One of the very first films I have a memory of watching (I'm sure it's not THE first, but it's the first that sticks out) is Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. As a child this movie really blew me away with its visuals, its characters, and its way of dealing with various themes.
Nearly all of Miyazaki's movies have a charm that other movies lack - there are no "true villains" in Miyazaki's films. Every character is believable - even the antagonists have good sides and reasons why you feel sorry or pity for them, or want them to be happy in the end.
He is also known for his strong female characters and child characters - which is something I have always respected. In a media where main characters are usually overly buff dudes who rescue damsels in distress, Miyazaki proves that you don't have to be a macho male to be great, and that's always inspired me.
One thing in particular about Miyazaki's movies is that every time I watch one I always get inspired to write.
I have a few on DVD (not as many as I should...considering I should own them all, really) and there's usually always at least one on Netflix, so today I decided to fill up my inspiration pool by watching two of his movies back-to-back.
I decided to start with my least favorite - but still an absolute classic and a movie I love dearly all the same (that just goes to show how much I love his work that it's my least favorite and I still like it this much!):
Princess Mononoke.
Princess Mononoke is a historical-fantasy set in an ancient Japan where Gods, Demons, and Spirits are still alive and walk the Earth. It's highly environmental and follows the plight of the main character as he crosses a land being ripped apart by manifested hatred. The film is overwhelmingly beautiful both visually and aurally.
What always inspires me about this movie is how the world is absolutely flowing with life - spirits are everywhere. One of the main locations in the movie - the forest of the Deer God - has trees which are filled with nature spirits known as Kodama (the cute ghost-like creatures in the picture). They are curious little sprites that feed off nature energy and are neutral to both human and animals. One tiny scene that I personally love is where a character picks a flower from the forest and walks off - the camera stays on the spot where the flower was...and three tiny Kodama walk up and look sadly at the spot, as if the flower, picked, had died.
Little details like that are sprinkled throughout Miyazaki's movies. They're like candy to me, and I can tell through them that he loves his craft.
- - -
The other movie is the one that started me off on my love of this filmmaker, and the movie that remains to this day one of my all-time favorites:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
This movie really is perfect for me. Every time I watch it I'm in love again. Everything about this movie works and expands my mind and imagination. This is exactly the kind of story I'm glad I had growing up. This movie could very well be a reason why I was sent down this path and ended up with Lifebound the way it is.
The movie has a character you will almost instantly adore, a world you will crave to know more about, a history you will demand to discover, species and creatures unique to this story, laughter and cuteness along with tragedy and sorrow; moments that will leave you in tears of both grief and joy. Adventure, exploration, action, prophecy, freedom...the title character rides the winds on a flying machine and you can feel the sense of freedom she has.
The world in this movie is a world at war and on the brink of destruction, but the title character just refuses to give in and accept that fate. The chances of her being able to stop the inevitable are just impossible but she still just refuses to accept it - and that refusal of hatred and war in the face of inevitability is just so beautiful.
Nearly everything in this movie is inspiration for Lifebound. The movie's existence itself and how unique and creative it is just spurs me to create and give my own imagination to someone else like Miyazaki gave his to me.
Closing Words...
Miyazaki has made other fantastic films of course; and many a lot more popular than these two! He's a lot more well known in the West probably for Spirited Away, Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service. Off the top of my head he's also done Arriety, Castle in the Sky, The Castle of Cagliostro, and Howl's Moving Castle.
All his work is wonderful, so if you get the chance, I really must encourage you to give him a chance! Your (inner) child will thank you!
Thanks again for reading.
Love,
Skinner
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