Hayao Miyazaki is reputed as the greatest animation director in Japan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"He is always concerned about the things that God should be concerned about. His name is Hayao Miyazaki," Chinese netizen Mikuri said on Sina Weibo platform, a Chinese version of Twitter.
Jan 5 marks the 76th birthday of the greatest animation director in Japan. He embarked on his legendary animation career in 1963 when he joined Toei Animation. In 1985, Miyazaki, with Takahata and Tokuma founded Studio Ghibli, an animation production company and released their first Ghibli film, Castle in the Sky, one year later.
Four years ago, at a press conference in Tokyo, he announced that he would retire and make no more feature-length films following the completion of The Wind Rises.
Four months ago, the "changeable" animation master said that he would again return to animation circles with a 12-minute CGI-animated film, Boro the Caterpillar. Also, he plans to expand it into a feature-length film that is set to be released before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
In 2016, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) aired a documentary,Hayao Miyazaki: The Man Who is Not Done on November 13. In the 49-minute documentary, Miyazaki said he would die at work rather than wait for death without doing anything.
"The craftsman spirit, namely, attention to details, is a buzzword in modern society and Hayao Miyazaki is just that craftsman,"Youguang Jiuhao, a Chinese netizen, said online.
The craftsman has produced many influential animations so far, most of them arousing heated discussion online, and China is no exception. On his 76th birthday, why not review his 10 most influential animations, as rated by Chinese fans on Douban Movie, the Chinese version of IMDb. Here we go:
A poster of the animation Ponyo on the Cliff [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
10. Ponyo on the Cliff
Released: July 19, 2008
Douban rating: 8.2
One sentence review: An animation movie both for children and adults. Children think it is funny while adults think it is sad.
A poster of the animation Porco Rosso [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
9. Porco Rosso
Released: July 18, 1992
Douban rating: 8.3
One sentence review: When a person turns into a pig, he does not need to worry about a lot of things. He is just happy and free.
A poster of the animation Kiki's Delivery Service [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
8. Kiki's Delivery Service
Released: July 29, 1989
Douban rating: 8.4
One sentence review: A cute young witch tells you how to spend a puzzling period of your life in an interesting and meaningful way.
A poster of the animation The Borrower Arrietty [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
7. The Borrower Arrietty
Released: July 17, 2010
Douban rating: 8.7
One sentence review: Life is not always good, but we have to move on.
A poster of the animation Princess Mononoke [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
6. Princess Mononoke
Released: July 12, 1997
Douban rating: 8.8
One sentence review: This film is a cautionary tale of environmental pollution from the perspective of a unique princess.
A poster of the animation Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
5. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Released: March 11, 1984
Douban rating: 8.8
One sentence review: Money and desires serve to precipitate the ruin of society.
A poster of the animation Howl's Moving Castle [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
4. Howl's Moving Castle
Released: November 20, 2004
Douban rating: 8.8
One sentence review: Characters Sophie and Howl fall in love and have an adventure in a magical castle where time travel and love are possible.
A poster of the animation Laputa: Castle in the Sky [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
3. Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Released: August 2, 1986
Douban rating: 9.0
One sentence review: If a Chinese moviegoer wants to learn about Hayao Miyazaki-style animations, then this is the one to see.
A poster of the animation My Neighbor Totoro [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
2. My Neighbor Totoro
Released: April 16, 1988
Douban rating: 9.1
One sentence review: This is a story about two young girls and a chinchilla taking a long journey on a giant cat-shaped bus to see their mother.
A poster of the animation Spirited Away [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
1. Spirited Away
Released: July 20, 2001
Douban rating: 9.2
One sentence review: Two things you should never forget in your life: one is to never stop finding yourself, the other is learning to cope with whatever you may encounter in life.
