News culture “I never think about the audience” The big boss of Pixar had the opportunity to ask Hayao Miyazaki a question and was not prepared for this answer
Disney’s D23 has delighted fans of animated films with big announcements. But this event is also an opportunity for creatives to share their professional experiences, confides Pixar’s artistic director to the public, saying he asked Hayao Miyazaki a question and did not expect this answer at all.
A special exchange
When we talk about Japanese animation, some cite the latest releases of the moment, while others are content to mention just one name, that of Hayao Miyazaki. At 83 years old, he is considered the undisputed master of his craft and the renowned director is not ready to put down his tools even 45 years after his first film. While Miyazaki is known for his great, engaging feature films with deep themes, the creative is also known for the brevity of these remarks, which can sometimes prove confusing. And it seems that Pete Docter, Pixar’s artistic director, also had the right to face the Japanese director’s scathing words.
If Pete Docter used D23 to unveil Pixar’s upcoming projects, the event was an opportunity for the studio boss to share with the public the process of creating the new emotions of Vice-Versa 2. He explains that he met Hayao Miyazaki during a press trip and asked him a question to understand how he approaches his cinema, obviously to find new inspiration.
When do you make changes for yourself and when do you make changes for the public?
A pertinent question, given the recent difficulties that Disney has faced at the box office. Apart from Vice-Versa 2, which broke an audience record at the beginning, it must be said that the American company’s previous productions have not lived up to expectations. Hayao Miyazaki simply replies: “I never think about the public.”, a reaction that does justice to what is being said about the Japanese director, but it remains very interesting and the artistic director of Pixar was able to learn much more from this exchange than we can imagine. Of course, if Miyazaki had allowed himself to be influenced by audience expectations, his performances would not have had the same flair.
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It is clear that Hayao Miyazaki has earned the respect of creatives in the world of cinema over the years. While his latest film The Boy and the Heron was a huge success in Japan when it was released, Miyazaki has not said his last word and still has projects in the pipeline. Whenever a new feature film by the director is announced, everyone thinks it will be his last film, and yet Goro Miyazaki – the filmmaker’s son – told the Japanese press last year that his father was working on what he called “An action-adventure film, nostalgic and reminiscent of the good old days“. This statement should be taken with caution, especially since Hayao Miyazaki is no longer very young; the eighty-year-old should not commit to a project that he was unable to complete.