It’s obvious that Hayao Miyazaki prefers stories with female protagonists – and according to Toshio Suzuki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and longtime companion of the filmmaker, there’s a good reason for that.
Strong bond with mother
No matter which film by famed director Hayao Miyazaki you watch, most of them focus on confident, independent heroines who have served as an inspiration to young women around the world for many years.
According to Suzuki, Miyazaki’s admiration for women stems from his close relationship with his mother, who suffered from spinal tuberculosis between 1947 and 1955 and, despite this serious illness, lived an extraordinary life until 1980.
“My Neighbor Totoro” reflects an important part of Miyazaki’s childhood, as the seriously ill mother of the film’s two main characters also suffers from spinal tuberculosis and is therefore a reflection of his own mother.
Ultimately, she is also the reason why Miyazaki prefers to focus on female rather than male figures in his works.
Respect for women
Some other examples with which Miyazaki shows his great respect for women and their work ethic can be found in films such as “Porco Rosso”, in which a female engineer repairs an airplane, or “Princess Mononoke”, in which women are portrayed in jobs that are usually carried out by men.
However, that does not mean that Miyazaki cannot also create convincing male protagonists – this is impressively proven by the latest evening filler “The Boy and the Heron”, which was honored with an Oscar in 2024.
So it remains exciting to see what kind of main character Miyazaki presents us with in his next work, which is already in the works. Of course, as always, we will keep you up to date as soon as we have any news.
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Via CBR
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