Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai's work

    The last two class periods have been really enlightening when it comes to learning more about these two very influential people and what makes their work so brilliant. Both have this way of making their work almost timeless; they tell compelling stories that can be enjoyed throughout generations. But it’s not just the storytelling that makes their work stand out from the rest, but also their eye for direction and ability to perfectly capture a moment in time and make the viewer feel as though they’re truly there, living in that moment.

     It was very interesting to learn more about who Miyazaki was as a person, and how Studio Ghibli came to be. It definitively made me appreciate the movies more, and I was able to see them in a new light. Miyazaki truly set the stage and standards for people to be inspired by his work and emerge in the animation industry of Japan, such as Shinkai.

Although Shinkai is often called the “New Miyazaki” we also know that he has very distinct nuances when it comes to his stories that are different from Miyazaki. The types of narratives Shinkai goes back to, focusing more on romance and communication between two characters, is not always the concentration of Miyazaki’s stories. Even the focus on lighting in Shinkai’s films has a unique quality to them that is easily recognizable.

     Overall, I very much enjoyed both George’s and Dr. Suzuki’s presentations. I found them very informative and eye-opening. The movies I was able to watch, including the screening of Isao Takahata’s Pom Poko left me feeling inspired and able to appreciate their unique visions as storytellers and filmmakers in a new light.