As Usual, Animation Legend Miyazaki Delivers Greatness
by Alex Russel
alex.russel@computeranimationschoolreview.com
Computer Animation School Review Columnist
Many call him the Walt Disney of Japan. Hayao Miyazaki is one of the few living filmmakers (let lone animation creators), who is expected to make a masterpiece every time he makes something and he rarely disappoints.
Miyazaki's ninth feature film, Howl's Moving Castle, opened this spring in the US. The English version (Disney is simultaneously releasing a subtitled Japanese version) features the vocal talents of Christian Bale, Billy Crystal and British actress Jean Simmons.
Based on Diana Wynne Jones' fantasy novel of the same name, Howl's Moving Castle follows the story of 18-year-old Sophie, who stows away in the citadel (of the film's title) after being turned into an old woman by a witch's curse. Miyazaki adds a number of his quirky flourishes: eccentric flying contraptions, evil henchmen, and a war subplot that seems a thinly veiled critique of current events.
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In the film, Miyazaki also maintains one of his more surprising characteristics considering the trends in animation today: Only ten percent of the film uses CGI animation. Explaining this choice in an interview with the New York Times, Miyazaki stressed that he likes the imperfection that comes by not using CGI animation.
"I've told the people on my CGI staff not to be accurate, not to be true. We're making a mystery here, so make it mysterious," he said. This flies in the face of the slick imagery of a Shrek or, especially, the recently concluded Star Wars saga.
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To unwrap the mystery of his films, you can visit the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, which is presenting a retrospective of his work and that of his partners at Japan's legendary Studio Ghibli. By discovering his work in one fell swoop, visitors can start to appreciate why animation fans consider Miyazaki not so much as the new Disney, but more like a Monet, or a Picasso, true artists who interpret the world with singular vision and brio.
About the Author
Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Since graduating from Syracuse University he has worked at many different media companies in fields as diverse as film, TV, advertising, and journalism. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and History.
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Posted on June 28, 2005 at 10:36 PM
