Hayao Miyazaki and the Art of Being a Woman

San in 'Princess Mononoke' © Studio Ghibli

In 1984'southNausicaä of the Valley of the Air current, Hayao Miyazaki depicts a woman (who lends her name to the title of the picture) whose traits are more often attributed to male characters: she is strong, independent, combative, virile. In his subsequent films, the filmmaker plays with stereotypes and brings to life women who buck the trend of animated film clichés. They are warriors, ordinary people, young, old, mothers, daughters, only above all believable and incredibly endearing.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most important 20th-century filmmakers. Born in Tokyo on 5 January 1941, he cofounded Studio Ghibli in 1985 with his fellow manager Isao Takahata. A prolific filmmaker, he is considered a national treasure in Nippon due to his popularity and the tape box office success of his numerous films. He is a humanist director whose favourite themes are ecology, nature, applied science, war, and humanity. The protagonists in his films are often women of all ages and from all social backgrounds, and are generally strong and independent. This aligns with the remarks from Toshio Suzuki, renowned producer of Studio Ghibli films, who describes Hayao Miyazaki equally being quite only a feminist.

Circuitous characters, sometimes anti-heroines

Hayao Miyazaki's female characters are complex and ambivalent, similar Princess Kushana inNausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Lady Eboshi inPrincess Mononoke (1997), and the witches Yubaba and Zeniba inSpirited Away (2001). With regard to the heroines, San, amend known as Princess Mononoke, sets herself apart due to her strength and her courage to salve the woods from the cruelty of humans, of whom she is suspicious, having been raised by wolves. InPorco Rosso (1992), Fio, a 17-year-erstwhile female person mechanic, fights to earn respect in a very masculine universe, and one which is even more so in Italy in the inter-war menses. Her teenage determination allows her to win the respect of the men effectually her. InHowl's Moving Castle (2004), the heroine is an eighteen-year-quondam girl, Sophie, who is turned into an one-time adult female by a witch. Over the duration of the movie, Sophie gradually accepts her new body, simply as the viewer becomes accepted to her new appearance, that of an onetime adult female just one who is nevertheless courageous and adamant.

Notwithstanding, the most striking example is that of Chihiro, 1 of Studio Ghibli'southward most iconic characters. This fearful footling girl finds herself alone in a fantasy earth, far from her parents, who she still tries to save. Her ordinary nature is her strength, because she embodies a kid like any other, and is therefore easily identifiable. In the film, she is described as 'naughty', 'fragile', and 'tiny', the complete opposite of what would unremarkably be expected of a heroine, and Hayao Miyazaki'due south remarkable feat lies in depicting femininity in a more realistic, real manner.

The image of the mother every bit a figure of authority

The filmmaker was heavily inspired past his own mother, a particularly strong adult female who raised him and his brothers. 'In my family, it was a very male universe. I only have brothers, the only woman was my mother', Hayao Miyazaki declares. This is why numerous characters in his body of work correspond her implicitly, similar Satsuki and Mei's female parent inMy Neighbour Totoro (1988), Nahoko Satomi (Jiro Horikoshi'southward wife) inThe Wind Rises (2013), and Dola, the air pirate inCastle in the Sky (1986).

Hayao Miyazaki's heroines get confronting the stereotypes promoted past the blithe film industry, or indeed the film industry in general. Their adventures are quests for emancipation, with the aim existence self-fulfilment, helping each other, and humanity. Yet, while these female characters exercise not want to become men, they also display no antipathy towards them. These women are fair, and possess stiff values like compassion, love, tolerance, and respect. They are exemplary and benevolent and they are themselves, and this is what makes them universal.

More information nearly Hayao Miyazaki's films can be found on the official Studio Ghibli website.