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Hayao Miyazaki is a legend in the anime and film industry. His films, and Studio Ghibli films in general, are renowned for being the best animated films ever made. He has a heart more human than most and through his movies, he shows his optimism for a better world, despite his cynical nature. His films tend to go against every anime trope, whether its the treatment of female characters or the depth of his messages. He’s an artist who has observed and exposes the true nature of humans.
Miyazaki has often criticized the anime industry and the inherent nature of anime. His criticism, however, has often been misinterpreted and become a complete meme. It’s used especially by fans when ridiculous anime moments happen. While he did say that “anime was a mistake,” there’s more context to it than just that. It’s important to explore why the legendary director said so.
Miyazaki’s Words Run Deeper than a Meme
Hayao Miyazakiis grounded in reality in an industry where escapism and fantasy thrives the most. The director’s optimistic outlook is a message to humankind on how we can do better, how the world should be. He has never shied away from criticizing ongoing wars and the leaders responsible for it. He’s an anti-capitalist in a capitalistic society. His artstyle, while it might contrast his personality, is actually a compliment to him. He’s a person who will never stop advocating for how the human heart should strive to express itself, as evident by his disgust of A.I. animation.
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Similarly, his criticism of the anime industry doesn’t come from a generalization but from his mindset that people shouldn’t stray away from expressing themselves.In an interview with Soranews24, he provides a clear picture of what he means and no, it wasn’t as simple as “anime was a mistake”:
You see, whether you can draw like this or not, being able to think up this kind of design, it depends on whether or not you can say to yourself, “Oh, yeah, girls like this exist in real life.” If you don’t spend time watching real people, you can’t do this, because you’ve never seen it. Some people spend their lives interested only in themselves.Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people, you know. It’s produced by humans who can’t stand looking at other humans. And that’s why the industry is full of otaku!
While the essence of what he’s saying shows frustration with anime in general, he’s mostly calling out the hypocrisy of anime tropes. Whether it’s the disturbing yandere trope or weak female characters, he is essentially saying it lacks heart because animators are using it as a means of escapism, rather than appreciating the beauty of what they have through this medium.
Was Anime a Mistake?
It’s more complicated than yes or no. On one hand, we wouldn’t have incredible stories likeOne PieceorNaruto. The medium and each unique artstyle also expresses its own story. Anime crosses boundaries that couldn’t be achieved by normal live-action media. Studio Ghibli films are the prime example and Miyazaki should be proud.
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But, like his quote says, there is some disturbing material out there. Women are massively sexualized, creepy behavior is normalized, and much more. These don’t particular reflect how human life should ideally be. It’s the morality behind anime that makes Miyazaki question anime.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
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AnimeAnime moviesHayao MiyazakiStudio Ghibli
