The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki

<p> The thought-provoking aesthetically pleasing animated films of Hayao Miyazaki attract audiences well beyond the director's native Japan. <I>Princess Mononoke</I> and <I>Spirited Away</I> were critically acclaimed upon U.S. release and the earlier <I>My Neighbor Totoro</I> and <I>Kiki's Delivery Service</I> have found popularity with Americans on DVD.</p><p> This critical study of Miyazaki's work begins with an analysis of the visual conventions of <I>manga</I> Japanese comic books and <I>anime</I>; an overview of Japanese animated films; and a consideration of the techniques deployed by both traditional cel 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 <I>Castle in the Sky My Neighbor Totoro</I> and his newest film <I>Howl's Moving Castle</I>. The second section also discusses other productions involving Studio Ghibli including <I>Grave of the Fireflies</I> and <I>The Cat Returns</I>. Appendices supply additional information about Studio Ghibli's merchandise production Miyazaki's global fan base and the output of other Ghibli directors.</p>