Explore Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki Like Never Before With This Must-Watch Documentary
Fans were greatly relieved when Hayao Miyazaki’s unretirement was announced. Even though the renowned animator had previously declared his retirement, his remarks after ‘The Wind Rises’ felt definitive. Miyazaki, who was in his seventies at the time, was dealing with the death of his artistic colleague Isao Takahata as well as the uncertain future of Studio Ghibli. However, unable to leave, the so-called “never-ending man” started writing his most recent masterwork, ‘The Boy and the Heron’ (How Do You Live? in Japan). Miyazaki won his second Academy Award for Best Animated Film with this critically acclaimed film, which also became Ghibli’s highest-grossing release in the United States.
The recently released ‘Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron’ describes the film’s creative process. The two-hour documentary spans several years, from Miyazaki’s first declaration of retirement until the publication of ‘The Boy and the Heron’. It starts 3,598 days before the movie’s premiere, demonstrating how Miyazaki approached his longtime producer Toshio Suzuki about the project after three years of retirement.
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The video chronicles the laborious process of making the masterpiece, from arranging funding and scheduling negotiations to hiring Takeshi Honda, an animator from Evangelion, to keep Miyazaki inspired. Viewers get a close-up view of Miyazaki’s desk while he laboriously creates storyboards.
This documentary’s personal perspective, which shows Miyazaki outside of the studio, is what makes it unique. It starts with him in a bathhouse, signifying vulnerability, and then shows him going about his daily business, such as exchanging jelly beans with his grandchildren, playing ping-pong, or burning rice cakes. By shedding light on his creative depth, these insights demythologize the renowned director and make him more approachable.
Image Courtesy: Prime Video
The documentary connects Miyazaki’s life circumstances to his creativity through snippets of his flicks. For example, the late colour designer Michiyo Yasuda influenced parts of the movie, and producer Suzuki assisted him in creating the figure of the Grey Heron. Another crucial aspect is his “love-hate” relationship with Isao Takahata, which inspired Miyazaki to push the limits of his art. Miyazaki sobbed as he considered their mutual desire to go “further and deeper” in their work during Takahata’s funeral.
Miyazaki’s creative challenges are depicted in the documentary, including his abandoning of storyboards, regretting his method, and expressing confusion. Suzuki notes that Miyazaki enjoys his work despite his problems, which encapsulates the heartbreaking yet fulfilling essence of creativity. Miyazaki is shown in the movie as an elderly artist who struggles with loss but continues to pursue his art, celebrating the human element of artistic creation.
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In the end, Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron provide a touching and engrossing encounter. It chronicles not only the production of a masterpiece but also the humanity of one of the greatest directors in history. The outcomes of the endless man’s creations are still remarkable.
–Farheen Ali
