Hayao Miyazaki

He might be the later comer in the field, but Hayao Miyazaki is definitely the most familiar name on the list. The man has spent years after years mastering his filmmaking skills, transporting the audience from all over the world to beautiful, astounding, and unique animations. His very first impact on the industry came in the form of "Nausicaa of The Wind Valleys", which is a film adaptation of a successful Japanese manga with the same title.

Littering his tales with hopeful and optimistic underdogs, Hayao Miyazaki shows a keen interest in the human spirit's resilience beyond adversity and challenges - a wonderful notion that's successfully delivered in the way Miyazaki tackles the prominent conflicts in his movies. Whether it's a story of some dragon henchmen with a tragic past, or an old, embittered witch trying to rescue her lover's heart; the director always wants to instill into our collective mind a sense of empathy and compassion, reminding us that they are our best weapons against monsters and devils.

Ever since the start of his career, Miyazaki simply had never released even just one bad movie, which is why we encourage our readers to dive further into his entire filmography. Trust us, your whole being will be refreshed by his positive perspectives and storytelling!

Year: 1941

Notable works: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke