Hayao Miyazaki is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist, renowned worldwide for his significant contributions to the field of animation. He was born on January 5, 1941, in Tokyo, Japan. Miyazaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a major animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan's most beloved and critically acclaimed animated films.

Throughout his career, Miyazaki has gained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films. His works often explore themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world. His protagonists are often strong girls or young women, and several of his films present morally ambiguous antagonists with redeeming qualities.

Some of Miyazaki's most notable works include My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle. Spirited Away became Japan's highest-grossing film and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, frequently ranked among the greatest films of the 21st century.

Over the years, Miyazaki's works have been subject to scholarly analysis and have inspired numerous animators, directors, and writers around the world. In recognition of his outstanding cultural contributions, Miyazaki was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2012 and received the Academy Honorary Award for his impact on animation and cinema in 2014.