Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Hayao Miyazaki Retires




In the world of animation, one name stands above all; Hayao Miyazaki. The 72-year-old Japanese director is known for his wide collection of works that include classics like Lupin III and NausicaƤ of the Valley of the Wind as well as his modern works like My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away among many, many others.

So for fans of anime, the news that the world-renowned anime filmmaker will now "retire from the production of feature-length films" is something that we greet with great sadness. This is a man who has been around since the 70s and has won honors throughout the world, including an Oscar for animation with Spirited Away. It’s not much of a stretch to say that this man was the one responsible for making Japanese anime the global force it is today.

Of course in the announcement of his retirement, Miyazaki left an opening for works on shorter projects like short films and series, but works like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke will now be a thing of the past for him. Still, with his age and great works, I don’t think anyone can fault the man for his well-earned retirement. 

Thanks for your great work, Hayao Miyazaki-sama. You are a true master of your art.  

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