did hayao miyuzaki really say anime was a mistake

by Reymundo Bergnaum 10 min read
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You may have seen the image. The white-haired visage of legendary Studio Ghibli animator Hayao Miyazaki, emblazoned with a bold quote: “Anime was a mistake.” And you may have asked, “Did he actually say that?” The short answer is no.May 25, 2020

Full Answer

Is Hayao Miyazaki right about anime being a mistake?

If you've ever seen the quote "Anime was a mistake" attributed to Hayao Miyazaki, you might've written it off as a gag. After all, Miyazaki is one of the most widely beloved anime directors of all time. To date, his film Spirited Away is the only anime film to win an Oscar. His films have inspired generations of anime directors.

Why is Hayao Miyazaki famous?

After all, Miyazaki is one of the most widely beloved anime directors of all time. To date, his film Spirited Away is the only anime film to win an Oscar. His films have inspired generations of anime directors. He's been involved in the industry since the 1960s and has mentored anime directors like Neon Genesis Evangelion 's Hideaki Anno.

What is Miyazaki’s opinion on animation?

For Miyazaki, animation is a high art form, requiring dedication, imagination, and spirit. And, as far as I can tell, he’s always felt that much of anime has lacked that je ne sais quois. Miyazaki is right, but what more can we expect?

What did Miyazaki say about women in anime?

Miyazaki once said of his female characters that they were "brave, self-sufficient girls that don't think twice about fighting for what they believe in with all their heart", stating that they may "need a friend, or a supporter, but never a saviour" and that "any woman is just as capable of being a hero as any man".

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Why does Hayao Miyazaki not like anime?

He's often expressed his distaste for the insular, childish culture of fandom as well as the creatively stifling conditions under which it is made. He may not have ever really said “Anime was a mistake,” but you can feel Miyazaki's anger and near-grief over the state of anime in his writings and interviews.

Is Studio Ghibli anime shutting down?

Whispers of the imminent demise of highly influential Japanese animation production company Studio Ghibli have now been validated, with the studio's general manager, Toshio Suzuki, announcing on Japanese television this morning that the studio will officially shut down and use its scaled back human resources to manage ...

Was Spirited Away scripted?

Despite having a rich plot with developed characters, Spirited Away (2001) was not made with a script. In fact, Miyazaki's films never had scripts.

Is Studio Ghibli real anime?

Actually, because of its distinct animation style and storylines, Studio Ghibli's animation is often considered its own form and cannot be found on sites or channels that stream anime.

Is Ghibli done?

On August 3, 2014, Studio Ghibli temporarily suspended production following Miyazaki's retirement. In February 2017, Suzuki announced that Miyazaki had come out of retirement to direct a new feature film, How Do You Live?, which he intended to be his last film.

Are Studio Ghibli movies overrated?

Studio Ghibli has earned itself the reputation of being one of, if not the greatest animation studio in Japan. Many Studio Ghibli films are outright masterpieces, and few of them are outright bad. However, as good as most of these films are, the hype can get a little bit overwhelming and overshadow their flaws.

Is Spirited Away about child trafficking?

The theory is false. Miyazaki actually laid out his intentions for the film's meaning in great detail. His own stated intentions are far richer and more meaningful than “it's about prostitution.” If you love the movie, you'll want to read to the end, where his own brilliant interpretations are stated.

What spell did Zeniba put on Haku?

Cursing: Zeniba had the ability to cast magical enchantments or spells designed to cause negative effects to occur - during her and Chihiro's first meeting, she revealed that she had placed a dying curse on the seal that Haku stole, and it was subsequently confirmed by Kamaji, who observed that Haku was dying due to ...

How old is Haku?

around 12 years oldHaku appears to be around 12 years old in physical age.

Why did Miyazaki make Spirited Away?

Hayao Miyazaki got his inspiration for Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)from a group of young women he would spend his summers with. He wanted to make a movie that they could enjoy, that wouldn't be a simple romance as seen in many shoujo manga.

Does Hayao Miyazaki own Ghibli?

Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985. He directed numerous films with Ghibli, including Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), and Porco Rosso (1992)....Hayao MiyazakiOccupationAnimator filmmaker screenwriter author manga artistYears active1963–present10 more rows

What is the first Miyazaki movie?

Watch the 4-hour documentary that unravels Hayao Miyazaki’s obsessions. The Miyazaki movie deep dive 7. My Neighbor Totoro dispels the myths of the Frozen generation.

What does "otaku" mean?

Image: Golden Times. Otaku is a more loaded term in its native Japan than in the United States, not merely meaning “nerd with obsessive interests ,” but sometimes including connotations of “destructively antisocial.”.

When was the Golden Times interview with Miyazaki published?

A user by the name of old-japanese-men took a clip from an interview that was done with Miyazaki for a Japanese publication called Golden Times, published online on the 27th of January in 2014. In that interview, Miyazaki indeed expresses his frustrations with the animation scene in Japan these days. But nowhere does he outright say that “anime was ...

Will anime change?

Anime will change, for sure, but change is often good. The meta nature of anime will possibly develop new, wilder, more creative products for us all to enjoy. The real world is, to an extent, static. But the world of imagination is boundless in every direction, outwards and inwards.

Did Miyazaki say anime was a mistake?

Miyazaki did not say, “Anime was a mistake.”. He was quite critical of modern otaku culture, but he never made that statement. It was a fake quote made up to troll people. And even if he did say it, I certainly don’t think it was a mistake.

Was anime a mistake?

Some memes are a little different, but many are along the lines of “anime was a mistake”, simple as that.

A perfect example to make my point

We all know Sakura Haruno from the Naruto series. She’s a famous character like no other, and is controversial on levels most female characters never reach.

Why does Miyazaki say anime suffer?

In a statement from 2014 following the release of The Wind Rises, Miyazaki said modern anime suffers because the otaku creators "don't spend time watching real people.". Animation, he believes, can only be done by people who understand and appreciate how other people behave and act.

What was Miyazaki's first short film?

Miyazaki did direct one CGI short film, Boro the Caterpillar, for the Ghibli Museum in 2018. As presented in the documentary Neverending Man, he frequently clashed with computer animators and programmers during this process.

Why is Anno so famous?

This might be because Anno is famous for deep, realistic portrayals of human psychology in his films, drawing on his experiences of social isolation and anxiety for his work. One obvious source of ire for Miyazaki is anime's unrealistic, often fetishized portrayals of women.

What are some of the most popular anime of 2010?

Many of the 2010s' most popular anime are fetishistic power fantasies. The likes of Sword Art Online, Oreimo and Darling in the Franxx are either unoriginal retreads of earlier narratives, simplistic wish fulfillment or just perverse.

What is Miyazaki's least favorite otaku?

His least favorite variety of otaku: gun otaku. He says gun otaku are "the ones that have the most immature character traits left over.". Miyazaki sees the obsession of technical details over humanity as immature... though of course Miyazaki still has his own otaku-like tendencies in regards to planes and tanks.

Who is the greatest anime director of all time?

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest anime directors of all time. He might also just hate modern anime. If you've ever seen the quote "Anime was a mistake" attributed to Hayao Miyazaki, you might've written it off as a gag. After all, Miyazaki is one of the most widely beloved anime directors of all time. To date, his film Spirited Away is the ...

Is Hayao Miyazaki naturalistic?

Hayao Miyazaki's work is at once so naturalistic and heavily conscious of the world he lives in that it makes complete sense that he'd be frustrated with creators who refuse to go outside and draw from human experience. There is a distinct lack of humanity in heavy CGI and wish-fulfillment narratives.

Who said "Anime was a mistake"?

About. "Anime Was a Mistake" is a troll quote misattributed to Hayao Miyazaki, one of the most popular and influential Japanese artists and film directors in anime history, that conveys a strong sense of disdain towards the art of anime and its fanbase at large, including those who identify themselves with weeaboo and otaku subcultures.

What is the quote from Miyazaki?

During the interview, Miyazaki expressed skepticism regarding the current state of anime as an art form and a cultural industry , particularly how little the new generation of animators are seeking inspiration from actually observing human behaviors and interactions in real life. On January 30th, a translation of the original interview was provided by English-language Japanese news site RocketNews24. [1]

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Did Miyazaki Say “Anime Was A Mistake?” Was He Right?

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Miyazaki did not say, “Anime was a mistake.” He wasquite critical of modern otaku culture, but he never made that statement. It was a fake quote made up to troll people. And even if he did say it, I certainly don’t think it was a mistake.
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Why Do People Think Miyazaki Said “Anime Was A Mistake”?

  • This all started as a bit of a trolling on Tumblr. A user by the name of old-japanese-men took a clip from an interview that was done with Miyazaki for a Japanese publication called Golden Times, published online on the 27th of January in 2014. In that interview, Miyazaki indeed expresses his frustrations with the animation scene in Japan these days. But nowhere does he outright say tha…
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So, What Did Miyazaki Say?

  • He didn’t say “Anime was a mistake” specifically, but don’t get too comfortable. He certainly has his criticisms for the community—especially its creators—at large. I’m going to put down here a transcription of the original Japanese as well as an English translation, so you can compare them for yourself and get a sense for what he was trying to say. In the next section we’ll offer a bit of e…
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So, Is Miyazaki Right?

  • Well, you’re going to find an extremely wide range of debate on this topic. Since that’s the case, I’ll just add a bit of context and then my own opinion. First, Miyazaki, in this particular instance, without the context of the rest of the video, it’s hard to see if Miyazaki is being critical of the industry as a whole. Just looking at what he says here, we can say that he’s just making a point …
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My Opinion on The Subject

  • Miyazaki is right, but what more can we expect? The amount of dedication to the craft that’s required of Japanese animators is insane. Only someone with a preternatural adoration of the medium would put in the work. And, along with that adoration and incredible work ethic comes a lack of time. Time necessary to observe people to deal with people. If you devote yourself a hun…
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