Hayao Miyazaki: Preserving Hand-Drawn Style While Evolving with Technology
Hayao Miyazaki is a name that instantly brings to mind beautifully crafted, hand-drawn animation and enchanting storytelling. As the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he’s behind some of the most beloved animated films of all time — think Spirited Away (2001), Princess Mononoke (1997), and My Neighbor Totoro (1988). His signature style is soft, painterly backgrounds mixed with expressive characters that feel alive.
Miyazaki is a die-hard advocate for traditional animation, even as CGI has taken over the industry. He’s been doing this for decades and once reflected on the shift to digital animation, saying, “civilization moves on,” but also acknowledging how lucky he was to have spent his career crafting films by hand.
Born in Tokyo on January 5, 1941, Hayao Miyazaki initially studied political science and economics at Gakushuin University but quickly found his true passion in animation. After working at Toei Animation for years, he co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, creating a powerhouse of hand-drawn animation.
Spirited Away, 2001.
What Makes Miyazaki’s Art So Special?
If you’ve ever seen Miyazaki’s sketches, you know how full of life they are. His watercolor work has this raw, expressive energy — scribbly pencil lines, splashes of color, yet somehow everything feels perfectly in place. This artistic flair carries over into his films, where every frame is hand-drawn, bringing a warmth and depth that CGI often struggles to replicate.
This love for traditional art even extends to the Ghibli Museum Sketching Set, a watercolor kit he personally curated. The 24 colors in the set were chosen by Miyazaki himself, reflecting the unique hues often found in his films. It’s just another way he encourages the art of hand-drawn storytelling.
Miyazaki Thinks AI is an ‘Insult to Life Itself
Miyazaki has made it clear — he’s not a fan of AI-generated animation. In a viral video, he watched an AI-generated demo of a grotesque, zombie-like creature and was visibly disgusted. He called it "an insult to life itself" and criticized the lack of human emotion behind it. “I feel like we are nearing to the end of the times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves…” he added. For Miyazaki, animation is about feeling and human touch, something AI simply can’t replicate.
The Boy and the Heron, 2023
What Type of Animation Does Hayao Miyazaki Use?
Miyazaki has always believed that animation should be drawn by hand, famously saying, "I believe the tool of an animator is the pencil." His films are a testament to this, filled with detailed, immersive worlds and fluid, expressive character movements. Every single frame is drawn before being assembled into the final film — something that’s become increasingly rare in today’s CGI-driven industry.
That said, Studio Ghibli isn’t entirely against digital tools. They’ve found ways to incorporate CGI without compromising their classic style. For example, in Princess Mononoke (1997), CGI was used to create the eerie, otherworldly demon worms. More recently, The Boy and the Heron (2023) carefully blended hand-drawn animation with digital effects, proving that technology can be a tool rather than a replacement.
Does Studio Ghibli Use Digital Art?
While Miyazaki remains committed to traditional animation, Studio Ghibli has cautiously explored digital animation. In 2020, his son Goro Miyazaki directed Earwig and the Witch, the studio’s first fully CGI film. It was a bold experiment, but fans had mixed reactions. Goro defended the choice, explaining that he wanted to push boundaries rather than just copy his father’s work.
Even with this experiment, Studio Ghibli isn’t abandoning its roots. Cinematographer Atsushi Okui explained that while digital tools are used in The Boy and the Heron, the characters themselves remain hand-drawn. "We start with animators and background artists using paint or pencil on paper. After that, we employ digital technology — but we don’t use any kind of 3D rendering when creating the characters themselves."
Princess Mononoke, 1997.
Evolving with Technology, Staying True to Art
Miyazaki’s work is proof that animation doesn’t have to choose between tradition and technology — it can embrace both. While he remains skeptical of certain digital advancements, Studio Ghibli has shown that when used thoughtfully, technology can enhance animation rather than replace it.
As the animation world continues evolving, one thing is clear: Miyazaki’s legacy will always be about heart, craftsmanship, and the magic of hand-drawn storytelling. His films remind us that no matter how advanced technology gets, there’s something irreplaceable about the human touch in art.
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Kiki's Delivery Service, 1989.
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