Hayao Miyazaki

From Bomb-Shattered Tokyo to Anime's Greatest Living Master

creative entertainment
Hayao Miyazaki

Net Worth

$50M

Born

January 5, 1941 (age 85)

Country

Japan

Occupation

Animator, Director, Co-Founder of Studio Ghibli

Gender

male

Generation

Silent Generation

Marital Status

married

Children

2

Single Parent Household

No

Education

Bachelor's

University

Gakushuin University

Industries

creative, entertainment

Wealth Category

multi-millionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Overcame

  • • Mother had tuberculosis; family evacuated during WWII bombings
  • • Initially rejected by Toei Animation for lack of drawing skill
  • • First directorial film was commercial failure
  • • Struggled to get Princess Mononoke made; worked himself to exhaustion
  • • Retired multiple times; returned each time to make more films

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, His films—including My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away—have made him one of the most influential filmmakers in animation history. Known for his perfectionism, environmental themes, and strong female protagonists, he revolutionized what animation could be, His films blend fantasy with profound humanism, earning him an Academy Award and the adoration of millions worldwide.

Career Timeline

1941

Born in Tokyo, Japan

1944 Age 3
Turning Point

Family evacuated to countryside during American bombing raids

1947 Age 6
Setback

Mother diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis; bedridden for years

1963 Age 22
Milestone

Graduated from Gakushuin University with political science degree

1963 Age 22
Turning Point

Hired at Toei Animation

1965 Age 24
Milestone

Married animator Akemi Ota

1971 Age 30
Turning Point

Left Toei Animation; joined A-Pro

1979 Age 38
Milestone

Directed first feature film The Castle of Cagliostro

1982 Age 41
Achievement

Directed Sherlock Hound; gained recognition

1984 Age 43
Milestone

Co-founded Studio Ghibli with Toshio Suzuki and Isao Takahata

1986 Age 45
Milestone

Released Castle in the Sky; first Studio Ghibli film

1988 Age 47
Achievement

Released My Neighbor Totoro; became cultural phenomenon

1989 Age 48
Achievement

Released Kiki's Delivery Service

1992 Age 51
Milestone

Released Porco Rosso

1997 Age 56
Achievement

Released Princess Mononoke; highest-grossing Japanese film at time

1997 Age 56
Turning Point

Announced first retirement

2001 Age 60
Achievement

Released Spirited Away; won Academy Award for Best Animated Feature

2004 Age 63
Achievement

Released Howl's Moving Castle

2008 Age 67
Milestone

Released Ponyo

2013 Age 72
Turning Point

Released The Wind Rises; announced second retirement

2016 Age 75
Turning Point

Began work on Boro the Caterpillar

2020 Age 79
Milestone

Began production on How Do You Live?

2023 Age 82
Achievement

Released The Boy and the Heron

Notable Quotes

"I do believe in the power of story. I believe that stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings, But I don't think that's all they're good for."

"I've become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue."

"Many of my movies have strong female leads—brave, self-sufficient girls that don't think twice about fighting for what they believe in with all their heart."

"I would like to make a film to tell children 'it's good to be alive.'"

— Interview, 2001

"The concept of portraying evil and then destroying it—I know this is considered mainstream, but I think it's a lie."