How to Think Like Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki doesn’t just make films—he builds worlds so vivid, so tenderly imagined, that they change how we see our own. His mind is a forest of curiosity, where wonder and rigor grow side by side.

How did Hayao Miyazaki approach problems?

Miyazaki starts by immersing himself in the smallest details. When designing Princess Mononoke’s ironworks village, he studied 14th-century Japanese metallurgy to ensure authenticity. He believed solving a problem meant living inside it, observing its textures until solutions emerged organically.

What mental models did Miyazaki use?

He viewed humanity as a paradox—capable of both destruction and profound care. For Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, he imagined a post-apocalyptic world where humans and nature might coexist, not conquer. Ask yourself: Where do hope and despair intertwine in your challenges?

How can I adopt Miyazaki’s thinking style?

Begin with empathy. Miyazaki famously wrote My Neighbor Totoro to recreate the joy he saw in his daughters’ play. Observe people, landscapes, and animals with childlike reverence. Sketch constantly, even if you’re “not an artist”—his storyboards were tools for thinking, not just filmmaking.

What principles guided Miyazaki’s decisions?

He prioritized emotional truth over convenience. When Studio Ghibli’s board pushed for faster, cheaper projects, Miyazaki refused, insisting stories should “breathe like wind through grass.” Honor complexity: his villains often believe they’re right, mirroring real-world moral ambiguity.

What practical habits shaped his creativity?

Miyazaki draws every day, even in meetings. He avoids digital shortcuts, insisting hand-drawn animation “carries the artist’s heartbeat.” He also takes long walks to clear his mind—a habit he credits for breakthroughs in films like Spirited Away.

Hayao Miyazaki’s mind is a place where questions outweigh answers, and wonder fuels discipline. To walk with him in that forest, ask about his love for vintage airplanes, or how he’d reimagine your favorite moment from nature. He’s listening, sketchbook in hand.

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