Hayao Miyazaki, one of the reputable name in the animation and film industry. Who is he and what makes me choose him as a successful entrepreneur? Hayao Miyazaki is a successful animator, director and producer. He was born on January 5^th 1941, in Tokyo, Japan. Miyazaki’s father, Katsuji Miyazaki, run a family business Miyazaki Airplanes, a factory that manufactured war aircraft’s part. Miyazaki started his early studies at an elementary school in Utsonomiya City. Ever since he was young, he has shown an interest in Manga, a Japanese-style comic. He even dreamt to be a mangaka or comic artist. As he grew older, he began pursuing his higher education at Gakushuin University in Tokyo and earned himself bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science in 1963. However, his passion is more to arts and anime styled arts. Thus explains why he joined the university’s club, children’s literature club.

In April 1963, he joined a huge Japanese animation company, Toei Animation Pvt Ltd in conjunction to pursuing his dream as an animator. His first career was not easy. He worked at the lowest tier in the animation industry, which is to fill in the cell-by-cell movements of characters and objects. In 1968, he gets to work on an animated project ‘Hols: Prince of the Sun’ as chief animator and scene designer. In 1971, he left Toei Animation and joined an animation company called ‘A Pro’. This year was the downfall of his career. The animated project, ‘Pippi Longstockings’ was a failure. Later in June 1973, he moved to Zuiyo Pictures and became the background-scene artist for ‘Heidi: Girl of the Alps’. The rise of his career started on 1979, when he co-directed ‘Lupin the 3^rd: The Castle of Cagliostro’. In 1984, ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’ was released and it hits the box office. Due to this success, Hayao Miyazaki created Studio Ghibli, along with Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. Since the creation of Studio Ghibli on 15 June 1985, the art style in Japanese animation industry drastically changed. This proves that Miyazaki’s innovation brings influence to other animators and illustrators as well.

Throughout Hayao Miyazaki’s life, he has received an enormous amount of rewards and achievements. Based on Internet Movie Data Base (IMDb), total awards received by Hayao Miyazaki under Studio Ghibli label are 120 wins and 177 nominations. Some of his remarkable works in the animation industry was:

1. Spirited Away (2001 in Japan, 2003 in USA)

2. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004 in Japan, 2005 in USA)

Won: Nominated 1 oscar, 14 wins and 19 nominations

Cumulative Worldwide Gross: $235,184,110

3.Princess Mononoke (1997)

Won: 13 wins and 6 nominations

Cumulative Worldwide Gross: $159,375,308    

(Based on IMDb’s data as of May 2019)

Besides making films and animation, Miyazaki also opened a museum designed by himself, The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan.

The museum exhibits all the artworks from Studio Ghibli. It also showcases exclusive short film released only on the museum’s theatre. The Museum also sells merchandise of Miyazaki’s film, ‘Straw Hat Café’ a Ghibli-themed café where it serves foods and beverage from Miyazaki’s film and the ‘Tri Hawks’, a reading room and a bookstore which filled with books recommended by Miyazaki himself. To conclude, Hayao Miyazaki’s estimated net worth is $60 million (The Wealth Record, Jan 21 2019).

            Behind all of Hayao Miyazaki’s success, there lies the downfalls. In order to reach the success that he gained today, he had to go through all the hardships. Starts at the bottom, he learnt the very basic of animation for a few years. After a few years comfortable in a big company, Toei Animation, he took the risk to move to another animation company. Unfortunately, his company’s animation project failed. Then, he moved to another animation firm, Zuiyo Picture. From there, his career got bigger and better. He saw the opportunity lies in front of him if he open up his own animation firm, thus, the creation of Studio Ghibli. One controversy that has sparked in Miyazaki’s film was The Wind Rises (2013), his ‘last’ feature film before he announces his retirement. The main character in The Wind Rises were inspired by a historical figure in Japanese history, Jiro Horikoshi, chief engineer at Mitsubishi Internal Combustion Engine Company Limited or to be precise, the designer of Japan’s World War II, Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter Plane. These created an uproar among the internet users as well as politicians as Miyazaki uses Horikoshi as a protagonist, whose planes were used in attack on Pearl Harbor. However, Miyazaki responded that this film was solely made for his admiration for Jiro Horikoshi, as someone who works in aeronautical engineering. After all, Miyazaki is known for his pacifist and environmentalist traits based on his previous films. According to Mainichi Shimbun, Japan’s major newspaper, Miyazaki said “He (Horikoshi) was someone who resisted demands from the military”. Miyazaki also being criticised as this film feature a lot of his characters smoking, which is not suitable for children. While it was historically true, Miyazaki announced earlier that this film targeted an adult viewer.

            Hayao Miyazaki proves that through arts, entrepreneurship still can be done. Arts, if it’s done and delivered in the right way, we can sell the products and services. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli plays an important role in Japan’s economy. It does not affect only in the art industry, Miyazaki also introduces the Japanese culture throughout the world with his magnificent artworks and films.

            In my opinion, to become a successful entrepreneur, one must take the risk. Failure is a sign that we need to fix things that we are flawed. Through that, we know what is wrong and what is right. In addition to that, we need to grab the opportunity and take the risk. Opportunity does not come twice. For instance, if Miyazaki does not take the risk of being independent and established Studio Ghibli, will he be as successful as he is today? I doubt that he will be renown throughout the world. In other words, opportunity does not wait for us, we wait for the chance to grab the opportunity lies ahead.

            Furthermore, an art entrepreneur should be smart in selling their artworks. Always dream big and target that your artworks will be sold internationally. Malaysian artist, specifically, try to reach a bigger audience, not just local audience but international audience. Enlarge your scope vision and plan your business strategically. For example, Walt Disney offered Studio Ghibli to distribute the Ghibli’s film in the U.S market. Knowing that it will consume a large sum of money at first, Miyazaki as the CEO still take the risk and join partnership with Disney. Later, lots of Studio Ghibli’s movie reached a bigger audience and thus hits the box office.