A Few Words About Japanese Animator Hayao Miyazaki

The Wind Rises

"The Wind Rises" ("Kaze tachinu") original title, will most likely be the last of beautiful animated features from multiple award-winning Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. Born in 1941, on the cusp of World War II, Miyazaki is considered Japan's premiere story teller. In 1985, he co-founded Studio Ghibli, and in 1989, he wrote and produced the hit animated feature, "Kiki's Delivery Service". The majority of his movies have been simple, very loveable childish plots populated with loveable children, yet wise children, such as "Ponyo," "From Up on Poppy Hill," and "Spirited Away." However from these, adults glean that Miyazaki is anti-war and an environmentalist, with those and other teachings not lost on the younger audiences, either. His movies are always positive and upbeat, leaving the viewer with positivity and good feelings. "The Wind Rises" has been submitted for an Oscar® for Best Animated Feature.

I have not yet seen "The Wind Rises" because it is in very limited release, but I am told "The Wind Rises" says something very profound about life, while staying true to mirroring our dreams. Remember, Hollywood was originally called the dream factory. The protagonist in this Miyazaki production dreams of building the now infamous Japanese fighter plane they used in WW II, nicknamed "Zero" by Americans because of the red circle painted on the wings and fuselage.

 Hayao Miyazaki

Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero Model 22 (NX712Z), recovered from New Guinea in 1991 and used in the film "Pearl Harbor". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero

The biography of Hayao Miyazaki is an audiobook:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2013-08-19/hayao-miyazaki-legends-biography-now-published-on-audiobook

Hayao Miyazaki on IMDb:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594503/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1Filmography, etc.

The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT, in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.