But for this critic, “Howl’s Moving Castle” will always be one step ahead of the others. And “Spirited Away” is a fan favorite, dripping with symbolism and pushing the limits of imagination.

While “Nausicaä” tackles both war and environmental issues head on, “Ponyo” caters to smaller children, conveying a simple story full of magic. In July, audiences will get the chance to see four Miyazaki films on the big screen: “Spirited Away,” “Ponyo,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” and “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.” Hayao Miyazaki has wooed generations of children and adults with these beautifully animated stories, ranging from whimsical to fantastical, with larger-than-life characters, odd scenarios and animist tendencies. So, as long as Miyazaki keeps coming out of retirement to make more films, Midtown Cinema will keep playing his films en masse-or, at least, for a full weekend. There is always another creative endeavor, and that is something that he cannot pass up.

But it seems that retirement is just not interesting enough for the man. The amount of time and effort it takes to pull off each masterpiece, especially with the quality that Miyazaki brings to the production, make it understandable that he would want to take a break. In most anime films, each frame is more akin to a painting than an animation, and the stories are rich with meaning and symbolism.

The work of Studio Ghibli has served as a bridge for many into the world of anime. He retires-and then comes out of retirement. That is the great trick that Miyazaki, renowned Japanese animator/director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, has played on us time and time again. You may ask: How is that possible? How can you retire again?Īh, well.

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