Hayao Miyazaki Tribute at Coral Gables Art Cinema

By: Laura Caldera – Contributing Writer

Now retired, there is not much left to do but give Hayao Miyazaki the tribute he has earned. The Coral Gables Art Cinema definitely believes so too. The theater will be screening several of Miyazaki’s most renowned films from June 19th to the 25th.

Playing this weekend are My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), Castle in the Sky (1986), Princess Mononoke (1997), Ponyo (2008) and Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Nausicaä, of the Valley of the Wind (1984), The Wind Rises (2013), and Porco Rosso (1992).

The event starts off with My Neighbor Totoro – a story about two sisters who move to a rural part of Japan with their father to be closer to their sick mother. There they begin to uncover the mystery that is their new home and meet the forest spirit, Totoro.

There is also the lesser known, but still delightful manga-turned-film, Porco Rosso – about a notorious fighter pilot veteran of World War I named Marco Pagot who was cursed to live as Porco Rosso (“Crimson Pig” in Italian) for leaving the Italian military forces to do bounty-hunter work.

Following closely on Miyazaki’s love of flight is The Wind Rises. The film is a fictional take on the life of Dr. Jiro Horikoshi, a chief engineer who designed the Mitsubishi A5M and later the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Unable to become a pilot because of nearsightedness, he starts to lose hope on his dreams when a man by the name of Giovanni Battista Caproni tells him that building planes is better than flying them.

The event ends with Nausicaä, of the Valley of the Wind. This story is about the princess of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaä, who amidst post-apocalyptic environments, befriends the Toxic Jungle and learns its secrets.

If you’re interested in joining Coral Gables Art Cinema to honor these legendary works by attending a movie or two, you can visit their website and purchase tickets here. See a full listing of movie times after the bio.

Bio:

Born in January 9th, 1941 in Bunkyō, Tokyo,  Hayao Miyazaki grew up to become one of the greatest and most inspirational Japanese animators the world over.

His career began in 1963 with Toei Animation, where he worked on his first major film as a key animator and scene designer in Hols: Prince of the Sun in 1968. In 1971, Miyazaki left Toei animation to work for A Pro, where he co-directed Lupin III with Isao Takahata. It wasn’t until 1985 that Miyazaki and other animators and directors decided to start their own company, Studio Ghibli.

Miyazaki’s career changed from recognized Japanese animator to accomplished animating genius during the 1980’s with Studio Ghibli’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Yet it wasn’t until 1997 that Miyazaki gained recognition worldwide for his work with Princess Mononoke. His follow-ups, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle solidified that reputation and made him a household name.

Hiyao Miyazaki has been an inspiration to young and old minds with the movies he has brought to life and has influenced many with his work, such as the creators of Tangled, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Little Mermaid, Up, and Monsters Inc, to name a few.

My Neighbor Totoro: June 19th @ 1pm, June 20th @ 1 pm, June 21st @11 am (dubbed)

Spirited Away: June19th @ 3:30 pm, June 20th @ 3:30 pm, June 21st @ 3:30 pm (dubbed)The Wind Rises: June 19th @ 6:30 pm, June 20th @ 6:15 pm, June 21st @ 6:15 pm (dubbed)Princess Mononoke: June 19th @ 9 pm, June 20th @ 9 pm, June 21st @ 9 pm (dubbed)Ponyo: June 20th @ 11 am, June 21st @ 1 pm (dubbed)Castle in the Sky: June 22nd @ 6:30 pm, June 23rd @ 6:30 pmPorco Rosso: June 22nd @ 9 pm, June 23rd @ 9 pmKiki’s Delivery Service: June 24th @ 6:30 pm, June 25th @ 6:30 pmNausicaä, of the Valley of the Wind: June 24th @ 9 pm, June 25th @ 9 pm

 

Coral Gables Art Cinema is located at 260 Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables. For more info, visit their website at gablescinema.com