Happy Retirement, Miyazaki-san

You know those childhood dreams we have of aspiring to be something much greater and working for a company we knew and loved since we were young? That dream of mine was to be an animator at Studio Ghibli, one of my favorite animated film studios.

They are the ones responsible for memorable films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away.

The grand mastermind behind all these memorable, heartfelt films is the wonderful Hayao Miyazaki. Unfortunately, for all fans of his work, Miyazaki announced this year that he will be calling it quits and is retiring from Studio Ghibli. As a fan of his work, it's truly sad to see him go, but we were able to get tons of fantastic films from him.

Miyazaki was not only the director and screenwriter of several popular Ghibli films, he's also a notable manga artist, animator, and producer as well and is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli. The success of his film, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (created before the foundation of the studio) was what started Studio Ghibli, which later went on to produce its first official film, Castle in the Sky.

Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro became acclaimed films and Totoro even got his face as Studio Ghibli's official logo.

My personal favorite film, Spirited Away, is perhaps one of Miyzaki's most successful films not only in Japan but in the U.S as well. It has become the top grossing film in Japan of all time and has become the only anime/traditionally animated film that won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It's obvious most of Miyazaki's work has become critically renowned and popular all over the world.

On September 1, 2013, Miyazaki announced that The Wind Rises would be his last featured film before retirement. He left with a very impressive legacy that we shall never forget and will continue to watch and cherish for the rest of our lives.