Inspiration: Hayao Miyazaki 宮崎 駿

 "The world isn't simple enough to explain in words."
- Miyazaki

image from imdb.com

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved directors and is considered to be one of the best animators in the world. The artwork in his films are just so beautiful. Miyazaki-san has been a recipient of prestigious awards such as the Academy Award in 2002 for Best Animated Feature Film and the Venice International Film Fest's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement.

From Wikipedia:
Miyazaki's works are characterized by the recurrence of themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the wholesomeness of natural and traditional patterns of living, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world.

As co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has given us so many wonderful films (he has written and directed  most of them) that will be treasured for generations to come.


movie images from imdb.com

My Neighbour Totoro (my daughter's favourite)

Spirited Away (my fave)

Princess Mononoke (my sons like this one)

The Wind Rises (I actually haven't seen this one but I'm dying to.)

As you can see, the whole family is a fan of Miyazaki-san.

my daughter with her Totoro book and stuffy

One of my most treasured books: The Art of Spirited Away

The following are some of my sketches inspired by Miyazaki's storyboard illustrations:

If you have the chance and a big Miyazaki fan, I highly recommend the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness.

He has retired (twice now, I believe) but he is currently directing the film based on the Japanese novel "How Do You Live?", and that's another thing I'm looking forward to seeing.

Have you seen any of his films? Are you a fan as well?