Hayao Miyazaki’s Followers (3,513)

Hayao Miyazaki

Born

in Tokyo City, Empire of Japan

January 05, 1941

Genre

Comics & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Influences

Ursula K. Le Guin, Diana Wynne Jones, Lewis Carroll ...more

edit data

Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on hi Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation. ...more

Combine Editions
Hayao Miyazaki’s books

Average rating: 4.48 · 102,141 ratings · 7,448 reviews · 369 distinct works • Similar authors

	Shuna's Journey by Hayao Miyazaki, Alex Dudok de Wit (Translator) 4.33 avg rating — 13,427 ratings — published 1983 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 1 4.45 avg rating — 10,079 ratings — published 1982	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art of Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki (Introduction), Yuji Oniki (Translator), Alvin Lu (Editor) 4.55 avg rating — 4,347 ratings — published 2001 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Spirited Away, Volume 1 by Hayao Miyazaki, Yuji Oniki, Cindy Davis Hewitt 4.59 avg rating — 4,298 ratings — published 2001 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 2 by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator) 4.50 avg rating — 4,153 ratings — published 1983	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: The Complete Series 4.75 avg rating — 3,872 ratings — published 1995	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Art of Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki, Yuji Oniki (Translator) 4.55 avg rating — 3,761 ratings — published 2004 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 3 by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator) 4.55 avg rating — 3,540 ratings — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Howl's Moving Castle Picture Book (Howl's Moving Castle Film Comics, #1) 4.45 avg rating — 3,377 ratings — published 2004 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 4 by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator) 4.57 avg rating — 3,195 ratings — published 1987 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Hayao Miyazaki…

Series by Hayao Miyazaki

千と千尋の神隠し [Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi] (5 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.54 avg rating — 7,149 ratings

Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.56 avg rating — 5,679 ratings

ハウルの動く城 [Howl no Ugoku Shiro] (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki (Screenplay),

Diana Wynne Jones (Novel)

4.42 avg rating — 5,534 ratings

Ponyo Film Comics (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.51 avg rating — 3,160 ratings

となりのトトロ [Tonari no Totoro] (4 books)
by

Hayao Miyazaki

4.46 avg rating — 3,152 ratings

More series by Hayao Miyazaki…

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...

Polls

What book would you like to read for the month of August?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

30 votes, 31.9%

House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

13 votes, 13.8%

Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman

10 votes, 10.6%

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

9 votes, 9.6%

Howls Moving Castle Picture Book by Hayao Miyazaki

9 votes, 9.6%

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman

7 votes, 7.4%

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

6 votes, 6.4%

There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

4 votes, 4.3%

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

3 votes, 3.2%

Crossing Stones by Helen Frost

3 votes, 3.2%

94 total votes

3 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Best book club: March Challenge - 2010	101	41	Apr 02, 2010 11:18AM
For The L♥ve of R...: March Challenge - 2010	45	57	Apr 03, 2010 05:05PM
Best book club: ❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠ ❤	46	65	Apr 08, 2010 10:08PM
For The L♥ve of R...: Elyssa's Books	7	54	May 03, 2010 09:40AM
The Dark Hunter W...: Elyssa's Books	5	17	May 05, 2010 07:24PM
Read After Your B...: Elyssa's Pages	7	26	May 20, 2010 11:18AM
Best book club: ❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠❤	88	54	May 27, 2010 05:56PM
10,000 Pages in 2010: ❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠❤'s 10,000 pages	30	48	Jun 14, 2010 11:23AM
Cover to Cover Ch...: Elyssa's 2010 List	8	73	Dec 14, 2010 03:32PM
The 104 Book Chal...: Alycia's Books	140	113	Dec 30, 2010 08:51PM

More…

Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite Hayao to Goodreads.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Followers (3,513)

Hayao Miyazaki

Combine EditionsHayao Miyazaki’s books

Series by Hayao Miyazaki

Related News

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Hayao Miyazaki’s books