HAYAO MIYAZAKI AND THE HERON © NHK
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron: the man behind the master of animation
This year, the Cannes Film Festival is celebrating the extraordinary poetry and unique talent of Studio Ghibli. On Monday, May 20, Hayao Miyazaki’s son Gorō Miyazaki will receive the Honorary Palme d’Or on behalf of Studio Ghibli, the Ghibli Museum (Mitaka) and Ghibli Park. On the eve of the award, Cannes Classics presents Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron: a never-before-seen documentary by Kaku Arakawa.
A two-hour window into the heart of Hayao Miyazaki’s creative process, the documentary follows six long years of work during the making of The Boy and the Heron, the latest film by the master of Japanese animation.
A few weeks ago, a shortened cut of Kaku Arakawa’s documentary, 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli, was aired on Japanese television. The director has now unveiled a new version revealing in greater detail the approach and method behind this year’s Oscar winner for best animated feature film.
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron draws a parallel between the man and his work. Kaku Arakawa examines the film’s conception up close, exploring its pitfalls and epiphanies alike. Enjoying a close relationship with the filmmaker, he invites us in to observe not just the studios but Miyazaki himself. By doing so, he tackles a range of profound and enthralling topics, including the latter’s short-lived retirement, memory problems and mourning after the passing of Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli.
Kaku Arakawa also spent time with the creator of Totoro, Chihiro and Ponyo in the 2000s for 10 years with Hayao Miyazaki (2019). This four-part series told the story of a workaholic buried deep in designing characters and revealed the man behind the talent. With Arakawa, Miyazaki addressed – reservedly and philosophically – his doubts, his relationship with his son and his perspective on passing time.
