The Magic of Miyazaki

In today's society, there is a huge obsession with youth, and maintaining it. There are loads of procedures to achieve the goal, from surgery to special creams. But, in my opinion, the best way to truly feel young is to sit on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and pop in a movie by Hayao Miyazaki.

For those who don't recognize the name, you have probably seen one or two of his magnificent films. Internationally, the most notable is Spirited Away, which received the second Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Other films of his are Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and his latest feature Howl's Moving Castle. What makes these movies so fantastic?

  As I said, their ability to make the oldest person feel as youthful as a teenager. Although kids love the movies for the colorful characters, there is even much more for the teenagers and adults who watch along with them. There is the breathtaking animation that is the central part of every single film he has made to this point. It is stunning that Miyazaki hand draws all of his films, considering the depth and richness of color used in every single frame. All of the characters in his movies are drawn exquisitely, adding to the wonderment.

Then, there are the plots to his films. What truly makes his movies special is his ability to wrap complex, adult, sophisticated concepts into simplistic, childlike stories. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke are his most socially-conscious films about human destruction of the environment. Spirited Away deals with a child's journey towards maturity, and Howl's Moving Castle deals with war and fear. Despite the mature themes of his films, the films are more than suitable for children; in fact, children would benefit from his insanely creative works. Adults will as well.

The genius of Hayao Miyazaki is his ability to create magic with his films, films that resonate with all ages. For this reason, he is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.

Best, Worst and UNbelievable Recommends - Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle