Hayao Miyazaki

From Toei to TV

Hayao Miyazaki loved drawing aircraft and comics as a boy. After studying at Gakushuin University he joined Toei Animation in 1963 as an in-between artist and soon impressed colleagues with his ideas. There he met director Isao Takahata, his long-time partner. In the 1970s they worked on television series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan.

First features

Miyazaki directed his first feature, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, in 1979. He then wrote a manga, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and turned it into a 1984 film. Its success led to the founding of Studio Ghibli in 1985 with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki.

The Ghibli classics

My Neighbor Totoro (1988), about two sisters and a gentle forest spirit, became a beloved family film. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Porco Rosso (1992) and Princess Mononoke (1997) followed. Spirited Away (2001) became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history for nearly two decades, shared the Golden Bear at Berlin and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

How he works

Miyazaki is famous for starting production without a finished script, developing the story through his own storyboards as the film is made. He checks and corrects huge numbers of drawings himself. Common themes include flight, strong young heroines, nature, hard work and food lovingly drawn. Although Ghibli uses digital tools for coloring and compositing, the characters are drawn by hand.

Later work

Miyazaki announced retirements more than once but kept returning. The Boy and the Heron (2023) won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2024, making him a two-time winner. He received an honorary Oscar in 2014. Read our Studio Ghibli page for the studio, its museum and its park.

Where to start

For younger children, My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Ponyo (2008) are gentle and joyful. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) is a warm story about growing up. Spirited Away (2001) is the classic for older children and adults, while Princess Mononoke (1997) is more intense and best for teenagers and older. Watch the original Japanese with subtitles or the English dub, both are carefully made.

Did you know? Miyazaki's films often show food in loving detail, and fans around the world recreate dishes they have seen in his films.

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