Hayao Miyazaki, a legend in the anime industry, has been making anime movies for almost five decades. With multiple accolades like the Academy Award, Japan Academy Film Prize, Tokyo Anime Awards, etc., he is deemed the greatest anime film creator in the world. However, the reason behind his success is the way he creates a children’s story with a deep message within.
Children’s animated stories usually are a combination of motivation, drama, suspense, comedy, and action, but in small amounts. But Miyazaki brought a twist to them by portraying a dark moral in the most innocent way possible. This way, the film can be enjoyed by kids along with a hint of the society that they will grow into.
While it sounds quite pessimistic, Miyazaki himself admitted to this in an interview a long time ago. The Japanese filmmaker explained his reason behind creating movies for children. He believes it is his duty to preserve their childhood in the best way possible.
Hayao Miyazaki is a Pessimist
In 2005, The Guardian shared an interview with Miyazaki where he offered a glimpse into his entire life, his mindset, and his approach while creating some of the greatest anime films of all time. While talking about all this, the filmmaker revealed why he is so negative and still makes movies for children that motivate them for a good future.
Miyazaki stated:
Personally I am very pessimistic, But when, for instance, one of my staff has a baby you can’t help but bless them for a good future. Because I can’t tell that child, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t have come into this life.’ And yet I know the world is heading in a bad direction. So with those conflicting thoughts in mind, I think about what kind of films I should be making.
Miyazaki pointed out that he always struggles with the thought of what kind of movies he should make, but whenever he sees a kid he feels the need to bless them for a good future.
He points out that he can’t be negative in front of the kids even though he knows perfectly that the kid should not have come into this life as the world is slowly moving toward its doom.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Need To Create Anime Children’s Movies
While talking about his approach, Hayao Miyazaki pointed out that the memories of children hold the most amount of history as they are new to the world. However, as they move towards adulthood, these memories are stuffed at the bottom of the brain, because of all the things that have to go through.
Miyazaki stated:
Well, yes. I believe that children’s souls are the inheritors of historical memory from previous generations. It’s just that as they grow older and experience the everyday world that memory sinks lower and lower. I feel I need to make a film that reaches down to that level. If I could do that I would die happy.
The Japanese filmmaker feels that it is his job to preserve those memories and the best way to do it is with the help of creating a story that they will remember forever.
He later pointed out that although this is his desire behind creating films, it is not really interpreted in the way he wants. Films can only be used to exert the motivation for strength and power in the most negative situations.
