Profile

Hayao Miyazaki

  • The Birth of Hayao Miyazaki

    Hayao Miyazaki was born in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • Period: to

    World War II

    During WWII, his family evacuated Tokyo. His Father worked at a company that made airplane parts, which inspired Miyazaki's fascination with flight.
  • Graduates from Gakushuin University

    Graduates from Gakushuin University

    Hayao Miyazaki graduated with a degree in Political Science and Economics.
  • Toei Animation

    Toei Animation

    Hayao Miyazaki joined Toei Animation, working as an "in-between artist" who creates frames that go between the main poses, called the keyframes.
  • Hols: Prince of the Sun (1968)

    Hols: Prince of the Sun (1968)

    Hayao Miyazaki served as the key animator and story developer for Hols: Prince of the Sun, directed by Isao Takahata.
  • Puss in Boots and People of the Desert

    Puss in Boots and People of the Desert

    Hayao Miyazaki worked on Puss in Boots and started drawing the manga People of the Desert.
  • Lupin the III (TV Series)

    Lupin the III (TV Series)

    Hayao Miyazaki left Toei and joined A-Pro Studios to work on the TV series Lupin III with Takahata.
  • Heidi, Girl of the Alps, and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother

    Heidi, Girl of the Alps, and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother

    Hayao Miyazaki worked on Heidi, Girl of the Alps, and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, influencing his style of character-driven storytelling.
  • Future Boy Conan (1978)

    Future Boy Conan (1978)

    Hayao Miyazaki directed his first TV Series, which highlighted ecological and pacifist themes.
  • Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

    Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

    Hayao Miyazaki directed his first feature film, "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro". This critically acclaimed adventure film showcased Miyazaki's flair for detailed worlds and strong female characters.
  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

    Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

    Hayao Miyazaki directed the film adaptation of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a princess named Nausicaä tries to bring peace between humans and giant forest creatures. It introduced Miyazaki's trademark environmental and pacifist themes.
  • Studio Ghibli

    Studio Ghibli

    Hayao Miyazaki Co-founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki
  • Castle in the Sky (1986)

    Castle in the Sky (1986)

    The first Studio Ghibli film released. Two young adventurers search for a legendary floating island called Laputa while being chased by sky pirates and government agents. It is a mix of fantasy, action, and steampunk adventure.
  • My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

    My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

    Hayao Miyazaki directed My Neighbor Totoro, which introduced the well-loved character Totoro that became Studio Ghibli's mascot. A warm, quiet film celebrating childhood, nature, and imagination.
  • Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

    Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

    Hayao Miyazaki released Kiki's Delivery Service, a story about a young witch that leaves home to train and start a flying delivery business in a seaside town. A story exploring themes of independence and growth.
  • Porco Rosso (1992)

    Porco Rosso (1992)

    Hayao Miyazaki released Porco Rosso, a romantic adventure film set in World War I, where a pilot is cursed to look like a pig, working as a bounty hunter. This film features aerial action with romance and anti-war themes.
  • Princess Mononoke (1997)

    Princess Mononoke (1997)

    Hayao Miyazaki released this groundbreaking epic about a young warrior that got involved in a struggle between forest gods and humans destroying the land. It became Japan's highest-grossing film in 1997, as well as Miyazaki's most mature and powerful films about nature, greed, and coexistence.
  • Spirited Away (2001)

    Spirited Away (2001)

    Hayao Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, a movie about a 10-year-old girl trapped in a mysterious spirit world, leading to a quest to save her parents. A film that became an international phenomenon and cemented Miyazaki's name across the world.
  • Golden Bear Award (2002)

    Golden Bear Award (2002)

    During the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival, Spirited Away won the Golden Bear award, making it the first animated feature to win the prestigious award, sharing it with Paul Greengrass's live-action film Bloody Sunday.
  • Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2003)

    Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2003)

    Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (2001) won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature during the 75th Academy Awards.
  • Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

    Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

    Hayao Miyazaki adapted this film from Diana Wynne Jones' novel. A young woman cursed by a witch sought refuge in a magical, walking castle owned by the wizard Howl. A story about love, courage, and the price of war.
  • Ponyo (2008)

    Ponyo (2008)

    Hayao Miyazaki releases Ponyo, a story about a goldfish princess who wishes to become human after befriending a human boy. A colorful film inspired by The Little Mermaid.
  • Hayao Miyazaki Announces His Retirement

    Hayao Miyazaki Announces His Retirement

    Soon after releasing The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement from feature filmmaking.
  • Ghibli Museum

    Ghibli Museum

    After announcing his retirement from feature filmmaking, Hayao Miyazaki stayed active at Studio Ghibli and made exclusive short films for the Ghibli museum. Mentored younger artists and animators within Studio Ghibli, worked on a short film called Boro the Caterpillar.
  • The Wind Rises (2013)

    The Wind Rises (2013)

    Hayao Miyazaki directs this film as a fictionalized biography of an aircraft designer who dreamed of building beautiful planes during a period of war in Japan. A reflection on creativity and moral conflict.
  • Coming Out of Retirement

    Coming Out of Retirement

    Hayao Miyazaki announced he is coming out of retirement to direct one final film.
  • The Boy and The Heron (2023)

    The Boy and The Heron (2023)

    Hayao Miyazaki released this deeply personal and surreal film about a boy entering a mysterious world, guided by a talking heron while struck with the grief of his mother's death.
  • 96th Academy Awards (2024)

    96th Academy Awards (2024)

    Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making it Miyazaki's second Oscar win for the same category.
  • 77th Cannes Film Festival

    77th Cannes Film Festival

    Studio Ghibli received an honorary Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, making it the first animation studio to receive this award for a lifetime of work, not just for a specific film.
  • Hayao Miyazaki

    Hayao Miyazaki

    Hayao Miyazaki, known for his hand-drawn animations, strong female protagonists, and environmental and pacifist themes, continues to work at Studio Ghibli and is considered to be one of the greatest animators and filmmakers of all time. His work at Studio Ghibli remains an icon of artistry and imagination that reaches global cinema.