Summary

• Miyazaki's timeless storytelling continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide, as evidenced by his rank among TIME's most influential people of 2024.
• Studio Ghibli's impact on American cinema can be seen in Disney films like Wall-E, Up, and even 2019's Coco, inspired by Miyazaki's art style.
• Miyazaki remains committed to creating meaningful, culturally relevant content, rejecting the use of AI in his work and upholding Studio Ghibli's founding goals.

At 83 years old, Studio Ghibli founder, Academy Award winner, and animation legend Hayao Miyazaki was awarded a position on TIME Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People for 2024, proving that he is more relevant than ever.

2024 is shaping up to be a massive year for Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. The Japanese animation studio recently took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards back in March. The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki’s autobiographic project that brought him out of retirement, earned the director his second Academy Award.

The Boy and the Heron’s Oscar nominations established Miyazaki as one of the most nominated directors in the Best Animated Features category, tying him with CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, Pete Docter. Miyazaki’s impact on the animation industry is unmatched, not only in Japan, but around the world. His work has inspired filmmakers for decades, which is why his ranking among TIME’s list of most influential people of 2024 proves he's more relevant than ever.

The Story of Hayao Miyazaki: Learning to Fly

How Hayao Miyazaki’s humble beginnings inspired 40 years of brilliance.

Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki was born to an airplane manufacturer and his wife in the 1940s in Tokyo, Japan. Miyazaki Airplane crafted airplane parts during World War II. While Miyazaki didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps, his love for flying is evident in many of Studio Ghibli’s films. After graduating from Gakushūin University in 1963, Miyazaki received an entry-level position at Toei Animation. During his time at Toei Studios, he met those who would soon be his lifelong partners: Isao Takahata, a future co-founder of Studio Ghibli, and Ōta Akemi, Miyazaki’s soon-to-be wife.

While many consider Studio Ghibli’s first unofficial film to be Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968), it was actually a monthly manga strip that earned his unique art style recognition. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was originally a manga strip that Miyazaki wrote for Animage Magazine. The manga’s success inspired a full-length feature film, released in 1984. Not long after, Miyazaki and Takahata began a partnership, and Studio Ghibli was born on June 15, 1985.

Studio Ghibli’s Most Iconic Films from 1985 to 2024

Since 1985, Studio Ghibli’s whimsical stories of hope have inspired worldwide, multi-generational audiences.

From Studio Ghibli’s first official film, Castle in the Sky (1986), to its most recent, award-winning masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron (2023), Hayao Miyazaki’s impact on storytelling and family-friendly content is nothing short of legendary. My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), and Ponyo (2008) are just a few examples of the light-hearted, imaginative stories that Miyazaki has provided families over the years. However, these films, along with others, are far from shallow, keeping them timeless and relatable for generations to come.

Perhaps the most haunting example of the duality of Studio Ghibli is the 1988 film, Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Takahata. This story follows the journey of protagonists Seita and Setsuko, two orphans who struggle to survive during the concluding months of World War II. Grave of the Fireflies is visually stunning and emotionally dynamic, exemplifying the vast range of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s storytelling, one of the primary reasons why their films are more relevant than ever.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Impact on American Media

Studio Ghibli’s unprecedented impact on America’s biggest entertainment conglomerate.

Miyazaki hasn’t only had an impact on Japanese cinema. His storytelling techniques, plot devices, character designs, and iconic art style have inspired American film studios for decades. Over the years, Studio Ghibli has influenced one of the largest media companies in the world, Disney. Miyazaki’s storytelling, art style, world-building, and animation techniques inspired films such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Wall-E (2008), Up (2009), and Luca (2021). Furthermore, Spirited Away (2001) and Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) inspired Disney’s 2019 film, Coco. In 2016, Moana’s Japanese trailer even paid homage to Studio Ghibli by altering its standard trailer format.

American children’s media is facing an epidemic, proving that Studio Ghibli must remain a reference point. Film and television aimed at younger audiences in the United States have become a cash grab. Meaningful stories are traded for endless, unoriginal sequels and remakes, while plots and characters lack depth. Furthermore, studios are underpaying their staff and resorting to using Artificial Intelligence to replace human creativity. When pitched the idea of utilizing AI at Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki responded:

“I am utterly disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”

Miyazaki continues to take his audience seriously, as his stories remain fantastical, yet culturally relevant, and purposeful. Children are intelligent, and they deserve intelligent content, but it would be reductive to describe Miyazaki's work as only targeted at children. For example, Kiki's Delivery Service can teach adults how to deal with burnout. Miyazaki, along with his fellow creators at Studio Ghibli, has truly mastered the balance between broadening children’s imaginations with theatrical sequences and providing them with authentic life lessons. Miyazaki’s commitment to staying true to Studio Ghibli’s founding goals is another reason why he is more relevant than ever.

The Future of Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki’s uncertain plans for the future of Studio Ghibli.

Miyazaki has announced retirement from directing multiple times, but recently returned to spearhead his most personal film, The Boy and the Heron. Studio Ghibli’s most recent masterpiece earned recognition on numerous accounts. His autobiographical film was awarded a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for Best Animated Motion Picture, and won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. While Miyazaki does not plan to retire as director of Studio Ghibli, it is not yet confirmed whether The Boy and the Heron will be his final film as a creative lead.

Hayao Miyazaki’s decades-long career in the animation industry is a beacon of hope for media lovers everywhere. From his commitment to protecting artists to producing quality, engaging content, the founder of Studio Ghibli’s legacy has reached the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide, and one can only hope that Studio Ghibli will continue to thrive for years to come. It should come as no shock that Hayao Miyazaki was ranked among TIME's most influential people of 2024, as he truly is more relevant than ever.