For decades, Hayao Miyazaki has enchanted audiences worldwide with his unique ability to create fantastical worlds with deeply human stories. Yet, the legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder’s relationship with retirement has become a subject of fascination, even humor, among fans. Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki inevitably returns to filmmaking, often surprising audiences with new projects.

His comments in an interview celebrating Howl's Moving Castle give some rare insight into his thought process. Miyazaki’s statement, "I can only return," shows his inability to separate himself from the art he loves so deeply. It is not simply an inability to let go, but a complex relationship with his creativity, responsibility and his pursuit of artistic excellence.

Miyazaki's Creative Obsession Will Never Let Him Retire

Why Miyazaki Cannot Stop Creating Stories

Miyazaki’s repeated returns to animation are not just simple decisions, they are rooted in a deep-seated creative obsession. In the interview, he its that he is compelled to "express [his] own ideas" when inspired by a work he ires. For Miyazaki, the creative process is not just a job but an important part of his identity. Even when he hands projects to others, his dissatisfaction with how they are executed drives him back into the director’s chair.

This obsession speaks to the perfectionism that defines his films. Each Studio Ghibli production is full of Miyazaki’s unmistakable touch, from the hand-drawn animation to the thematic depth. His inability to step away permanently suggests that creating is as important to him as breathing. The very act of creating something is his way of engaging with the world.

For Miyazaki, inspiration is often something he cannot resist. Many of his projects stem from fleeting ideas or images that spark his imagination and compel him to bring them to life. Whether it is the fantastical moving castle of Howl’s Moving Castle or the whimsical Catbus in My Neighbor Totoro, these moments of inspiration demand his attention. Miyazaki’s deep connection to his ideas makes it nearly impossible for him to let them go unfinished or unperfected.

The Burden Of Responsibility

The Weight of Leading Studio Ghibli's Legacy

Miyazaki’s return to animation isn’t just about personal satisfaction, it is also about responsibility. As he puts it in one of his best quotes, “In order to bring out the original spirit of the work, I can only return.” This statement highlights the weight he feels as an artist tasked with preserving the authenticity and spirit of his films. For Miyazaki, no one else can truly bring his vision to life.

His perspective shows how committed he is, both to his stories and his audience. Miyazaki has said in other interviews that his films are not just for entertainment, they are for inspiring people to reflect on life, nature, and humanity. If he feels that others can’t uphold that standard, it is little wonder he chooses to step back in. This commitment extends beyond the films themselves. Miyazaki's legacy as a master animator has set an almost unattainable standard for others in the anime industry. By returning to his craft repeatedly, he ensures that his reputation and Ghibli films remain up-to-standard and untarnished.

The Unfinished Legacy of a Master

Why Retirement Is Not the End for Miyazaki

Miyazaki’s reluctance to retire is also tied to his awareness of his legacy. Despite having created some of the most iconic films in animation history, including Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, Miyazaki sees his work as perpetually incomplete. The idea of retirement, for him, is less about age or achievement and more about whether he has said all he wants to say through his art.

In 2013, following the release of The Wind Rises, Miyazaki announced his retirement yet again. However, just a few years later, he began work on a new project, How Do You Live?, also known as The Boy and the Heron. He described the film as a "gift to his grandson," proving that even retirement couldn’t stop him from creating something meaningful. For Miyazaki, animation is not just a profession but a medium through which he communicates his beliefs and values.

Fans, meanwhile, have embraced and lovingly made fun of his unretirement as part of his persona. Memes and jokes about his inability to retire are as much a part of Studio Ghibli's culture as the film's. While these jokes are lighthearted, they also show the iration fans have for a man who refuses to stop doing what he loves.

A Never-Ending Journey

Miyazaki's Endless Pursuit of Creativity

Miyazaki’s perpetual return to animation is something that speaks to the heart of creativity itself. For many artists, the idea of stopping is unimaginable because creation is intertwined with their identity. In Miyazaki’s case, his films are more than just works of art, they are expressions of his love, beliefs, and hope for the future. Each project becomes a reflection of his worldview, whether it is his environmental advocacy in Princess Mononoke or his meditation on mortality in The Wind Rises. To stop creating would mean silencing a voice that he feels compelled to share.

His repeated retirements show fans an ongoing battle between ambition and limitation. As Miyazaki ages, the physical and mental demands of animation grow more challenging. Yet, the joy and fulfillment he experiences from bringing his visions to life continue to outweigh those challenges. His refusal to truly retire shows a bigger truth about his ion and that it is not something that can be turned off like a light switch. Miyazaki's life and career are the perfect example of the idea that as long as there is something worth saying, an artist will find a way to say it.

Hayao Miyazaki's career is the perfect showcase of how powerful ion and purpose can be. As he said, "I can only return", a phrase that speaks to how committed he is to the craft. For Miyazaki, animation is more than storytelling, it is his way of leaving a piece of himself in the world. His storytelling is a reminder that true creativity is not about a person's age. Whether he continues making films or one day decides to step away for good, Hayao Miyazaki's legacy as one of the greatest animators of all time is secure.

Source: nausicaa.net