Born in Tokyo, Japan. Hayao Miyazaki, known as "The Japanese Walt Disney," is one of the greatest animators and directors in Japan. The entertaining plots, compelling characters and breathtaking animation in his films have earned him international renown from critics as well as public recognition within Japan. Disney's commitment to introduce his films to the rest of the world will let more people appreciate the high-quality works Miyazaki has given us. Miyazaki started his career in 1963 as an animator at the studio Toei Douga, and was subsequently involved in many early classics of Japanese animation. From the beginning, he commanded attention with his incredible ability to draw, and the seemingly-endless stream of movie ideas he proposed. In 1971, he moved to A Pro with Isao Takahata, then to Nippon Animation in 1973, where he was heavily involved in the World Masterpiece Theater TV animation series for the next five years. In 1978, he directed his first TV series, "Mirai Shônen Konan" (1978) ("Conan, The Boy in Future"), then moved to Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1979 to direct his first movie, the classic RUPAN SANSEI: KARIOSUTORO NO SHIRO / LUPIN III: CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO (1979). In 1984, he released KAZE NO TANI NO NAUSHIKA / NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS (1984, WARRIORS OF THE WIND), based on the manga (comic) of the same title he had started two years before. The success of the film led to the establishment of a new animation studio, Studio Ghibli, at which Miyazaki has since directed, written, and produced many other films with Takahata. All of these films enjoyed critical and box office successes. In particular, Miyazaki's MONONOKE-HIME / PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997) received the Japan Academy Award for Best Film and was the highest-grossing (about US$150 million) domestic film in Japan's history. In addition to animation, Miyazaki also draws manga. His major work was the "Nausicaä" manga, an epic tale he worked on intermittently from 1982 to 1994 while he was busy making animated films. Another manga, "Hikoutei Jidai", was later evolved into his 1992 film KURENAI NO BUTA (1992). Recent directing credits include SEN TO CHIHIRO NO KAMIKAKUSHI / SPIRITED AWAY and KUJIRA TORI (both 2001), KORO NO DAI-SANPO and MEI TO KONEKO BASU / MEI AND THE KITTEN BUS (both 2002), HAURU NO UGOKU SHIRO / HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2004), HOSHI WO KATTA HI, YADOSAGASHI and MIZUGOMU MONMON (all 2006), and GAKE NO UE NO PONYO / PONYO ON THE CLIFF (scheduled for release in 2008).  Best Achievement in Animated Features Films 2002: SPIRITED AWAY - Producer  Nominated for Achievement in Animated Features Films 2005: HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE - Producer 2 nominations, 1 Award