When you think of Japanese animation, a few names spring to mind. AndHayao Miyazakiis likely one of them. The iconic director’s popularity spreads across the globe for his critically acclaimed and visually pleasing films from Studio Ghibli. But what many fans may not realize is that Miyazaki’s journey toward making masterpieces likeSpirited AwayandHowl’s Moving Castleactually began more than a decade earlier.
Before Miyazaki became a household name, he began his career in the Japanese animation industry as a writer and storyboard artist by contributing and collaborating with various productions. After studying politics and economics in college, Hayao Miyazaki expressed a keen interest in anime and animation as a whole and joined Toei Animation in 1963. Over the next twenty years or so, he worked tirelessly behind the scenes on films and TV series likeLupin III,Future Boy Conan, andSherlock Hound. He had Takahata mentor him for years during his apprenticeship, helping Miyazaki hone his craft and develop his distinctive visual style during this early period.
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Although the films he worked on themselves were not yet infused with the emotional depth and timeless themes that would later define his Studio Ghibli work, Miyazaki’s contribution to scene design and as a key animator and writer was truly remarkable. It wasn’t until 1979 that Miyazaki made his directorial feature film debut withThe Castle of Cagliostro– a Lupin III film based on the classic manga. The film received critical acclaim in Japan and planted the seeds for Miyazaki’s eventual rise as an animation legend.
After several other directorial outings that received mixed results, Miyazaki’s career truly took off in 1984 withNausicaä of the Valley of the Wind– a movie stillconfused for being a Studio Ghibli production. The sprawling princess adventure fantasy film did a fantastic job of showcasing his masterful storytelling, intricate artwork, and powerful ecological messages. Who knew then that Nausicaä would go on to inspire the creation of Studio Ghibli in 1985 along with longtime colleague Isao Takahata?
So, if you are a devoted fan and love the movies Miyazaki is famous for today, let’s take a trip back to discover the formative work he created as a writer, animator, and assistant director on various lesser-known but highly influential films. If you look closely, you will find the creative roots of his vision and the beauty that has given happiness and inspired generations across the globe.
6The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (a.k.a. Little Norse Prince Valiant) (1968)
An early animated film that Miyazaki contributed to, this Norse-inspired movie was a breakthrough for the now-renowned director as an animator. While the film became Isao Takahata’s directorial debut, it also launched itself as Miyazaki’s first major project as a key animator and scene design contributor. Miyazaki’s writing and storyboarding helped shape the story of Horus and his band of animal companions as they traveled across a mythical version of Scandinavia. His journey around the land of his ancestors leads him to the mesmerizing Hilda, and many adventures ensue.
Audiences were allowed an early glimpse of Miyazaki’s flair for fantastical worlds and how he filled them with lovable characters. Certain themes that would become hallmarks of his later works – like the safekeeping of the environment – were already taking root in the storytelling. Despite the movie’s ordinary concept and animation, it is the fact that Miyazaki contributed to it a sense of adventure, wonder, and a kind soul that set a predecessor for what would later animate Studio Ghibli’s most beloved worlds.
5The Flying Phantom Ship (1969)
With an excellent direction by Hiroshi Ikeda,The Flying Phantom Shipmarked another stepping stone in Miyazaki’s formative years. The film had everything from giant robots and military tanks shooting heavy rounds and a flying ghost ship that mysteriously wanted to take over the world. Produced by Toei with the sole intention of tapping into the Soviet market, the film focused heavily on destruction and businessmen posing as villains. Protagonist Hayato is portrayed as s fiercely transformed kid on a mission to discover his true identity.
Miyazaki contributed animation, storyboarding, and writing for the film, which captures his inclination towards creating themost bizarre stories and making them visually stunning. While the film itself was a formulaic mix of tropes, Miyazaki injected some of his own elements – a sense of wonder at new discoveries, a spirit of youthful optimism, and a playful approach to serious themes.
4Panda! Go, Panda! (1972) and Panda Kopanda and the Rainy-Day Circus (1973)
These two short anime films mark some of Miyazaki’s earliest work as a writer, with Takahata leading as a director.Panda! Go, Panda!follows the adventures of Papa Panda and a young panda cub who escape the zoo in search of a proper home, and end up living with a pint-sized girl. Miyazaki’s genius for capturing the wonder of childhood through the eyes of innocent, adorable, yet spirited protagonists is already clearly evident in his early writing.
Panda Kopanda and the Circuscontinue the story with more whimsical mishaps and adventures. It follows the newly-formed trio meeting a little tiger. Though the stories were very simple and had many similarities to his later work My Neighbor Totoro, Miyazaki’s perfect pacing, warmth of character, and eye for elegant and breathtaking visuals shone through. These shorts gave Miyazaki much-needed practice honing his craft as a director, taking him an inch closer to the ambitious feature films that would later cement his status as a master of animation.
Related:Every Hayao Miyazaki Film, Ranked
3The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Hayao Miyazaki had already launched himself as a director with the 1978 TV seriesFuture Boy Canon. While the anime is still considered one of his most brilliant works after 30 years' worth of projects, this classic Lupin III film marked Miyazaki’s first major success as a feature film director. The movie follows the adventures of notorious gentleman thief Lupin III as he tries to stop a counterfeiting scheme involving a beautiful princess, Clarisse, at a remote castle of Cagliostro and forms an unlikely alliance with Inspector Zenigata and fellow thief Fujiko Mine.
The Castle of CagliostroshowcasedMiyazaki’s penchant for creating exciting endeavorsfor his characters and infusing them with heart and humor. Though based on an existing manga, Miyazaki stamped the film with his signature thematics that foreshadowed Studio Ghibli classics – from lush gand-drawn backgrounds to ideas of hope and spirituality.The Castle of Cagliostrobecame a cult hit upon release, proving Miyazaki had the directing chops to resonate with wide audiences.
2Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie (1982)
The world ofSpace Adventure Cobra: The Moviewas presented to fans of animation by Osamu Dezaki, director of Ashita no Joe, the critically acclaimed boxing anime. And to be very honest, Dezaki did the audience a favor by tapping Miyazaki as the key animator for the film. This science-fiction action film follows the exploits of space bounty hunter Cobra as he battles aliens and gangsters, and a certain intergalactic tyrant to save the universe. While the movie was not a success at the time, it ishighly regarded as an underrated gem today.
For Miyazaki, the concept was ridiculously new. There were weapons like Psychogun and eccentric characters like Armaroid Lady and Crystal Boy. But he took it as a challenge and infused this bizarre sci-ci plot with humor that was off the roof.Space Adventure Cobrashowed Miyazaki’s growing confidence and ambition as a director who could tackle a bigger canvas in the future. The film also allowed Miyazaki to harbor an evolving interest in ecological themes as he painted a futuristic Earth ravaged by pollution. Though largely looked down upon at the time, one cannot dismiss the fact that with this 1982 endeavor, Miyazaki was ready to take on more complex stories that could harness the full range of his artistic vision.
1Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Considering its popularity and sheer brilliance, it surprises many fans thatNausicaä of the Valley of the Windis not a Studio Ghibli film. The movie was actually animated by Topcraft and released by Toei Company and it became one of the most beloved Japanese post-apocalyptic anime fantasy films of all time. This epic alsomarked Miyazaki’s worldwide breakthrough. And for the best reasons. The movie follows the titular princess striving to bring peace between warring humans and giant mutated insects in a post-apocalyptic world. Peace has been scattered in fragments that are slightly hospitable, and Nausicaä wants nothing more than to restore things to how they once were. So she takes help from Lord Yupa, a veteran warrior, and rids danger out of the jungle.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Windshowed Miyazaki hitting his directorial stride, masterfully weaving together adventure, drama, fantasy, and emotion. The film also provides an abundance of ecological wisdom through its visuals and characters. Nausicaä demonstrates the director’s maturation as an artist able to mingle life’s passion into a cinematic whole. The film’s success led Miyazaki to co-found Studio Ghibli the following year, and launch an era where he would create some of animation’s most beloved films. However, Nausicaä remains a seminal work that showcases Miyazaki at the peak of his creative powers.
