Summary
Miyazaki's timeless storytelling continues to inspire filmmakers around the world, as evidenced by his ranking among TIME's most influential people of 2024. Studio Ghibli's Impact on American cinema can be seen in Disney films like Wall-E, Up, and even 2019's Coco, which draws inspiration from Miyazaki's art style. Miyazaki remains committed to creating meaningful, culturally relevant content, refuses to use AI in his work, and maintains Studio Ghibli's founding goals.
At 83, Studio Ghibli founder, Academy Award winner and animation legend Hayao Miyazaki has been given a spot on TIME Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2024proving that he is more relevant than ever.
2024 is expected to be a successful year for Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. The Japanese animation studio recently took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards in March. The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki's autobiographical project that brought him into retirement, earned the director his second Oscar.
The Boy and the Heron's Oscar nominations made Miyazaki one of the director with the most nominations in the Best Animated Film category, tying him with Pixar Animation Studios CEO Pete Docter. Miyazaki's impact on the animation industry is unparalleled, not just in Japan but around the world. His work has inspired filmmakers for decades, that's why His ranking on TIME's list of the most influential people of 2024 proves he's more relevant than ever.
The Story of Hayao Miyazaki: Learning to Fly
How Hayao Miyazaki's humble beginnings inspired 40 brilliant years
Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki was born into a family of aircraft manufacturers and his wife in the 1940s in Tokyo, Japan. Miyazaki Aircraft made airplane parts during World War II. Although Miyazaki did not follow in his father's footsteps, His love of flying is evident in many Studio Ghibli films. After graduating from Gakushūin University in 1963, Miyazaki received an entry-level position at Toei Animation. During his time working at Toei Studios, he met the people who would soon become his life partners: Isao Takahata, future co-founder of Studio Ghibli, and Ōta Akemi, Miyazaki's fiancée.
While many consider Studio Ghibli's first unofficial film to be Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968), it is actually a monthly comic series that has been recognized for its unique art style. . Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was originally a manga that Miyazaki wrote for Animage Magazine. The manga's success inspired a feature-length film released in 1984. Not long after, Miyazaki and Takahata began collaborating, and Studio Ghibli was born on June 15, 1985.
Studio Ghibli's most iconic films from 1985 to 2024
Since 1985, Studio Ghibli's strange tales of hope have inspired generations of audiences around the world.
From Studio Ghibli's first official film, Castle in the Sky (1986), to its most recent, award-winning masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron (2023), Hayao Miyazaki's impact on storytelling and family-friendly content is nothing short of legendary. My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) and Ponyo (2008) are just a few examples of the tender, imaginative stories Miyazaki has brought to families over the years. However, these films, along with others, are far from shallow, making them timeless and relevant for generations to come.
Perhaps the most haunting example of Studio Ghibli's duality is the 1988 film, Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Takahata. This story follows the journey of protagonists Seita and Setsuko, two orphans struggling to survive during the final months of World War II. Grave of the Fireflies has striking visuals and vivid emotions, demonstrating the rich storytelling style of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.one of the main reasons why their films are more relevant than ever.
Studio Ghibli's unprecedented impact on America's largest entertainment corporation.
Miyazaki didn't just have an impact on Japanese cinema. His storytelling techniques, plot devices, character designs, and iconic art style have inspired American film studios for decades. Over the years, Studio Ghibli has influenced one of the world's largest media companies, Disney. Miyazaki's storytelling, art style, world-building, and animation techniques have inspired films such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Wall-E (2008), Up (2009), and Luke (2021). Furthermore, Spirited Away (2001) and Howl's Moving Castle (2004) inspired Disney's 2019 film, Coco. In 2016, the Japanese trailer for Moana even paid homage to Studio Ghibli by changing the standard trailer format.
American children's media is facing an epidemic, proving that Studio Ghibli must still be a reference point. Film and television aimed at young audiences in the United States have become a money-maker. Meaningful stories are traded for endless, unoriginal sequels and remakes, while the plot and characters lack depth. Furthermore, studios are underpaying their employees and have to use Artificial Intelligence to replace human creativity. When pitching the idea of using AI at Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki replied:
“I am completely disgusted. If you really want to do creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do that. I never want to incorporate this technology into my work. I really feel that this is an insult to life itself.”
Miyazaki continues to take his audience seriously, as His stories remain fantastical but culturally relevant and purposeful. Children are smart and they deserve intelligent content, but it would be remiss to describe Miyazaki's work as solely aimed at children. For example, Kiki's delivery service can teach adults how to cope with burnout. Miyazaki, along with his co-creators at Studio Ghibli, has truly mastered the balance between expanding children's imaginations with theatrical scenes and providing them with authentic life lessons. real. Miyazaki's commitment to adhering to Studio Ghibli's founding goals is another reason why he is more relevant than ever.
The future of Studio Ghibli
Hayao Miyazaki's uncertain plans for the future of Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki has repeatedly announced his retirement from directing, but recently returned to helm his most personal film yet, The Boy and the Heron. Studio Ghibli's most recent masterpiece has been recognized by many accounts. His autobiographical film was awarded the Golden Globe and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Feature, and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. While Miyazaki has no intention of retiring As head of Studio Ghibli, it has not yet been confirmed whether The Boy and the Heron will be his last film as creative leader.
Hayao Miyazaki's decades-long career in animation is a ray of hope for media lovers everywhere. From his commitment to protecting artists to producing quality, engaging content, the founder of the Studio Ghibli legacy has touched the hearts of millions of audiences worldwide, and one can only hope that the Studio Ghibli will continue to grow strongly for many years to come. It should come as no surprise that Hayao Miyazaki ranked among TIME's most influential people of 2024 because he's truly more relevant than ever.