Hayao Miyazaki Didn’t Say That — Here’s What He Actually Believed

If you’ve ever seen a quote floating around the internet about nature, animation, or the loss of innocence attributed to Hayao Miyazaki, there’s a good chance it wasn’t really his. Miyazaki’s gentle, philosophical tone makes him a frequent target for misattribution. As someone who has spent years poring over interviews, essays, and behind-the-scenes material from Studio Ghibli, I’ve noticed a pattern: many of the most popular quotes online don’t actually come from him.

Let’s clear the air.

“It always seems darkest before it gets light.”

This quote is often cited in emotional posts and shared widely as a reflection of Miyazaki’s hopeful worldview. But there is no verified source for this quote coming from Miyazaki himself. It’s actually a variation of a much older saying — “It is always darkest just before the day dawns” — that has been used in various forms since the 17th century. While the sentiment fits Miyazaki’s storytelling, it’s not something he personally said.

“We do only what we can today, and that’s all we can do.”

This one is real — and it captures Miyazaki’s humility and work ethic. He said it during a 2001 interview with The Japan Times, reflecting on the slow, deliberate nature of hand-drawn animation. Miyazaki never rushed his art. He believed in doing only what could be done well in the moment, a philosophy that shaped every frame of his films.

“I’m not trying to make children’s films. I’m making films for 10-year-old girls.”

This quote circulates often, and it’s usually used to explain why Miyazaki’s films feel so emotionally rich and complex. But it’s not a direct quote from him. What he did say, in a number of interviews, was that he makes films with young girls in mind — not as a demographic, but as a state of being. He admired the emotional honesty, resilience, and moral clarity of young female characters, which is why so many of his protagonists are girls on the cusp of adulthood.

“When you grow up, you’ll understand the sadness in the world.”

This is another internet favorite — often used in sentimental posts about aging and disillusionment. But there’s no record of Miyazaki saying this exact phrase. He did speak often about the complexities of the world and the loss of innocence, particularly in films like My Neighbor Totoro and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. However, this quote feels more like a paraphrase or projection of his themes rather than a direct statement.

“I believe children are our future, but I also believe adults must protect them.”

This sentiment is very much in line with Miyazaki’s beliefs, and while he never said this exact sentence, he has expressed similar ideas in various interviews. In particular, he once said in a 2008 NHK documentary: “Children are not naïve. They are watching us. They see how we behave, how we treat the world. That’s why we must be honest with them.” His films reflect this — they never talk down to children, but instead challenge them to think and feel deeply.

“I make films to apologize to the next generation.”

This is a tricky one. You’ll often see this quote used to summarize Miyazaki’s environmental and anti-war themes. While he never said this verbatim, he has spoken about making films as a form of atonement. In a 2002 interview with Sight & Sound, he mentioned feeling a sense of responsibility toward younger generations and wanting to leave behind stories that might help them navigate a complicated world.

If you're curious to hear Miyazaki’s voice — not just what people say he said — you can talk to him on HoloDream. Ask him about his films, his process, or even his thoughts on how stories shape the world.