Artist-writer-director-producer Hayao Miyazaki is often called "the Walt Disney of Japan." His animated theatrical features have been smash hits in Japan, and many, including My Neighbor Totoroand Kiki's Delivery Service, are already familiar to American audiences. Now, with Disney-Miramax's imminent release of Princess Mononoke,, Miyazaki's masterwork and one of the top-grossing film in all Japanese history, this "animation master" is about to take America and the world by storm.

Mixing first-hand interview and personal insights with critical evaluations of art, plot, production qualities, and literary themes, McCarthy provides a film-by-film appraisal that examines technique as well as message. She reveals Miyazaki to be not just a master of the art of animation, but a meticulous craftsman who sees his work as a medium for shaping the humanistic and environmental concerns of our times.

An overview of the artist and his early career is followed by in-depth examinations of seven major Miyazaki films: Nausica of the Valley of Wind, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Castle of Cagliostro, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, and Princess Mononoke. Included are design and technical data, story synopses and character sketches, personnel and filmography data, and critical evaluation. Illustrations throughout, in color and black and white, show the detail and vigor of Miyazaki's art.

Written for anime fans as well as students of film, literature, and popular culture, McCarthy's book raises animation criticism to a whole new level and is an essential guide to the work of a world-class filmmaker.

London-based Helen McCarthyis author of Anime! A Beginner's Guide to Japanese Animation, The Anime Movie Guide, and (with Jonathan Clements) The Erotic Anime Movie Guide. She appears frequently on radio and TV and at conferences around the world.

"Another publication that retailers can recommend to anyone interested in learning more about Miyazaki and his films is Helen McCarthy's monograph, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation. . .provides a very useful introduction to the director and his works, managing to paint a consistent portrait of the man by matching biographical details with the themes which run throughout Miyazaki's extraordinary body of work." -ICV2.com November, 2002

"Ms. McCarthy chose several of Miyazaki's most famous films and goes into depth on their creation, the inspiration and the events in Miyazaki's life at the time of creation and afterwardMs. McCarthy's pacing is excellent, keeping a constant level of interest with uncomplicated but on target accounts from Miyazaki's life." -Jodie Heard, Akadot.com

Introducing the genius behind Japan's modern animation classics, the creator of Totoro, Kiki, and Princess Mononoke.

An illustrated guide to the works of one of the world's greatest animation artists, timed for the new Miramax release of "Princess Mononoke"--Miyazaki's masterwork and the top-grossing film in all Japanese history. 60 illustrations. in color.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-239). Filmography: p. 217-229.

Helen McCarthy is the former editor of Anime UK and Manga Mania magazines, and the author of The Anime Movie Guide and Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation. She has been awarded the Japan Festival Award for outstanding contributions to the understanding of Japanese culture.

PREFACE/ NOTE TO READERS/ CAPTIONS TO COLOR PAGES/ HAYAO MIYAZAKI: Life and Work/ Early Years/ Into Animation/ A Basic Guide: Animation Techniques/ Movies and Manga/ Under Pressure/ Future Perfect? CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO: The Princess and the Thief/ NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS: Princess Messiah/ CASTLE IN THE SKY: Flight to Adventure/ MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: The Beauty of Simplicity/ KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE: The Quest for Confidence/ PORCO ROSSO: The Princess and the Pig/ PRINCESS MONONOKE: The Nature of Love/ THE MIYAZAKI MACHINE: More Than Just Movies/ FILMOGRAPHY AND SELECTED MANGA/ NOTES/ BIBLIOGRAPHY