Via Netflix
Hayao Miyazaki is a name synonymous with respect and reverence in the world of animation. As a master animator, Miyazaki has created some of the most magnificent animated films of all time, including the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away – the only foreign film to ever win Best Animated Feature. However, the journey of bringing his movies to American audiences has not been without challenges and setbacks.
In the 1960s, Miyazaki began his career as a television and film animator. His second film, The Castle of Cagliostro, released in 1979, laid the foundation for his future success and also brought him significant difficulties when it came to introducing his work to Western viewers. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, considered Miyazaki’s first masterpiece, played a pivotal role in the establishment of Studio Ghibli.
Unfortunately, when Nausicaä arrived in the United States, it underwent a 95-minute English dubbed adaptation that drastically altered the original story. The changes included modifying character names, removing substantial portions of the storyline, and downplaying the strong female presence in the marketing. These alterations significantly diminished the quality of storytelling and left Miyazaki profoundly dissatisfied, fueling his resolve to adopt a “no-edits” approach for future foreign releases.
In the mid-’90s, Studio Ghibli entered into a deal with Disney, granting them release rights to their films. Initially, this collaboration proved successful, with Disney handling the dubbing and selecting suitable voice actors to make the films more appealing to English-speaking audiences. Movies such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky aligned well with Disney’s family-friendly image. However, the release of Princess Mononoke caught Disney off-guard as it deviated from their expectations of a typical “princess” film.
With its dark undertones, violence, surreal creatures, leprosy, and a clash between nature (represented by the Spirits) and humans, Princess Mononoke diverged from the lightheartedness of Miyazaki’s previous works. Despite its massive success at the Japanese box office and critical acclaim, Disney found itself uncertain about how to handle the film. They eventually passed it to Miramax, then led by the now-disgraced Harvey Weinstein. Known for his inclination to make cuts and clash with directors, Weinstein proposed reducing the film’s runtime from 135 minutes to 90. Miyazaki, however, had a bold response…
In a now-iconic gesture, the director sent a genuine katana (a Japanese sword) to Weinstein, accompanied by a simple note that read, “no cuts.” This act showcased Miyazaki’s unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of his work. In a 2005 interview with The Guardian, Miyazaki shared his experience, stating, “Actually, my producer did that. Although I did go to New York to meet this man, this Harvey Weinstein, and I was bombarded with this aggressive attack, all these demands for cuts… I defeated him,” he added with a smile.
Thanks to Miyazaki’s unwavering commitment, Princess Mononoke was saved and is now widely regarded as one of his greatest films, though every film he has created has received immense praise. The renowned author Neil Gaiman was brought onboard to write the English dub, making the film more accessible to Western audiences. It was released in 2.3 million theaters, garnering attention from critics and audiences alike and leaving a lasting impact on filmmakers, including James Cameron, who acknowledged its influence on his blockbuster hit Avatar.
If you needed yet another reason to admire this legendary artist, his defiance of the vulgar Harvey Weinstein with a literal sword is undoubtedly a compelling one.
