Hayao Miyazaki's Impact on the Western World
How could cartoons have a lasting cultural spread and impact on human thinking and philosophy? Design works to solve a problem by visually conveying a specific message in a multitude of ways; Hazao Miyazaki, a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist, does so through his unique hand-drawn animated film style, introducing Western culture to an entirely new world of Japanese culture through whimsical yet philosophical movies that invite the viewer in and influence their outlook on daily life. Miyazaki’s work in Studio Ghibli left a lasting impact on the design world with animation that explores deep symbolism through the use of “Ma”, romanticized scenic visuals, and immersive realism, allowing the viewer to become a part of the film to experience his hidden meanings within the films.
Hayao Miyazaki’s popularity in America surged in 2003 with the film Spirited Away: the first and currently only Japanese hand-drawn film to win an Academy Award in the US (Moon). Spirited Away was an extremely successful film in Japan, allowing for its exposure to travel to the West through screenings at large film events, eventually leading to its Oscar award. Miyazaki’s beloved films have become a classic all around the world and are shown in Regal and Cinemark theaters during Ghibli Fest every year. As animation has evolved, 2D hand-done film has become much produced less commonly in the West compared to 3D computer-generated animation due to its ability to be created with less labor. 2D animation’s role has also been viewed as something for mindless entertainment in the Western world. Susan Napier, author of Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art, explains that “For so long, cartoons have been seen in the West—America in particular—as kind of childish, vulgar, things that you didn’t take seriously.” The contrast between the way cartoons are viewed in Japanese culture vs. Western culture is vast, as Japanese cartoons (anime) regularly range anywhere from comedy to psychological horror and tragedy. For example, Demon Slayer, a gory anime with a serious and devastating plot was the most popular anime in Japan in 2022, even gaining higher viewership than the Olympics (Sahu). Studio Ghibli films range from whimsical (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, etc.) to heart-wrenching (Grave of Fireflies) and always portray multiple layers of philosophical meaning, inviting the viewers to question the flawed regularities in human mundane life. The Japanese cultural influence Miyazaki brought into the West with Studio Ghibli films has changed the course of animation and proved that it can have just as much, if not more, meaning than live-action or 3D animated films and has contributed to the enjoyment and exploration of other Japanese shows and films.
Ma is “a philosophical concept of the space between the edges, between the beginning and end, the space in between literally meaning gap, space, or pause.” (Stelfox and Goodwin). Miyazaki utilizes this Japanese philosophy in his films to allow the viewer to experience what the characters are feeling (Edwards), allowing the audience to become a part of the film. In one of Studio Ghibli’s most loved films, My Neighbor Totoro, Ma can be seen when the characters are standing in the rain at a train station. The only sound present is the rain; there is no dialogue. It’s a simple moment that allows the viewer to digest what is going on and process it. Though there are many such pauses in Miyazaki movies, they keep the viewer enticed and captivated through them. Many Western films entice viewers by creating overly busy, action-packed scenes; the opposite of Ma; oftentimes causing the viewer to miss details that they don’t notice unless they watch the movie again. This is very typical for Western culture, as busyness is viewed as a mark of success (i.e. hustle culture). It creates instant gratification and constant stimulation, lacking the time to slow down and process. There are exceptions, however, as the Ma film style has been present in some films. For example, in Jaws the well-known theme music is used to create suspense and emotional impact, giving the viewer time to process what is happening while evoking feelings of fear (Edwards). This philosophy has been widely known in Japanese culture and has much success when used in any film. Miyazaki displays the cultural root of this film style through his many movies.
Alongside Ma, Miyazaki uses immersive realism through his animation style to allow viewers to reflect on the greater meanings of life and beauty found within nature. Beautiful scenery is a staple of Studio Ghibli films and is a major attribute that makes it so unique. Scenic moments can be commonly found in live-action Western films, but are introduced through animation to the Western film world in Miyazaki’s movies to build an entirely new meaning. 2D animation gives the artists creative freedom to romanticize what would be typical scenes in the day-to-day through the use of vibrant and calming color, texture, movement, and sound. These moments are seconds-long glimpses through the scene, yet leave a lasting impact. Miyazaki’s film Princess Mononoke is about a war between humans of industrialization and the spirits of the forest. The humans want to kill the forest so that they can continue to mass produce iron. Throughout the movie, many entrancing scenic shots are displayed of the forest, to show to the audience the beauty of what humanity is trying to destroy. Ironically enough, what he was trying to portray through this film soon became a reality in Japan: “While Miyazaki had once criticized American culture as one of excess, now excess was all around him… In Miyazaki’s eyes, the distortions of money and industry darkened not only the external landscape of Japan but the interior spiritual landscape of its citizens (Napier 200).” In Japanese culture and history, nature is spiritually personified and valued for its beauty (The University of Tokyo). Miyazaki’s next and most whimsical film, Spirited Away, metaphorically displays the dangers of consumption and the destruction of human indulgence and proposes a solution through Japanese folklore and striking scenic moments of going back to the roots of Japanese culture where there was nature and peace was of high value. Miyazaki not only influenced Western culture through his design but also used it to tackle Western influence on Japan itself.
Hayao Miyazaki played a crucial role in the animation world not only for Japanese culture but Western culture as well. His use of Ma and beautiful scenery leaves a lasting impact on the audience, allowing them to become a part of the film by processing the characters' emotions and providing the space to explore deeper philosophical meanings. “Spirited Away shattered preconceived notions about the art form and also proved that, as a film created in Japanese with elements of Japanese folklore central to its core, it could resonate deeply with audiences around the world,” says Moon. His film's popularity in the US and other Western areas has shared Japanese culture and values, bringing a new era of 2D animation and engaging viewers in serious topics. Miyazaki continues to influence the world as anticipation rises for his new film The Boy and the Heron which comes to theaters in December of 2023.
Works Cited
Edwards, Shanee. “Hayao Miyazaki Says 'Ma' is an Essential Storytelling Tool.” ScreenCraft, 26 July 2023, https://screencraft.org/blog/hayao-miyazaki-says-ma-is-an-essential-storytelling-tool/. Accessed 14 September 2023.
Moon, Kat. “Spirited Away Changed Animation Forever. Here’s How.” Time, 20 July 2021, https://time.com/6081937/spirited-away-changed-animation-studio-ghibli/. Accessed 25 September 2023.
Napier, Susan Jolliffe. Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art. Yale University Press, 2018. Accessed 25 September 2023.
Sahu, Dharmesh. “Top 10 Most Popular Anime in Japan (January 2022); Demon Slayer on Top Again.” TV Fandom Lounge, 23 February 2022, https://www.tvfandomlounge.com/most-popular-anime-in-japan-january-2022-demon-slayer-on-top-again/. Accessed 25 September 2023.
Stelfox, Brianna, and Andrew Goodwin. “MA: The Space In Between.” Andrew Goodwin Designs, 3 September 2021, https://www.andrewgoodwin.us/post/ma-the-space-in-between. Accessed 9 September 2023.
The University of Tokyo. “Creating a Society in Harmony with Nature.” Creating a Society in Harmony with Nature | The University of Tokyo, https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/whyutokyo/wj_002.html. Accessed 26 September 2023.
