The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films

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Nicolas Rapold

The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki

The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films

Nicolas Rapold

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English

Francis Lincoln (Adult ti
30 September 2025

Individual film directors, film-makers; Film movie guides & reviews; Animated movies & films; Biography: arts & entertainment; Other Film, TV & Media

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An in-depth collection of the rich influences and sources of inspiration behind one of animated cinema's all-time greats, and Japanese cinema's most popular cultural export.

Japanese filmmaker, director and anime artist Hayao Miyazaki has been described as the 'godfather of animation', with a cultural output and level of influence to rival Walt Disney's. In 1985 he co-founded Studio Ghibli, Japan's most-successful animation studio, and went on to direct the vast majority of its most notable productions. His many films include My Neighbour Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), and Ponyo (2008), each of which have been enormous cult hits both inside and outside of Japan - Spirited Away is still the highest-grossing film in Japanese cinema history, but also received an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Miyazaki's worlds are painstakingly produced and deeply stylistically inventive. Only he could have created 'Totoro' - a giant furry spirit inspired by a racoon dog and a cat - and turn him into a global phenomenon. His influences encompass both Japanese and broader Western influences. The Worlds of Miyazaki will bring these influences together to show how Miyazaki creates his magical worlds, and in doing so has become one of modern cinemas most influential stylists.

By: Nicolas Rapold
Imprint: Francis Lincoln (Adult ti
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 260mm, Width: 210mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 1.160kg
ISBN: 9781836004813
ISBN 10: 1836004818
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 30 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chapter One Four Ways Through The Looking Glass How Four Great Writers Have Inspired Miyazaki’s Story-Building Chapter Two We Could Be Heroes How Four More Writers Yielded Models Of Young Female Independence Chapter Three All The Worldʼs A Stage The Actual Places That Inspire Miyazaki’s Realistic Fantasies Chapter Four National Treasures Homegrown Japanese Influences On Miyazaki, From The Spiritual To The Culinary Chapter Five Songs Of Innocence And Experience The Personal Memories That Haunt (And Cheer Up) Miyazaki’s Movies Chapter Six Visions Of The Future How And Why Miyazaki Portrays The Possible Worlds To Come Chapter Seven Drawn From Life Miyazaki’s Sources And Models For Animating Movement Chapter Eight Drawn In The Animated Films That Inspired Miyazaki Chapter Nine Live-Action Cinema How Miyazaki Thinks Through Film History Chapter Ten The Big Picture Four Ways Of Framing Miyazaki

Nicolas Rapold is a writer and editor. He worked as editor-in-chief of Film Comment (both web and print) at Film at Lincoln Center, where he hosted the Film Comment Podcast, curated Film Comment Selects, and was a member of the magazine's editorial team since 2005. He currently hosts the podcast The Last Thing I Saw and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Artforum, the Criterion Collection Daily, and Sight & Sound.

Reviews for The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films

'Whether you’re a casual Studio Ghibli fan or the kind of devotee who might be tempted to jump on the next plane to Matsuyama to visit the bathhouse that inspired Spirited Away, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is a journey well worth taking.' * Creative Review * ""Takes readers on a comprehensive journey through the filmmaker’s work. Miyazaki connoisseurs will delight in the wealth of popular culture and art that inspires the films, which Rapold cleverly pairs with film stills. (Hokusai’s print The Great Wave off Kanagawa, for instance, mirrors a still from Ponyo, the tale of the goldfish princess.) The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is a comforting portal back into Studio Ghibli’s magical repertoire—and perhaps even your childhood."" * Air Mail * ""Elegantly designed and thoughtfully written, (The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki) would sit well on any Ghibli fan’s shelf."" * Empire Magazine * ""Brimming with passion for its subject, The Worlds Of Hayao Miyazaki will encourage readers to rewatch the director’s films with a fresh perspective."" * SFX Magazine *