The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki
The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Quarto Publishing PLC
Published:18th Sep '25
Should be back in stock very soon
Explore the inspirations behind the work of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, one of animated cinema’s all-time great creators.
Often called the godfather of animation, Miyazaki is able to imagine and populate worlds like no other director or animator. His films, from My Neighbour Totoro to the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and The Boy and The Heron, are deeply original, each conjuring up their own complete and entrancing version of reality.
This book journeys through the rich mix of cultural, historical and artistic influences that shape Miyazaki’s storytelling. From Japanese folklore and childhood memories to architecture, classic cinema, literature and political commentary, it reveals how Miyazaki’s deeply personal vision creates layered worlds that somehow feel both fantastical and grounded in truth.
With insight into his process, visual language and recurring themes – including nature, flight, girlhood, resistance and renewal – The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki offers fans and film lovers a deeper understanding of the imagination behind the magic.
A celebration of creative freedom, storytelling without limits, and the enduring power of animation.
"...an exploration of Hayao Miyazaki’s storied career, richly illustrated with shots from his globally beloved films." -Animation Magazine
'This book offers a roadmap to the fantastical universe of Japanese animator and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. Film writer Nicolas Rapold charts the filmmaker’s inspirations, from Pippi Longstocking, reimagined as a swashbuckling pirate-grandma in Castle in the Sky, to the Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, seen on screen in Spirited Away as the phantasmagorical bathhouse.'
* Financial Times *"Takes readers on a comprehensive journey through the filmmaker’s work. Miyazaki connoisseurs will delight in the wealth of popular culture and art that inspires the films, which Rapold cleverly pairs with film stills. (Hokusai’s print The Great Wave off Kanagawa, for instance, mirrors a still from Ponyo, the tale of the goldfish princess.) The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is a comforting portal back into Studio Ghibli’s magical repertoire—and perhaps even your childhood."
* Air Mail *"Elegantly designed and thoughtfully written, (The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki) would sit well on any Ghibli fan’s shelf."
* Empire Magazine *"Brimming with passion for its subject, The Worlds Of Hayao Miyazaki will encourage readers to rewatch the director’s films with a fresh perspective."
* SFX Magazine *'Whether you’re a casual Studio Ghibli fan or the kind of devotee who might be tempted to jump on the next plane to Matsuyama to visit the bathhouse that inspired Spirited Away, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is a journey well worth taking.'
* Creative Review * 'A beautifully designed and elegantly written celebration of one of animation’s most influential auteurs, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki is more than a film-by-film guide - it’s a quiet meditation on the imaginative force that built Studio Ghibli into a cultural institution.'
ISBN: 9781836004813
Dimensions: 260mm x 210mm x 26mm
Weight: 1160g
224 pages