4 Must-see Films by Japan’s Best Animator – Miyazaki Hayao

Posted by Bill Belew on June 8th, 2007 in Japan | Comments Off

Japan produces more animated films than any other country in the world…good ones, too.

My son worked for a spell as a 'tweener on the Ghost in the Shell series. As much as I love my son, I never could figure out the series…even he explained it to me.

Sailor Moon, Obake no Q-Taro, Dragon Ball Z and others are stand outs. But, one animator is head and shoulders above all of them – Miyazaki Hayao.

1. Kaze no Tani Naushika (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind), 2. Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro) were hits.japan.regions.gif

But, they were surpassed by the 1997 3. Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke), watched by 13.6 million people and generating 18.6 billion yen.

Then a fourth film by this outstanding artist made 30.4 billion yen, won a prize for Best Animated Feature Film at the 75th Academy Awards and became the top-earning film in Japanese history – Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away).

Do you want to see the best Japan has to offer in animation? Start with these films.

Which is your favorite?


 

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