Jul 15 2007
Hayao Miyazaki – A Master Artist Portraying the True Nature of Good and Evil
My wife and I have been fans of the work of Hayao Miyazaki since the translation and import of Princess Mononoke to the American market back in 1999. Shortly after this, Disney took it upon themselves to translate and import most of his more family-friendly films and bring them to America. A couple films you may have heard of are Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. Hayao Miyazaki’s films are all done with great imagination and creativity, but he also portrays the human condition more accurately than other movie director/writer I have ever seen.
The other great wisdom shown in Hayao’s Miyazaki’s films is how evil is overcome. “Overcome” is the key word here, evil is not “conquered” but rather overcome through perseverance and maturity. In Spirited Away, the main character starts out as whiny and selfish, and likewise most of the characters around her are shallow and greedy. Throughout the film, the main character is actually struggling against herself as she overcomes her own weakness, as she grows those around her are challenged to grow as well. In a couple movies like Howl’s Moving Castle, the films end with no villains left at all, everyone has reconciled.
It is hard to say “everyone has reconciled” without making it sound like a pansy Sunday school-like cartoon. In truth, Hayao’s Miyazaki’s films run the gamut from warm and moving to deeply disturbing. Movies like My Neighbor Totoro explore the innocence and purity of childhood, while still pushing the characters to grow. On the other end, Princess Mononoke is a harsh warning toward greed and selfish living (and not recommended for children). Kiki’s Delivery Service presents children with a need to grow up and take responsibility, without losing the joy and wonder in life. Howl’s Moving Castle is about courage and how even the best of us become corrupted when we don’t face life’s challenges directly.
Not all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films are so obviously about good and evil, but all the films do carry his insights into each of the characters. While Princess Mononoke was truly about good and evil, it was watching his other films that made me realize how deep is insights into the human condition really are. Aside from good and evil, his films teach other truly relevant and important virtues. He teaches the need for charity and mercy, showing love not as a “good-feeling” but as a sign of true character and self-sacrifice. He also teaches the need for courage, instead of main characters being comforted or encouraged constantly throughout the story, they are only given wisdom and direction leaving it to them to follow it. He doesn’t pander to the audience, but challenges his viewers to grow and mature.
I highly encourage all parents show his films to their kids (excluding Princess Mononoke). And then when the kids are in bed, go ahead and watch Princess Mononoke. His depth of insight into the human condition combined with his epic imagination and captivating stories make Hayao Miyazaki a true master of his craft. Hayao Miyazaki is a great hero of truth in our day and age, and I just wanted to draw a little attention his direction.
External Links:
NEW! Get his latest work “Ponyo” on Amazon. It is a great family movie!
“Shortly after this, Disney took it upon themselves to translate and import most of his more family-friendly films and bring them to America. ”
should probably be “Disney jumped on the opportunity”
if you were born in 1997 are you still counted as a kid?