presentations. But it is nice to see that Disney is paying its homage and respect to one of the best animators working in the field. He's semi-retired now with his son working in animation. However, Miyazaki said in an interview, “My son will find his own way in animation. I'm not interested in creating a dynasty.”
His own words hold sway. His works and thoughtful stories often portray a youthful rebellion in a world filled with conflict. He has a stunning imagination that fills the animation with visual schemes that are often otherworldly.
Yet, at the same time, he is able to recreate a sense of the past with familiar settings such as 1940s Japan for his beautiful, yet very sad film “Fireflies of the Graves,” appointing him as one of the best presenters of ideas.
Go ahead and pick any one of his movies.
And you'll be washed away by some of the most simple ideas and beauty. This is what animation should be about. Personal vision. It's a unique storytelling that is his own.
Miyazaki spoke of not wanting to create a dynasty. But he did anyway. His great number of films has dominated the animation scene for years. He also co-created the Studio Ghibli to help finance many of his later films. He is essentially an independent filmmaker who brought his films to the celluloid with a personal touch.
His “Princess Mononoke” film was very successful in both Japan and the United States which might have been the most public exposure of Miyazaki's work. Roger Ebert of the Sun-Times placed it sixth of the top ten best movies of 1999. Filmmaker Terry Gilliiam placed it on one of the top 50 best animation ever made.
High praise continue from directors and other animators.
It's unfortunate that his name is not known throughout the western hemisphere like it should be. As with Akira Kurisawa, his works and achievements do shine brighter than his own name did.
It's difficult to pick which ones are favorites. There are so many to choose. They're all good in their own way. They carry the quality and weight of a very hard-working animator who understands how to tell a story.
There is his most famous work “Lupata: Castle in the Sky” which involves a city which floats in the skies according to myth and legends. But several groups of greedy people want to find the floating caste and take the treasure for themselves.
“Princess Mononoke” is one of my favorites because it was my first film which introduced me to the famed animator's work. It was stylish and brilliant. And it offers a kind theme of saving the forest from the reckless hands of humanity. In fact, such themes still make sense in this day and age.
There are never really any villain in his work. They are antagonists who don't understand the situation around them and may come to reason later on in the film. But the films are children's stories. They are meant to teach a lesson. And hope they would somehow capture the innocence of childhood for you.
If you haven't seen any of his works, be a good sport and check one out now. It's worth the time and effort. And you wouldn't feel ashamed about being greeted to one of the most imaginative worlds
It's nice to see that women characters are very strong in the stories. And you'll find that you're sympathetic with the youths in the stories. And perhaps you may feel that you share their dilemma as well.
Miyazaki should be more well known for his works. It's a shame he's not. They're bringing his works under Disney presentations. It's a start.
But you would have watched one or two of his movies already and not even know it.
There's “Princess Mononoke,” “Spirited Away,” “Castle in the Sky,” “Kiki Delivery's Service,” “Ponyo,” “Howling's Moving Castle,” and many more.
I'm willing to bet you saw at least one of them.
Miyazaki hails as one of the foremost and influential animators from Japan whose crisp and simple style often is colorful, always a visual delight. I call him the Walt Disney of Japan. There are many similarities.
His films often have young, innocent children or older teen adults as the protagonist. They are central to the emotional core of the story. His characters are often strong, easily identified by youngsters of today.
Not only that, Disney films have recently repackaged many of Miyazaki's films as Disney presentations complete with a new English audio track for those who do not like subtitles. The voices are some of the most well known actors in the business today: Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, Billy Bob Thornton, David Ogden Stiers, John Ratzenberger and many more gave their voice talents to create an English version of the stories.
For those who prefer the original Japanese tracks, you get that too on the Disney presentations. But it is nice to see that Disney is paying its homage and respect to one of the best animators working in the field. He's semi-retired now with his son working in animation. However, Miyazaki said in an interview, “My son will find his own way in animation. I'm not interested in creating a dynasty.”
His own words hold sway. His works and thoughtful stories often portray a youthful rebellion in a world filled with conflict. He has a stunning imagination that fills the animation with visual schemes that are often otherworldly.
Yet, at the same time, he is able to recreate a sense of the past with familiar settings such as 1940s Japan for his beautiful, yet very sad film “Fireflies of the Graves,” appointing him as one of the best presenters of ideas.
Go ahead and pick any one of his movies.
And you'll be washed away by some of the most simple ideas and beauty. This is what animation should be about. Personal vision. It's a unique storytelling that is his own.
Miyazaki spoke of not wanting to create a dynasty. But he did anyway. His great number of films has dominated the animation scene for years. He also co-created the Studio Ghibli to help finance many of his later films. He is essentially an independent filmmaker who brought his films to the celluloid with a personal touch.
His “Princess Mononoke” film was very successful in both Japan and the United States which might have been the most public exposure of Miyazaki's work. Roger Ebert of the Sun-Times placed it sixth of the top ten best movies of 1999. Filmmaker Terry Gilliiam placed it on one of the top 50 best animation ever made.
High praise continue from directors and other animators.
It's unfortunate that his name is not known throughout the western hemisphere like it should be. As with Akira Kurisawa, his works and achievements do shine brighter than his own name did.
It's difficult to pick which ones are favorites. There are so many to choose. They're all good in their own way. They carry the quality and weight of a very hard-working animator who understands how to tell a story.
There is his most famous work “Lupata: Castle in the Sky” which involves a city which floats in the skies according to myth and legends. But several groups of greedy people want to find the floating caste and take the treasure for themselves.
“Princess Mononoke” is one of my favorites because it was my first film which introduced me to the famed animator's work. It was stylish and brilliant. And it offers a kind theme of saving the forest from the reckless hands of humanity. In fact, such themes still make sense in this day and age.
There are never really any villain in his work. They are antagonists who don't understand the situation around them and may come to reason later on in the film. But the films are children's stories. They are meant to teach a lesson. And hope they would somehow capture the innocence of childhood for you.
If you haven't seen any of his works, be a good sport and check one out now. It's worth the time and effort. And you wouldn't feel ashamed about being greeted to one of the most imaginative worlds
It's nice to see that women characters are very strong in the stories. And you'll find that you're sympathetic with the youths in the stories. And perhaps you may feel that you share their dilemma as well.
Miyazaki should be more well known for his works. It's a shame he's not. They're bringing his works under Disney presentations. It's a start.
posted by K.M. Paters at 9:18 AM
4 Comments:
I am rather fond of the Disney Ghibli dubs myself. Granted, I know that some people have issues with celebrities doing the voices for the characters and/or stealing jobs from traditional voice actors, but I really don't care about any of that. As long as they do a great job that's all that matters to me. And I haven't found a bad Ghibli dub as of yet. As far as dubs go, these are some of the best.
Favorites of mine include CASTLE IN THE SKY, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, and WHISPER OF THE HEART, both as films and dubs.
I am rather fond of the Disney Ghibli dubs myself. Granted, I know that some people have issues with celebrities doing the voices for the characters and/or stealing jobs from traditional voice actors, but I really don't care about any of that. As long as they do a great job that's all that matters to me. And I haven't found a bad Ghibli dub as of yet. As far as dubs go, these are some of the best.
Thanks for the comments. I do like some English dubbing if it's appropriate. I like to turn on the English dubbing for Porco Rosso which is great to hear in English. I also watch the non-Miyazaki movie "Steamboy" in English because it is set in England. Obviously it'll be strange to hear a slew of Japanese people talking in England!
I have so many favorites from the Miyazaki movies. But I like the ones you've mentioned quite a bit. The lesser known "Only Yesterday" was a beautiful film about a 25 year old woman thinking back of her childhood days. In the eastern world, women who don't marry by the age of 25 are considered "too old to be suitable."
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