In this second part, we continue our exploration of The Films of Hayao Miyazaki, focusing on what many regard as the peak of his career and his later, possibly final, works. We begin with one of the most acclaimed films of the 21st century, Spirited Away (2001), before moving through Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo (2008), The Wind Rises (2013), and The Boy and the Heron (2023).
We start by discussing how Spirited Away became one of the greatest films of all time and earned Miyazaki his first Academy Award. We explore its themes of consumerism and capitalism, the meaning of No-Face, and why the film may not resonate with every viewer.
Next, we turn to the Academy Award-nominated Howl’s Moving Castle, considering how it became Miyazaki’s artistic response to the Iraq War and how he adapted Diana Wynne Jones’s novel for the screen.
Ponyo marks a return to childhood innocence and hand-drawn animation, prompting us to ask whether it may be Miyazaki’s most visually beautiful film. We then consider whether The Wind Rises is an overlooked work and perhaps his most personal film.
Finally, we end with The Boy and the Heron, the film that won Miyazaki his second Academy Award. We discuss whether it has the best English dub of any Miyazaki film, why he returned from retirement, and whether it could be his final feature.
We close by considering why Miyazaki’s films remain so enduring and beloved, and how his ideas have evolved from 1979 to 2023. Once again, we hope you’ll join us for this concluding part of The Films of Hayao Miyazaki.
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