Book review: Fantasy/Animation: Connections between Media, Mediums and Genres

Abstract

While most of Miyazaki’s references, like the Grimault one, are not exactly news to connoisseurs of the director, this is the first time they have been systematically discussed. Moreover, other than exposing the inner workings of Miyazaki’s narrative creativity, Greenberg’s research makes for a good historical contextualization of the director’s career. In this respect, the book can easily become a teaching tool for courses in animation history. The plentiful mentions of animated works can provide the students with a good picture of how Miyazaki is situated in relation to other important authors and studios, while also giving them a chance to get curious about less famous works that might not have been introduced in class. In all, Hayao Miyazaki: Exploring the Early Work of Japan’s Greatest Animator is a solid and enjoyable critical description of the roots of Miyazaki’s storytelling that will appeal to scholars, students and fans alike.