The thought-provoking, aesthetically pleasing animated films of Hayao Miyazaki attract audiences well beyond the director's native Japan. "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away" were critically acclaimed upon U.S. release, and the earlier "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kiki's Delivery Service" have found popularity with Americans on DVD. This critical study of Miyazaki's work begins with an analysis of the visual conventions of manga, Japanese comic books, and anime; an overview of Japanese animated films; and a consideration of the techniques deployed by both traditional cell and computer animation. This section also details Miyazaki's early forays into comic books and animation, and his output prior to his founding of Studio Ghibli. Part Two concentrates on the Studio Ghibli era, outlining the company's development and analyzing the director's productions between 1984 and 2004, including "Castle in the Sky", "My Neighbor Totoro" and his newest film, "Howl's Moving Castle". The second section also discusses other productions involving Studio Ghibli, including "Grave of the Fireflies" and "The Cat Returns". Appendices supply additional information about Studio Ghibli's merchandise production, Miyazaki's global fan base, and the output of other Ghibli directors.

About the Author
Dani Cavallaro has written widely about literature, cultural theory, and anime. She lives in London.

Reviews
Highly recommended." -Choice

"Excellent." -Midwest Book Review

"Spares no expense to showcase some of the very best of the body of work from the master of anime, Hayao Miyazaki...excellent book...worthy addition...one of the most in-depth yet." -Anime.com.



Book Information
ISBN 9780786423699
Author Dani Cavallaro
Format Paperback
Page Count 212
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
Weight(grams) 388g