The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is a journey through the stories, ideas and inspirations behind the films of one of cinema's most influential visionaries. From My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away to Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo, Miyazaki's work has captivated audiences around the world with its emotion, artistry and unforgettable characters.Often called the godfather of animation, Miyazaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and the creative force behind some of the most beloved animated films of all time. Spirited Away remains the highest-grossing film in Japanese cinema history and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.This book explores the rich mix of cultural, historical and artistic influences that shaped his storytelling. From Japanese folklore and childhood memories to European architecture, classic cinema and political commentary, it reveals how Miyazaki's deeply personal vision created layered worlds that feel both fantastical and grounded in truth.With insight into his process, visual language and recurring themes - including nature, flight, girlhood, resistance and renewal - The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki offers fans and film lovers a deeper understanding of the imagination behind the magic. It is a celebration of creative freedom, storytelling without limits, and the enduring power of animation.

Autorentext

Nicolas Rapold is a writer and editor. He worked as editor-in-chief of Film Comment (both web and print) at Film at Lincoln Center, where he hosted the Film Comment Podcast, curated Film Comment Selects, and was a member of the magazine’s editorial team since 2005. He currently hosts the podcast The Last Thing I Saw and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Artforum, the Criterion Collection Daily, and Sight & Sound.

Klappentext

**'Would sit well on any Ghibli fan's shelf.' – Empire Magazine

'A beautifully designed and elegantly written celebration of one of animation’s most influential auteurs.' – Cinemas Online

Explore the inspirations behind the work of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, one of animated cinema’s all-time great creators.**

Often called the godfather of animation, Miyazaki is able to imagine and populate worlds like no other director or animator. His films, from My Neighbour Totoroto the Oscar-winning Spirited Awayand The Boy and The Heron, are deeply original, each conjuring up their own complete and entrancing version of reality.

This book journeys through the rich mix of cultural, historical and artistic influences that shape Miyazaki’s storytelling. From Japanese folklore and childhood memories to architecture, classic cinema, literature and political commentary, it reveals how Miyazaki’s deeply personal vision creates layered worlds that somehow feel both fantastical and grounded in truth.

With insight into his process, visual language and recurring themes – including nature, flight, girlhood, resistance and renewal – The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki offers fans and film lovers a deeper understanding of the imagination behind the magic.

A celebration of creative freedom, storytelling without limits, and the enduring power of animation.

Zusammenfassung
Step inside the world of Hayao Miyazaki, from folklore and fantasy to nature, memory and magic uncover the influences that shaped his unforgettable films. The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is the ultimate collection for fans of Studio Ghibli's stories, characters and visual wonder.

Inhalt

Chapter One 
Four Ways Through The Looking Glass 
How Four Great Writers Have Inspired Miyazaki’s Story-Building

Chapter Two 
We Could Be Heroes 
How Four More Writers Yielded Models Of Young Female Independence

Chapter Three 
All The World s A Stage 
The Actual Places That Inspire Miyazaki’s Realistic Fantasies

Chapter Four 
National Treasures 
Homegrown Japanese Influences On Miyazaki, From The Spiritual To The Culinary

Chapter Five 
Songs Of Innocence And Experience 
The Personal Memories That Haunt (And Cheer Up) Miyazaki’s Movies

Chapter Six 
Visions Of The Future 
How And Why Miyazaki Portrays The Possible Worlds To Come

Chapter Seven
Drawn From Life
Miyazaki’s Sources And Models For Animating Movement

Chapter Eight 
Drawn In 
The Animated Films That Inspired Miyazaki

Chapter Nine 
Live-Action Cinema 
How Miyazaki Thinks Through Film History

Chapter Ten 
The Big Picture 
Four Ways Of Framing Miyazaki