Editing Hayao Miyazaki (section)

==== Global emergence (1995–2001) ====
[[File:Mononoke hime cgi.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Miyazaki used [[3D rendering]] in ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' (1997) to create writhing "demon flesh" and composite them onto the hand-drawn characters. Approximately five minutes of the film use similar techniques.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=36}}]]

Miyazaki's next film, ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'', originated in sketches he had made in the late 1970s, based on Japanese folklore and the French fairytale ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]''; his original ideas were rejected, and he published his sketches and initial story idea in a book in 1982.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=182}}{{sfn|Greenberg|2018|p=136}} He revisited the project after the success of ''Porco Rosso'' allowed him more creative freedom.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=182}} He chose the [[Muromachi period]] for the setting as he felt Japanese people stopped worshiping nature and began attempting to control it. Miyazaki began writing the film's [[Film treatment|treatment]] in August 1994. While experiencing [[writer's block]] in December,{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=185}} Miyazaki accepted a request to create ''[[On Your Mark]]'', a music video for [[On Your Mark (song)|the song]] by [[Chage and Aska]]. He experimented with computer animation to supplement traditional animation. ''On Your Mark'' premiered as a short before ''Whisper of the Heart''.{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|p=160}} The video's story was partly inspired by the [[Chernobyl disaster]].{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=62}} Miyazaki intentionally made it cryptic, wanting viewers to interpret it themselves.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=63}} Despite the video's popularity, Suzuki said it was not given "100 percent" focus.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=214}}

Miyazaki completed ''Princess Mononoke''{{'}}s formal proposal in April 1995 and began working on storyboards in May.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=185}} He had intended it to be his final directorial work at Studio Ghibli, citing his poorer eyesight and physical pains.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=46}}{{sfn|Tasker|2011|p=292}}{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=189}} In July 1996, [[the Walt Disney Company]] offered Tokuma Shoten a deal to distribute Studio Ghibli's films worldwide (except for [[Southeast Asia]]) through its [[Buena Vista Pictures Distribution|Buena Vista]] and [[Miramax Films]] brands. Miyazaki approved the deal, not personally interested in the money and wanting to support Tokuma Shoten, who had earlier supported him.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=66}} In May 1995, Miyazaki took four art directors to [[Yakushima]]—which had previously provided inspiration for ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind''—to research the forests as inspiration; another art director, [[Kazuo Oga]], traveled to [[Shirakami-Sanchi]].{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=186}} The landscapes in the film were inspired by Yakushima.{{sfn|Ashcraft|2013}} In ''Princess Mononoke'', Miyazaki revisited the ecological and political themes of ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind''.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=203}} His historical research, including that of Eiichi Fujimori, led him to the conclusion that women had more freedom during the prehistoric [[Jomon period]], and he opted to focus on ordinary people in society.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|pp=187–188}}

Miyazaki felt the melancholy of the protagonist, Ashitaka, reflected his own attitude, while he compared Ashitaka's scar to modern physical conditions that children endure, like [[AIDS]]. Animation work began in July 1995,{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=192}} before the storyboards were completed—a first for Miyazaki.{{sfn|Berton|2020|p=183}} He supervised the 144,000 [[cel]]s in the film, about 80,000 of which were key animation.{{sfn|Fuster|2017}}{{sfn|Schnelbach|2017}} ''Princess Mononoke'' was produced with an estimated budget of ¥2.35 billion (approximately {{US$|23.5 million}}),{{sfn|Karrfalt|1997}} making it the most expensive Japanese animated film at the time.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=33}} Approximately fifteen minutes of the film uses computer animation: about five minutes uses techniques such as [[3D rendering]], digital composition, and [[texture mapping]]; the remaining ten minutes uses [[digital ink and paint]].{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=36}} While the original intention was to digitally paint 5,000 of the film's frames, time constraints doubled this, though it remained below ten percent of the final film.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=35}} Animation was completed in mid-June 1997.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=185}} Miyazaki collaborated directly with Hisaishi on the soundtrack from early in production; Hisaishi wrote an "image album" of pieces inspired by the story, which were reworked as production continued.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=189}}

Upon its premiere on July 12, 1997,{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=196}} ''Princess Mononoke'' was critically acclaimed, becoming the first animated film nominated for the [[Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year]], which it won.{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|p=109}} The film was also commercially successful; it was watched by twelve million people by November, grossing {{USD|160 million}},{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|pp=185–186}} and became the [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan|highest-grossing film in Japan]] for several months.{{sfn|Ebert|1999}}{{notetag|name="Titanic"|''Princess Mononoke'' was eclipsed as the [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan|highest-grossing film in Japan]] by ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'', released several months later.{{sfn|Ebert|1999}}}} Its [[home video]] release sold over two million copies within three weeks,{{notetag|According to [[Screen Digest]], about 20% of ''Princess Mononoke''{{'}}s two million copies sold were to first-time buyers of home videos.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=186}}}} and over four million by December 1998.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=186}} For the North American release, Miramax sought to make some cuts to obtain a lower rating than [[PG-13]], but Studio Ghibli refused.{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|p=105}} [[Neil Gaiman]] wrote the English-language script; he met Miyazaki in September 1999, when he traveled to the United States for the film's release and expressed his pleasure at Gaiman's work.{{sfn|Miyazaki|1996|p=446}}{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=72}} While it was largely unsuccessful at the American box office, grossing about {{US$|2.3 million}},{{sfn|Kelly|2022}} it was seen as the introduction of Studio Ghibli to global markets.{{sfn|Tasker|2011|p=292}}

[[File:Nibariki (Hayao Miyazaki's personal studio, Butaya).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Miyazaki opened his own personal office in 1998, named Buta-ya ("pig house").{{sfn|Mishan|2021}}]]

In 1997, Miyazaki contributed to ''[[Visionaire]]'', an arthouse magazine.{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=206}} Tokuma Shoten merged with Studio Ghibli in June 1997.{{sfn|Matsutani|2008}} Within walking distance of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki designed his private office, which he named Buta-ya (meaning "pig house").{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=47}}{{sfn|Mishan|2021}} It was intended as his retirement office for personal projects;{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=78}} he held his farewell party there in January 1998,{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=47}} having left Studio Ghibli on January 14 to be succeeded by Kondō. However, Kondō's death on January 21 impacted Miyazaki, and within days it was announced he would return to Studio Ghibli to direct a new film.{{sfn|Berton|2020|p=183}}{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=47}} A manga by Miyazaki, {{lang|ja-Latn|Doromamire no Tora}}, was published in ''Model Graphix'' in December 1998, based on a book by German tank commander [[Otto Carius]].{{sfn|McCarthy|1999|p=229}} Miyazaki officially returned to Studio Ghibli as its leader on January 16, 1999, taking an active role in employee organization.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=78}}{{sfn|Berton|2020|p=183}}

From 1998, Miyazaki worked on designs for the [[Ghibli Museum]], dedicated to showcasing the studio's works, including several exclusive short films, for which production began in July 1999. Construction for the museum began in March 2000, and it officially opened on October 1, 2001, featuring the short film ''[[Kujiratori]]''. Miyazaki served as its executive director.{{sfn|Miyazaki|1996|pp=446–447}} In 1999, a Japanese theme park engaged Studio Ghibli to create a 20-minute short film about cats; Miyazaki agreed on the condition that it featured returning characters from ''Whisper of the Heart''. [[Aoi Hiiragi]] wrote a manga based on the concept, titled ''[[Baron: The Cat Returns]]''. When the theme park withdrew, Miyazaki expanded the idea into a 45-minute film and, wanting to foster new talent at the studio, assigned it to first-time director [[Hiroyuki Morita]].{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|pp=82–83}}{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|p=118}} The film was released as ''[[The Cat Returns]]'' in 2002.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=83}}

Miyazaki's next film was conceived while on vacation at a mountain cabin with his family and five young girls who were family friends. Miyazaki realized he had not created a film for 10-year-old girls and set out to do so. He read {{lang|ja-Latn|[[shōjo manga|shōjō]]}} manga magazines like {{lang|ja-Latn|[[Nakayoshi]]}} and {{lang|ja-Latn|[[Ribon]]}} for inspiration but felt they only offered subjects on "crushes and romance", which is not what the girls "held dear in their hearts"; he decided to produce the film about a female heroine whom they could look up to,{{sfn|Toyama|2001}} based on two of the girls he had met.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=79}} Production of the film, titled ''[[Spirited Away]]'', commenced in 2000 on a budget of ¥1.9 billion ({{US$|15 million}}). As with ''Princess Mononoke'', the staff experimented with computer animation, but kept the technology at a level to enhance the story, not to "steal the show".{{sfn|Howe|2003a}} ''Spirited Away'' deals with symbols of human greed, symbolizing the 1980s [[Japanese asset price bubble]],{{sfn|Gold|2016}} and a [[Liminality|liminal]] journey through the realm of spirits.{{sfn|Reider|2005|p=9}}{{notetag|Protagonist Chihiro stands outside societal boundaries in the supernatural setting. The use of the word {{lang|ja-Latn|[[kamikakushi]]}} (literally "hidden by gods") within the Japanese title reinforces this symbol. {{harvtxt|Reider|2005}} states: "{{lang|ja-Latn|Kamikakushi}} is a verdict of 'social death' in this world, and coming back to this world from {{lang|ja-Latn|Kamikakushi}} meant 'social resurrection'."{{sfn|Reider|2005|p=9}}}} The film was released on July 20, 2001; it received critical acclaim, winning the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year.{{sfn|Howe|2003b}}{{sfn|Dietz|2010}} The film was commercially successful, selling a record-breaking 21.4 million tickets and earning ¥30.4 billion ({{US$|289.1 million}}) at the box office.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=81}}{{sfn|Sudo|2014}} It became the highest-grossing film in Japan, a record it maintained for almost 20 years,{{sfn|Brzeski|2020}}{{notetag|name="Demon Slayer"|''Spirited Away'' was eclipsed as the highest-grossing film in Japan by ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train]]'' in December 2020.{{sfn|Brzeski|2020}}}} and was the first Japanese film to earn {{US$|200 million}} internationally, prior to its American release.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=81}}

[[Kirk Wise]] directed the English-language version; [[Disney Animation]]'s [[John Lasseter]] wanted Miyazaki to travel to the United States to work on the translated version, but Miyazaki trusted Lasseter to handle it.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=85}} ''Spirited Away''{{'}}s hopping lamp character is seen as an homage to Lasseter's character [[Luxo Jr. (character)|Luxo Jr.]]{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=86}} The film's successful American release through Buena Vista cemented Studio Ghibli's reputation in Western regions{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|pp=113–114}}{{sfn|Howe|2003c}}{{sfn|Avery|2006|p=70}} and established Miyazaki's popularity in North America;{{sfn|Greenberg|2018|p=141}} it was the first animated film to win the [[Golden Bear]] at the [[52nd Berlin International Film Festival|Berlin International Film Festival]] (tied with ''[[Bloody Sunday (film)|Blood Sunday]]''{{--)}}{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=85}} and the first Japanese film to win [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]] at the [[75th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]],{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|pp=113–114}} alongside several other accolades.{{sfn|Lenburg|2012|p=87}} It has been frequently ranked among the greatest films of the 21st century.{{sfn|BBC|2016}}{{sfn|Dargis|Scott|Del Toro|2017}}{{sfn|Pedersen|2021}} Upon completing the film, like with ''Princess Mononoke'', Miyazaki declared it his last.{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|p=116}} He traveled to France in December 2001 and the United States in September 2002 to promote the film.{{sfn|Miyazaki|1996|p=447}} Following the death of Tokuma in September 2000, Miyazaki served as the head of his funeral committee.{{sfn|Miyazaki|1996|p=446}} Miyazaki wrote and directed more short films for the Ghibli Museum: ''[[Koro no Daisanpo]]'', which screened from January 2002, and ''[[Mei and the Kittenbus]]'', which screened from October.{{sfn|Miyazaki|1996|pp=447–448}} One of the short films, ''[[Imaginary Flying Machines]]'', was later screened as [[in-flight entertainment]] by Japan Airlines alongside ''Porco Rosso''.{{sfn|Odell|Le Blanc|2009|p=166}}