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Studio Ghibli will release a series of art books titled “Miyazaki Hayao Image Board Collection,” starting with volumes “1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” and “2. Laputa: Castle in the Sky” on December 5, 2024. These books will bring together in one collection many image boards and storyboards drawn by the renowned film director and animator Miyazaki Hayao as possible.

Animation film director Miyazaki Hayao was born in Tokyo in 1941. He joined Toei Doga (now Toei Animation) in 1963 after graduating from Gakushuin University’s department of political economy. He became the co-founder of Studio Ghibli in 1985. The works he is most famous for include “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984), “Laputa: Castle in the Sky” (1986), “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988), “Princess Mononoke” (1997), “Spirited Away” (2001), “Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004), “Ponyo” (2008), and “The Wind Rises” (2013). His latest directorial work, “The Boy and the Heron”, was released in 2023.

“Spirited Away” won the Golden Bear at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival and the Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards. Miyazaki received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival. In 2012, he was designated as a Person of Cultural Merit, and in November 2014, he received the Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In March 2024, “The Boy and the Heron” won the Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards, marking his second Academy Award. In May of the same year, Studio Ghibli received the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Miyazaki also won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called the “Nobel Prize of Asia”, in September. He planned and produced the concept for the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, which opened in 2001, and currently serves as the honorary director.

Image boards are essential to Miyazaki’s creative process. He draws them to explore the world of the film he’s about to create and share his vision with his staff. The “Miyazaki Hayao Image Board Collection” will feature as many image boards and storyboards drawn by Miyazaki as possible.

The books are a compilation of all the original hand-drawn artwork by Miyazaki found in Studio Ghibli. The artwork is scanned with a high-precision scanner capturing the exact colors and textures. Even previously published artwork will be included in high resolution, along with many unpublished works. The large format (350mm x 257mm) allows the images to be reproduced at or near their original size.

Each volume will cover a different Studio Ghibli feature film directed by Miyazaki, starting with “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”. The series is planned to also include earlier works that Miyazaki was involved in before the founding of Studio Ghibli.

The end of each volume features new interviews with producer Suzuki Toshio, sharing anecdotes about the works and the creation of the images. Commenting on the publication, Suzuki said, “There hasn’t been a comprehensive collection of Miya-san’s image boards until now. I might be the most excited about this publication.”

The “Miyazaki Hayao Image Board Collection” will be released in December 2024. “1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” will be priced at 4,200 JPY (plus tax) and “2. Laputa: Castle in the Sky” at 4,800 JPY (plus tax).

Subsequent volumes are planned for release, including “3. My Neighbor Totoro” in March 2025. The series will cover Studio Ghibli feature films directed by Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli feature films that Miyazaki was involved in, and other short films and early works. For more details, please visit the information page.

One of the defining characteristics of Miyazaki Hayao’s filmmaking is his habit of starting with image boards. These image boards contain all the necessary information for the film, including time, space, character expressions, personalities, and movements. Takahata Isao once told me, “No one else can do this except Miya-san.” However, there hasn’t been a comprehensive collection of Miya-san’s image boards until now. I might be the most excited about this publication.

Miyazaki Hayao Image Board Collection 1
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Publication date: December 5, 2024
Pages: 108
ISBN: 978-4-00-028831-6
Price: 4,200 JPY (plus tax)

Miyazaki Hayao Image Board Collection 2
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Publication date: December 5, 2024
Pages: 136
ISBN: 978-4-00-028832-3
Price: 4,800 JPY (plus tax)

Miyazaki Hayao Image Board Collection 3
My Neighbor Totoro
Publication date: March 2025 (tentative)
ISBN: 978-4-00-028833-0
Price: TBD

Subsequent volumes and included works

Theatrical films directed by Miyazaki Hayao:
Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, The Wind Rises, The Boy and the Heron

Studio Ghibli theatrical films in which Miyazaki Hayao was involved:
Whisper of the Heart, Tales from Earthsea, The Secret World of Arrietty, From Up on Poppy Hill

Other short films and early works:
On Your Mark, Ghibli Museum original works, TV anime, etc.