Artist #12: Hayao Miyazaki

The first movie I can recall seeing, in full detail, is My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki. It was bright, fantastical, and told a wonderful story. All of the movies this man has produced have had a profound effect on me and my art. No matter how dark the stories seemed to get, they were always light-hearted, and filled with fun adventures. They way he can capture emotion in his characters and the magnificent landscapes he creates always leave me slack-jawed and longing for more.

Calm, serene settings and warm colors help to amplify the feelings of happiness in his work, along with his ability to capture facial expressions perfectly serve to amplify the warm-hearted tale he tells. Even his blues and other cool colors are lined with light and smooth, wavy edges to keep the calm atmosphere. When he does bring forward a darker mood, the darks accompany, blacks becoming deeper and more expansive before being gently pushed back by light as a scene plays through. His work is always a treat to behold, and his animations and art serve to drive me forward and remind me why I love the world of art so much.