Hayao Miyazaki – Manga and Anime Master.
If Manga and Anime have become part of your or your child’s vocabulary, you should know the name Hayao Miyazki. Considered the Walt Disney of Japan, he has brought anime (Japanese animation) into the mainstream with movies like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. If you haven’t seen either of these two movies, make a date to sit in front of a viewing screen and watch them. In a highly stylized format and very entertaining, these movies broach spiritual, moral and ethical themes without being preachy or condescending. You can catch a glimpse of some of Spirited Away here.
Mr Miyazaki is not only an animator, he is a director, writer and illustrator. His latest movie, The Wind Rises was released in February, 2014 and is available on DVD. These movies will give you a very good introduction to the culture and fandom of Manga and Anime.
For the uninitiated, the visual style of Manga may seem slightly off-putting. It has a more graphic-arts quality to it, perhaps a flatter, less fluid art style. To many, it’s simplicity is part of it’s appeal. Compared to American comics and graphic novels where the artwork can approach a more painterly look, manga has a style of hair, metro-sexual body type and big-eyed features that differ from the muscle-bound, breast augmented American characters. The stories also tend to be more socially conscious, with story structure originating from classical Chinese poetry.
This August it was announced that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present Miyazaki with an honorary Oscar. Characters created by Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are among the most beloved in Asian animation, including the furry forest god Totoro, and are huge merchandising money-spinners. The only other Japanese to receive the award was Akira Kurosawa in 1990 at the 62nd Academy Awards.
If you or your young artist is interested in Manga, The Art Garage offers classes in Manga and Anime. Visit our website for more information. Join the Manga Tea Party, our exclusive Manga club which meets on the third Friday of the Month. Visit our website for more info.