This page presents some of the mangakas who were most prominent in an online survey about the hobby of Japanese pop culture in Finland in the 2000s, conducted by Leikki – the Museum of Play in late spring 2023.
Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Ghibli, or at least the films produced by the studio – such as My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), and The Boy and the Heron (2023) – are familiar to many Finns. Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki (b. 1941) and Isao Takahata (1935–2018), along with producer Toshio Suzuki (b. 1948), and over the years it has become one of Japan’s most profitable animation studios. The themes of the studio’s films usually revolve around youth, mankind’s relationship with the environment, and the horrors of war. Most of the studio’s films have also been released with Finnish dubbing.
Many see Hayao Miyazaki as the figurehead of Studio Ghibli. Although other directors work at Studio Ghibli, most of the studio’s successful films have been directed by Miyazaki. Miyazaki has had a long career in animation. He started as an animator at Toei Animation in 1963 and directed his first feature film, Lupin III – The Castle of Cagliostro, in 1979 while working at Telecom Animation Film. He has retired several times, first in 1997, but has always returned to direct “just one more film.”
Studio Ghibli’s films are the result of collaboration among many creators. In the making of The Boy and the Heron, 60 animators worked to produce one minute of finished footage per month, or 12 minutes of footage per year. In addition to this, numerous other contributors were involved in the making of the film, such as directors, screenwriters, editors, and voice actors. Producing anime films and series requires a large workforce and many hours of work. Animation is the third largest industry in Japan.
Satoshi Kon (1963–2010)
Satoshi Kon’s original films, such as the Christmas classic Tokyo Godfathers (2003) and the psychological thrillers Paprika (2006) and Perfect Blue (1998), are among the most popular anime films in the West after those of Studio Ghibli.
Mamoru Oshii (b. 1951)
Known for his contemplative films, such as the art film Angel’s Egg (1985) and the anime film Ghost in the Shell (1995), which deviates significantly from the source manga’s style. His most extensive work is the Kerberos saga, which began in 1987 and includes live-action and animated films, manga publications, and radio dramas.
Osamu Tezuka (1928–1989)
Osamu Tezuka is called the father of manga in Japan, or even the god of manga. His most significant achievement in the world of anime is the Astro Boy manga and the anime based on it (1963–1966). Tezuka developed many innovative animation techniques that saved both time and money, and revolutionized Japanese animation production.
Hideaki Anno (b. 1960)
Hideaki Anno (b. 1960): Best known as the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion (1994–2023). Evangelion was a groundbreaking and experimental mecha series, whose withdrawn protagonist broke all stereotypes of a typical anime protagonist. In addition to this, he has directed live-action films such as Shin Godzilla (2016) and Shin Kamen Rider (2023).
