Jeff Lenburg. Hayao Miyazaki: Japan's Premier Anime Storyteller (Legends of Animation). New York, Chelsea House, 2012.
PDF / English / 160 pages / 1604138416 / 978-1604138412
Ok, so... another biography... Very useful as an introduction into Hayao's life and deep enough
to satisfy a hardcore fan.
His early life in Bunkyo, Tokyo, were his father was director of Miyazaki airplanes, a plane parts manufacturer. His mother sickness, all things that had of course a profound influence on him.
One of his primary inspirations: Osamu Tezuka. Discovering Hakujaden (1958) and deciding on becoming an animator.
Work in Toei Douga
Joining the staff of Toei Douga, working as an in-betweener in Wanwan Chûsingura (1963),
Shonen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru (1964), Ookami Shounen Ken (1965),
Gulliver no Uchu Rkyoko (1965); then being elevated to key animator and working on Hustle Punch (1965), Rainbow Sentai Robin (1966), Mahotsukai Sally (1968).
As part of the production team of Taiyou no Oji Hols no Daiboken, Hols Prince of the Sun (1968), a landmark in japanese animation history and the first of many collaborations with Isao Takahata Producing key animation, designs and storyboards for Nagagutsu o Haita Neko, Puss in Boots (1969) a prototype for Hayao's later feature Cagliostro. Screenplay, animation, design contributions in The Flying Phantom Ship (1969)
Leaving Toei - Pre Ghibli
He joined Takahata and Yoichi Otabe in Toei's rivals A-Pro (a studyo that animated for Tokyo Movie Shinsha), making two shorts: Panda Kopanda (1972) and a sequel Panda Kopanda: Amefuri Saakasu no Maki (1973) Both considered prototypes for Totoro. Then producing arguably the first animated TV series intended for teenagers, Lupin III.
Designs and layouts for Alps Girl Heidi (1974) and Three Thousand Miles in Search of Mother (1976) Anne Green Gables (1979)... all representative works of Takahata
Being promoted to Director and breaking through with Future Boy Conan (1977) Directing his first feature anime Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Studio Ghibli
The making of Nausicaä of the Valley of The Wind (1984), Miyazaki's environmental concerns, his love for aircraft and flight; his pacifist and anti military attitude; and his morally ambiguous characters. On the strength of the success of Nausicaä, he and Takahata co found their own animation studio.
Their first project an original anime Laputa: The Castle in the Sky (1986) an animation with a strong Welsh influence and partly rooted in Celtic culture.
His greatest triumph to date My Neighbor Totoro (1988) the story of two sisters befriending a mythical furry creature in a traditional village life environment. Following the success of Totoro another masterpiece Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), the story of a 13 year old witch in training who, in witch tradition, leaves home to spend a year alone in a new town in order to establish herself as a full witch.
Porco Rosso a high flying adventure about an Italian air force pilot turned into a crimson pig, and a bounty hunter protecting ships from marauding air pirates where he combined two passions: flying and Italy. He intended the film for middle-aged people but kids loved it. In 1995 Ghibli streak a deal with Disney to distribute their films outside Japan.
Then comes Princess Mononoke (1997) a very dark film about the destructive power of greed in an ancient mythical setting. And finally Hayao's greatest financial success Spirited Away (2001) about a 10 year old girl discovering a mysterious bathhouse full of ghosts and spirits... and a little more, well a lot more. Enjoy (pelida77)
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