Wonderful piece! The 10 Years with Miyazaki NHK series absolutely gutted me- specifically, his troubled relationship with his son, Goro. Goro said he would watch his father’s films to know him. The line that still stays with me is when Miyazaki said, “I owe an apology to that little boy.”
Absolutely! It feels like so much of Miyazaki's later work has served as an apology to Goro, and as a reckoning with the consequences of his work. I feel that nowhere is this explored better than in The Wind Rises, where he grapples with with the impact of his work on both his family and the world at large.
Thanks for this. This felt like a fly-on-the-wall kind of insight into Miyazaki's process. Whenever I watch one of his films next, this will be at the back of my head.
The way Miyazaki conveys his story seems so magical and out of the world. Yet it feels so personal to the audience like it is their story of life one way or in another
I absolutely love Ponyo! These are all many reason as to why I myself look up to Miyazaki as a storyteller and animator! I actually bought the manga collection for his Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind story! There actually have been released issues in the initial stages before animating his first movies. I believe there was a practice back then of having to create a manga for animators to later adapt into a movie? All of Studio Ghibli has had an interesting history. Have you seen Nausicaa? It’s one of my favorites too!
Nausicaa is definitely an outlier in his catalogue, being his only traditional manga adaptation - it’s such an amazing film too!! Really hope I can read the manga on paper some day, I’ve only ever seen it digitally
I actually bought a physical collector's copy of the manga! still have yet to finish but I'll be making a newsletter about fresh takes on recent media I've been looking into! I think I'm gonna call it "Monty's Double Take" (media so good it, you gotta get in a second look!) lol
Thank you for writing this, I loved it. It is also inspiring in a way I can’t explain. I love Miyazaki’s tales and seeing what’s behind them makes me love them even more. Thank you again ❤️
Great essay! I would love it if in this series you touched on how Miyazaki’s opinions on war are shown through his films. Also, what’s your favorite Ghibli movie? I would love a recommendation 💕💕
Ahh thank you for reading! ☀️ I loooove Ponyo!! (I actually wrote another essay on it!), if I had to name a second favorite I would maybe have to say Porco Rosso, it has all of his usual tropes of villains-turned-supporting-characters, a warm/welcoming world, and some pretty deep themes of war and our complacency in it (maybe a current topic haha)~
I love how Miyazaki starts the story with a single “image” that is neither the beginning nor the end. I think for many writers, this is also how it starts; we have a vision in our heads of a scene, but we don’t know where it starts or ends. Thank you for sharing, it’s important not to be encumbered by the structure as storytellers, and just let the story breathe and flow and say what it needs to say.
This was such an interesting piece! I love getting insight into creative storytellers! It adds a whole new layer to their work, and you can appreciate it so much more when you understand where it comes from.
'A single illustrative image from which he can build out the rest of the story' that's a fascinating idea but true to Improv now I think on it, where a single idea from the audience sparks the scene. Very cool and brave I think. Great essay, thanks
Wonderful piece! The 10 Years with Miyazaki NHK series absolutely gutted me- specifically, his troubled relationship with his son, Goro. Goro said he would watch his father’s films to know him. The line that still stays with me is when Miyazaki said, “I owe an apology to that little boy.”
Absolutely! It feels like so much of Miyazaki's later work has served as an apology to Goro, and as a reckoning with the consequences of his work. I feel that nowhere is this explored better than in The Wind Rises, where he grapples with with the impact of his work on both his family and the world at large.
Agreed!
I’d say the same thing with Ponio, where the father is there far away only sending signs from the sea for his son!
Oh WOW. Yes! 😭
Thanks for this. This felt like a fly-on-the-wall kind of insight into Miyazaki's process. Whenever I watch one of his films next, this will be at the back of my head.
Whoa I’m so glad to hear that!! I hope you can watch them in a new way:)
Thank you for sharing! Miyazaki's stories are beautiful and it's inspiring to hear how he crafts them.
sooo cuteeeee
very wonderfully written <3
Thank you!!
A great essay! It was interesting to get insight into Mr. Miyazaki’s process.
Thank you for reading!
super interesting and insightful, thank you for this!
ahh thank you so much for reading!
The way Miyazaki conveys his story seems so magical and out of the world. Yet it feels so personal to the audience like it is their story of life one way or in another
I absolutely love Ponyo! These are all many reason as to why I myself look up to Miyazaki as a storyteller and animator! I actually bought the manga collection for his Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind story! There actually have been released issues in the initial stages before animating his first movies. I believe there was a practice back then of having to create a manga for animators to later adapt into a movie? All of Studio Ghibli has had an interesting history. Have you seen Nausicaa? It’s one of my favorites too!
Hi Monty, so sorry for the slow reply!
Nausicaa is definitely an outlier in his catalogue, being his only traditional manga adaptation - it’s such an amazing film too!! Really hope I can read the manga on paper some day, I’ve only ever seen it digitally
I actually bought a physical collector's copy of the manga! still have yet to finish but I'll be making a newsletter about fresh takes on recent media I've been looking into! I think I'm gonna call it "Monty's Double Take" (media so good it, you gotta get in a second look!) lol
really good analysis :)
super happy you liked it! ☀️
Thank you for writing this, I loved it. It is also inspiring in a way I can’t explain. I love Miyazaki’s tales and seeing what’s behind them makes me love them even more. Thank you again ❤️
He really is one-of-a-kind!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to sharing more soon:)
Great essay! I would love it if in this series you touched on how Miyazaki’s opinions on war are shown through his films. Also, what’s your favorite Ghibli movie? I would love a recommendation 💕💕
Ahh thank you for reading! ☀️ I loooove Ponyo!! (I actually wrote another essay on it!), if I had to name a second favorite I would maybe have to say Porco Rosso, it has all of his usual tropes of villains-turned-supporting-characters, a warm/welcoming world, and some pretty deep themes of war and our complacency in it (maybe a current topic haha)~
Noice
I love how Miyazaki starts the story with a single “image” that is neither the beginning nor the end. I think for many writers, this is also how it starts; we have a vision in our heads of a scene, but we don’t know where it starts or ends. Thank you for sharing, it’s important not to be encumbered by the structure as storytellers, and just let the story breathe and flow and say what it needs to say.
This was such an interesting piece! I love getting insight into creative storytellers! It adds a whole new layer to their work, and you can appreciate it so much more when you understand where it comes from.
'A single illustrative image from which he can build out the rest of the story' that's a fascinating idea but true to Improv now I think on it, where a single idea from the audience sparks the scene. Very cool and brave I think. Great essay, thanks