When you mention Hayao Miyazaki, many people immediately think of Studio Ghibli, and its gentle, pure, and deeply humane films. However, interestingly, this world-renowned anime director is also one of the most critical and demanding voices in the anime industry.
Miyazaki's films may be full of light, childlike wonder, and hope, but his personality in real life is quite the opposite. He is known for being outspoken, difficult, and not afraid to express his disappointment with the modern anime industry.
"Anime is a mistake" – A famous quote that never existed
You've probably seen the meme with the subtitle: "Anime is a mistake" associated with Mr. Miyazaki's face. In reality, Hayao Miyazaki never uttered those exact words. However, based on his candid statements over the decades, it's easy for people to believe that it's true.
His relationship with the anime industry is very complex. He doesn't hate animation; he just dislikes how it's being commercialized and detached from reality.
The long and complex relationship between Hayao Miyazaki and anime
In a 1999 interview, when comparing his films to the Pokémon phenomenon, Hayao Miyazaki shared a thought-provoking perspective:
"Anime swallows children's time and freedom. One good animated film a year is more than enough for a child."
As someone who always celebrates innocence and the beauty of nature, Miyazaki fears that anime is causing children to lose valuable real-life experiences outside.
In 2013, in an interview with SoraNews24, Hayao Miyazaki continued to point out the core problem of Japanese anime:
"Most anime is made by people who don't bother to observe real human beings. That's why this industry is full of otaku."
He believes that the industry is filled with "Otaku" who only draw based on other anime archetypes instead of drawing inspiration from real life. This leads to character designs that lack the subtlety of everyday gestures.
When Hayao Miyazaki fiercely "criticized" an anime icon
If you think Miyazaki only speaks generally, then read what he wrote about Space Battleship Yamato, an iconic anime from the 70s. Despite this work inspiring masterpieces like Gundam and Evangelion, Miyazaki bluntly called it: "The graveyard of love and justice in anime."
Miyazaki believed that Yamato overused the "world conquest plot" motif and the commercialization of love in a cliché way. For Miyazaki, war and emotions need to be explored in a more personal and profound way than repetitive motifs.
The interesting difference between Miyazaki and Hideaki Anno
Interestingly, Space Battleship Yamato is Hideaki Anno's favorite anime, the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion and also one of Hayao Miyazaki's few close friends.
Anno worked for Ghibli on the Nausicaä project and was even invited by Miyazaki to voice the main character in The Wind Rises. Two people, two contrasting philosophies on anime, yet they hold absolute respect for each other.
Perhaps it is because of his immense love for animation that Hayao Miyazaki is so demanding. He doesn't accept complacency, doesn't compromise with rigid formulas, and always believes that anime must stem from real people and real emotions. And perhaps thanks to this "pickiness," the world has been gifted with Ghibli films that touch the hearts of millions.
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