‘Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature’ Is a Must-See for Every Studio Ghibli Fan
Animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki has given the world a lifetime of joy and entertainment via his Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki is behind some of the most beloved films of the last 40 years, including My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), and Ponyo (2008). A new documentary by Léo Favier, Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature, explores the director's challenging rise to the top of the animation, arguing that his films are best appreciated in an environmental context—Miyazaki’s boundless passion for nature and his relationship with the world around him is crucial to appreciating his work.
Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature, which just premiered at the Venice Film Festival, has three intertwining narrative threads: an exploration of the state of the world, a timeline of Miyazaki’s life, and the films Miyazaki directed. Favier is a passionate advocate for Miyazaki’s films, and the viewer always has a clear idea of what Miyazaki and the world was going through when each of the films featured in Spirit of Nature were being made.