The Moral Narratives of Hayao Miyazaki

Widely regarded as Japan’s greatest animated director, Hayao Miyazaki creates films lauded for vibrant characters and meaningful narrative themes. Examining the messages of his 10 full-length films—from Nausicaä (1984) to The Wind Rises (2013)—this study analyzes each for its religious, philosophical and ethical implications. Miyazaki’s work addresses a coherent set of human concerns, including adolescence, good and evil, our relationship to the past, our place in the natural order, and the problems of living in a complex and ambiguous world. Exhibiting religious influences without religious endorsement, his films urge nonjudgment and perseverance in everyday life.