Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most famous Japanese animation film director. He was born in Tokyo, on January 5, 1941. He was first an animator at studio Toei Douga in 1963. He drew attention with his drawing skills, as well as his near-constant stream of movie ideas. He moved to the A Pro Studio in 1971, and then to Nippon Animation two years later. He was greatly involved with the World Masterpiece Theater TV animation series for five years, and after that, created his own television series, "Mirai shônen Konan"(Conan, The Boy in Future). From there, he went to Tokyo Movie Shinsha after a year, and directed his first movie, "Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro". Five years later he directed "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind", based of of a manga he also created. When the film was a success, his new-now current-studio was established: Studio Ghibli (Sutajio Jiburi). His film "Princess Mononoke" received the Japanese equivalent of the American Academy Award for Best Film and highest gross. He has also created several mangas, most of which he transferred into films. Miyazaki worked as an animator, drawing characters for films. He works in what is called 'Japanese Animation' or just 'Anime' in America. His films tend to be worlds, though some are based of of books by others, like "Howl's Moving Castle", which was based on a novel by Diana Wynne Jones. He generally focuses on young protagonists, and tends to make references to Japanese culture. He is married to Akemi Ôta, and they have two children.

Interview with Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki Biography
Hayao Miyazaki "Princess Mononoke" Trailer: