Hayao Miyazaki

Date of Birth: January 5, 1941

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Biography

Hayao Miyazaki is a renowned Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, author, and manga artist. He was born on January 5, 1941, in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli, a film and animation studio, which has produced several critically acclaimed and commercially successful animated films. Over his career, Miyazaki has earned international acclaim for his storytelling, compelling characters, and breathtaking animation. Miyazaki’s career began in the 1960s when he joined Toei Animation. He worked on various projects, including “Gulliver’s Travels Beyond the Moon” (1965). His directorial debut came with “The Castle of Cagliostro” (1979), but it was “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984) that solidified his reputation. Following this success, he co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985. Miyazaki has directed numerous beloved films, including “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988), “Princess Mononoke” (1997), “Spirited Away” (2001), and “Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004). “Spirited Away” won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, making it the first non-English language film to win in that category. Despite announcing his retirement multiple times, Miyazaki continues to be active in the animation industry. His work is characterized by imaginative worlds, strong female protagonists, and themes of environmentalism and pacifism.

5 Interesting Facts about Hayao Miyazaki

1. Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Spirited Away” is the highest-grossing film in Japanese history.

2. He has a deep interest in aviation, which is evident in the frequent depiction of flying machines and aircraft in his films.

3. Miyazaki’s father was the director of Miyazaki Airplane, which manufactured parts for fighter planes during World War II.

4. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and often personally oversees the animation process.

5. Hayao Miyazaki has announced his retirement several times but has always returned to filmmaking.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hayao Miyazaki

1. “I would like to make a film to tell children ‘it’s good to be alive.’”

2. “I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue.”

3. “We depict hatred, but it is to depict that there are more important things. We depict a curse, to depict the joy of liberation.”

4. “You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good.”

5. “Many of my movies have strong female leads – brave, self-sufficient girls that don’t think twice about fighting for what they believe with all their heart.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Hayao Miyazaki is estimated to be around $50 million.

Children

Hayao Miyazaki has two sons, Goro Miyazaki and Keisuke Miyazaki. Goro Miyazaki is also a film director and has directed films such as “Tales from Earthsea” (2006) and “From Up on Poppy Hill” (2011).