The work of Hayao Miyazaki is legendary in all senses of the word. Few filmmakers boast a line-up like his: My Neighbour Totoro! Spirited Away! Princess Mononoke! Ponyo! The Boy And The Heron! The Wind Rises! And that’s just scratching the surface. Those films drift towards the legendary too – presenting wild, fantastical worlds, spiritual reveries, and magical sights to inspire the imagination. Now, those qualities are at the heart of a new documentary, Miyazaki, Spirit Of Nature – celebrating the works (and general outlook) of the Studio Ghibli icon. Watch the trailer here:
Set to screen at the Venice Film Festival in the coming days, Miyazaki, Spirit Of Nature takes a specific angle on the master animator’s work – notably, exploring the ways in which Miyazaki’s films present and celebrate nature. As anyone with a passing knowledge of his work will know, ecological themes are an ever-present Miyazaki concern – the ways in which humanity exists in balance (or, more pressingly, often in imbalance) with the natural and spiritual worlds. From Ponyo, to Totoro, to Mononoke, to early films like Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind and Laputa: Castle In The Sky, there’s always been an eco-emphasis in Miyazaki’s imagery and storytelling. This early peek at the doc suggests the film – by Léo Favier – will explore how Miyazaki’s life, work, and understanding of nature all weave together.
Given that the documentary is in the festival circuit, expect it to take a while to arrive on UK shores – but like anything Miyazaki-centric, here’s hoping it’ll be worth the wait.