Starting Point 1979-1996 by Hayao Miyazaki

It's great being at home on Christmas. Visiting family, eating well at home, playing Nintendo games  with my brother and seeing old friends. It's also great to take a look back to my old stuff; mostly books and movies. As I don't like carrying heavy stuff around, since I got the Kindle, I almost don't read on paper, but I remember I left at home a couple of books that have not been published on digital, just yet.

One of these books is a collection of essays, lectures and comments written from 1979 to 1996 by Hayao Miyazaki, published in Japan under the title 出発点―1979~1996 on August 1996 and that Viz Media published in English on August 2009 as Starting Point: 1979-1996. These readings are a unique opportunity to dig deep inside Miyazaki's head and understand his thoughts on manga, animation and even  Japanese society and culture in those first years in which he went from being an animator at TOEI to founding together with Isao Takahata, one of the most successful animation studios in Japan: Studio Ghibli.

I Hope the English translation of the second volume titled in Japanese: 折り返し点―1997~2008 and published on July 2008 is already on its way. If I would know how to read Japanese, I wouldn't have to wait more but that's my tragedy. I should start learning one of this days.


Stating Point: 1979~1996 by Hayao Miyazaki

Publisher: Viz Media
Release date: 2009-VIII-4
Language: English
Number of pages: 461
Size: 9 x 1.5 x 6 inches
Retail price: $29.99
ISBN-10: 1421505940
ISBN-13: 978-1421505947



出発点―1979~1996 宮崎 駿


Publisher: Studio Ghibli (スタジオジブリ)
Release date: 1996-VIII-1
Language: Japanese
Number of pages: 580
Size: 18.6 x 13 x 3.6 cm
Retail price: ¥ 2808
ISBN-10: 4198605416
ISBN-13: 978-4198605414