The Creators

The founders, writers, directors and artists all played such a big role in making these movies for you to enjoy, so let's take a look at who we can thank for giving us such fantastic movies.

Hayao Miyazaki

Born 5 January 1941, Hayao Miyazaki is a founder and director of Studio Ghibli. Possibly one of the most well-known creators of many movies that make up this studio, he is world-renowned for his passionate and heart-felt movies, along with his talents to direct films efficiently and still pull tears from our eyes. Because of him, the films were met with critical and commercial success in Japan and eventually, world-wide. As a child he was interested in manga and animation, so joined Toei Animation. from there he worked with Isao Takahata, who was another founder and director of Studio Ghibli. After his first movies, the Studios popularity increased, and so did the funds. He started to create more movies, many of which were turned down, but he kept going and soon, his popularity as well as confidence grew greater. Princess Mononoke was a massive hit, claiming the Academy Award for the Best Animated Feature and even became the highest grossing film in Japan. After that, Spirited Away was released, and this outstanding movie was an even bigger hit, claiming Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards, and is commonly called to be among the most amazing films created in the 2000's. Hayao Miyazaki's films after this were Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, and The Wind Rises also had a massive success rate across Japan. Since then, Hayao Miyazaki has retired, but he still worked on a feature-film called How Do You Live? until it was released in 2016.

Isao Takahata

As a child born on October 29, 1935, Isao Takahata was also interested in the animation medium from a young age. he wanted to direct and write in the animation industry, though, instead of watch other people do it. Isao Takahata met Hayao Miyazaki in the animation corporation Toei Animation and has pretty much worked with him ever since. Collaborating with him led to their first film together, which was Lupin the Third, an ongoing series for a while. During his time at Toei Animation, he created another feature film on his own, and even though it was recognized later as a great movie, it was a commercial failure and Isao was demoted. He moved on after this, and came up with an idea alongside Yōichi Kotabe and Hayao Miyazaki for a story based off Pippi Longstocking. Unable to settle a dispute, he went back to Hayao and started to work on Studio Ghibli. After his time, he announced his leave after his last movie, The Tale Of Princess Kaguya. Shortly after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and died in hospital at 82.

Toshio Suzuki

On August 19, 1948, Toshio Suzuki was born in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Beginning his career at Tokuma Shoten, he worked on a cover page for Asahi Geino. When he moved on to an editor for Animage, he met Hayao and Isao, and after a small disagreeance, they parted. They met again at an event for The Castle Of Cagliostro and this time worked in collaboration to create Nausicaa: Of The Valley Of The Wind. Staying with Hayao after Studio Ghibli was released, he helped make many more movies. Appointed Studio Ghibli president and director, he stepped down from these roles, but still continues to live peacefully, and has retired.

Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi was born on December 6, 1950 in Nakano, Nagano, Japan. Learning at a violin school from a young age, he realised his passion in music and watched on average 300 movies a year with his father. After attending music collage, he made several albums and composed the soundtrack for the 1998 Winter Paralympics. When he met Hayao-his life changed for the better as he had his own studio, leaving him with worldwide fame as a fantastic artist who made wondrous and heart-felt pieces. After crating nearly all the Studio Ghibli movies' albums, he went back and to this day-is still creating amazing pieces of music.