Last February, Japanese TV network NHK World started to broadcast a documentary series about Japanese animation director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, recorded over a period of 10 years.
Video info:
An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the genius of Japan's foremost living film director, Hayao Miyazaki -- creator of some of the world's most iconic and enduring anime feature films. Miyazaki allowed a single documentary filmmaker to shadow him at work, as he dreamed up characters and plot lines for what would become his 2008 blockbuster, "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea." Miyazaki explores the limits of his physical ability and imagination to conjure up memorable protagonists. This program is the first of a 4-part documentary, "10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki." Episode 2 will air on March 30 (JST). Episodes 3 and 4 will air in April and May. All episodes will be available on our video-on-demand site after the broadcast.
In the history of Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki is probably the film director with the greatest number of documentaries behind him showcasing him at work. The longtime relationship of Studio Ghibli with the Japanese TV network NHK has given us the chance to take a glance into his creative process over the last decades. 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki is a new four-part documentary series by NHK World, based on the footage from those previous documentaries, retold for an english audience. Here, a chronological list of these documentaries that in some cases were also published with english subtitles, back in the day, on DVD and Blu-ray
■ 2017 | Owaranai hito Hayao Miyazaki (終わらない人 宮﨑駿)
Even after being retired from making long feature films, Hayao Miyazaki is as busy as ever. This 69 minute documentary shows Miyazaki working on the short film Kemushi no Boro and using new CG animation techniques for the first time. January 29, 2007. Catalog number: NSDS-22364■ 2013 | Yume to kyōki no ōkoku (夢と狂気の王国)
In this two-hour long documentary released theatrically worldwide, director Mami Sunada follows Studio Ghibli filmmakers Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki as they work to release two films simultaneously, Kaze Tachinu and Kaguya Hime no Monogatari. English subtitles. Catalog number DVD: VWDZ-8162 | Blu-ray: VWBS-1528
This two-hour long documentary follows Miyazaki in his quest to make his latest film Kaze Tachinu and his later declaration of retirement. Catalog number DVD: NSDS-19809 | Blu-ray: NSBS-19808■ 2011 | Futari / Kokuriko-zaka ・Chichi to Ko no 300-nichi sensō ~ Miyazaki Hayao × Miyazaki Gorō (ふたり コクリコ坂・父と子の300日戦争 ～宮崎 駿×宮崎吾朗～)
In this 73 minute long documentary we follow Miyazaki's son Gōro on the making of his film From Up on Poppy Hill and the disputes with his father. Catalog number: DVD: VWDZ-8156 | Blu-ray: VWDG-8156
■ 2009 | Ponyo wa kōshite umareta ~ Miyazaki Hayao no shikō katei ~ (ポニョはこうして生まれた。 ~宮崎駿の思考過程~ )
This 5 DVD | 2 Blu-ray set features over 12 hours of the making of Gake no Ue no Poyo. The first press includes a 6-page Ponyo sticker book and a bonus drawing tutorial DVD hosted by producer Toshio Suzuki. Catalog number DVD: VWDZ-8128 | Blu-Ray: VWBS-1093. These discs were also included in the Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray Box sets of the film with the catalog numbers: VWDZ-8146 and VWBS-1079 respectively.
■ 2007-2008 | Hayao Miyazaki's work (宮崎 駿の仕事)
This DVD collects two NHK documentaries, the first aired on March 27, 2007: Eiga o tsukuru Miyazaki Hayao sōsaku no himitsu (映画を創る 宮崎駿・創作の秘密) [59min] and the second aired on August 5, 2008: Miyazaki Hayao no subete “PONYO” mitchaku 300-nichi (宮崎駿のすべて~“ポニョ”密着300日) [87min] that covers Miyazaki during the completion of his latest film Gake no Ue no Ponyo. Catalog number: NSDS-12876
This 5 DVD | 2 Blu-ray set features over 12 hours of the making of Gake no Ue no Poyo. The first press includes a 6-page Ponyo sticker book and a bonus drawing tutorial DVD hosted by producer Toshio Suzuki. Catalog number DVD: VWDZ-8128 | Blu-Ray: VWBS-1093. These discs were also included in the Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray Box sets of the film with the catalog numbers: VWDZ-8146 and VWBS-1079 respectively.■ 2007-2008 | Hayao Miyazaki's work (宮崎 駿の仕事)
This DVD collects two NHK documentaries, the first aired on March 27, 2007: Eiga o tsukuru Miyazaki Hayao sōsaku no himitsu (映画を創る 宮崎駿・創作の秘密) [59min] and the second aired on August 5, 2008: Miyazaki Hayao no subete “PONYO” mitchaku 300-nichi (宮崎駿のすべて~“ポニョ”密着300日) [87min] that covers Miyazaki during the completion of his latest film Gake no Ue no Ponyo. Catalog number: NSDS-12876
This documentary released on DVD is a present that Studio Ghibli made for the founder of Pixar John Lasseter for his invaluable help provided in the distribution of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away in the US. English subtitles. Catalog number: VWDZ8054
This two-disc DVD set collects the documentaries that follow Studio Ghibli founders Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki in various trips to places that inspired them in their works. In the first documentary Takahata visits Canada to meet the animator Frederic Back. In the second, Miyazaki visits France and the Sahara Desert to follow the footsteps of Antoine de Saint-Expéry. English subtitles. Catalog number: VWDZ-8062
This 6 hour and 40min documentary on how Princess Mononoke was born was first released as a 3 VHS tapes box set and re-released in 2001 as a 3 DVD box set. It has no English subtitles. Catalog number: VWDZ-8016
