The Magical Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki: 13 Animation Masterpieces That Conquered the World

More than 20 years ago, the animated movie “Spirited Away” premiered on big screens in Japan, which would later become the most successful movie premiere in the country’s history ($305 million at the end of the rental). It will win the Golden Bear, the Oscar for “Best Animated Feature Film” at the Berlin Film Festival, and receive cult anime status of all time. It wasn’t Hayao Miyazake’s first major work and certainly not his first worldwide success, but it eventually cemented his status as an animation master.

He and Studio Ghibli, which he founded in 1985 (the most profitable animation company outside of Hollywood today), gave us a combination of real and fairy tales, yet both adult and children’s films; Hayao Miyazake’s merits were noted again at the Oscars a few years ago, in 2014: the animator was subsequently awarded an honorary award “for having had a profound impact on the animation world and encouraging an entire generation of artists to work in this field.” This is a year after he announced his retirement—his last film was The Wind Rising, whose idea came from reading the phrase “All I ever wanted was to create something beautiful.” But it turns out these words weren’t just for the final picture, but for the director’s. applicable to his entire career.

We tell you what you need to see from the amazing filmography of the animation master!

“Nausicaä of the Wind Valley” (1984)

Although the studio was officially created only a year after the premiere, we can say that Nausicaa is Ghibli’s first work. At the center of the plot is the conflict between nature and civilization, told through a story about a distant future in which humanity is the victim of an ecological catastrophe. As a result, civilizations turned to dust, the surface of the planet was covered with a huge sea of ​​Forests that spewed poisonous plant spores into the atmosphere, and the rest of the people lived in the shade, limiting the spread of harmful vegetation and ongoing wars of sibling carnage. Save the world to become the princess of the Valley of the Winds – Nausicaa.

“Castle in Sky Laputa” (1986)

First official Studio Ghibli movie. The events unfold in an alternate reality at the turn of the 20th century, about a girl named Sita with the Flying Stone in her hand – a target of government agents and pirates because of her worth. While trying to hide from his followers, he meets his peer who works in a mining town, and together they learn that Stone is the key to a mysterious flying island.

“My Neighbor Totoro” (1988)

A charming cartoon about the adventures of two sisters who discover forest spirits in the neighborhood after moving to a village house – the guardians of the forest led by the girls’ friend, the strong but very kind Totoro. It is interesting that initially few believed in Totoro’s success (they say it was too childish), but it exceeded all expectations and now the profile of the main forest spirit flaunts even in the Ghibli logo. It was also the first film by Hayao Miyazaki to be released in the USSR – Russian audiences watched the film in 1989.

“Grave of the Fireflies” (1988)

A military drama written by Isao Takahata (co-founder of Studio Ghibli) falling into the whirlpool of events without being a relative. Now the main character has to grow up early. A ruthless war does not spare even the souls of children.

“Kitch’s Delivery Service” (1989)

Another cult work by Hayao Miyazaki is about a young witch who, at the age of 13, is forced to live among ordinary people for a while. She goes to town with her beloved cat, meets a kind baker and starts her own business – an emergency delivery service.

“Porco Rosso” (1992)

It was supposed to be a short animation to be shown on Japan Airlines flights, but Hayao Miyazaki turned Porco Rosso into a feature film. This is the story of an Italian Air Force pilot who has lost faith in humanity and put a curse on himself by turning into a humanoid pig, and then begins to hunt down the hijackers who robbed ships and yachts. But one day he will become a target himself. Overall a very childish cartoon.

“Princess Mononoke” (1997)

The conquest of the international market of Japanese animation began with “Princess”: Miramax bought the film for wide American distribution. For Hayao Miyazaki, this is an eco-conspiracy classic about the destruction of nature by humans and the story of young prince Ashitaka, who, by killing a pig, imposes a deadly curse on himself and embarks on a dangerous journey to change his destiny. the journey finds itself in a mysterious land where humans are ruled by an evil; The ladies are at war with the inhabitants of the forest, led by the lady of the beasts and the daughter of the she-wolf: spirits, demons and giant creatures. The outcome of the struggle now depends only on him.

Meanwhile, after “Princess”, Hayao Miyazaki planned to retire from directing, but the Japanese Film Academy’s career award for the “Best Film of the Year” category apparently changed his plans. Of course, there can be nothing but rejoicing.

“Our Neighbors Are On The Patch” (1999)

A very beautiful watercolor anime from Isao Takahata, a longtime friend and colleague of the aforementioned Hayao Miyazaki. This is a series of short stories about the most ordinary Yamada family, where something funny happens every day: either they leave their son at the supermarket, or father and mother fight hard for the right to take the TV remote control, or grandma Strange starts cooking a beef stroganoff dish. Encyclopedia of family’s daily life.

“Spirited Away” (2001)

Hayao Miyazaki’s main film is among the best animations in the entire world. The plot revolves around ten-year-old Chihiro, who moves into a new house with her family. When they get lost on the way, they find themselves in a strange desert city and rekindle ancient magic. In order to save her family from the evil witch’s spell, the girl will have to go through many trials and grow up.

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

A magical tale about the power of love, based on the Oscar-nominated book by Diana Wynne Jones. An evil witch has trapped 18-year-old Sophie in the body of an old woman, and now she’s on the run from the city, where she meets a wonderful freestanding house, a powerful sorceress, and a demon who must get rid of the spell. .

“The Abyss Ponyo Fish” (2008)

The Japanese version of The Little Mermaid won two awards at the Venice Film Festival. The little curious fish Ponyo – the daughter of a magician and a sea goddess – swims away from home to observe people’s lives, but gets stuck in a jar and ends up on land where a five-year-old boy picked her up. Children are bonded and now the fish have only one desire – to be a man.

“The Wind Rises” (2013)

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest Oscar-nominated masterpiece (crying). The protagonist dreams of flights and beautiful airplanes that can escape the wind, and despite being nearsighted, he does not leave his dream of the sky. On his way to success and the title of one of the world’s best aircraft designers, he meets many people, survives the Great Tokyo Earthquake and brutal wars, and finds love. A subtle story about creativity and freedom.

“The Story of Princess Kaguya” (2013)

Isao Takahata’s latest feature film based on old Japanese folk tales (Oscar nomination). A childless old man who makes a living selling bamboo one day finds a finger-sized little girl in a bamboo forest and adopts her, not yet knowing what her rapid growth and beauty will turn into.