Miyazaki and the Hero's Journey

This book explores anime auteur Hayao Miyazaki's films through the lens of the monomyth of the Heroic Quest Cycle. According to Joseph Campbell and other mythology researchers, the Quest is for boys and men, with women acting as either the Hero's mother or the Prize at the end of the journey. Miyazaki nearly exclusively portrays girls and young women as heroes, arguing that we must reassess Campbell's archetype. The text begins with a brief history of animation and anime, followed by Miyazaki's background and rise to prominence. The following chapters look at each of Miyazaki's films from the perspective of the Heroic Quest Cycle, with the last section outlining where Miyazaki and other animators can lead the archetype of the Hero in the future.

Author: Deborah Scally
Publisher: McFarland and Company, Inc.
Published: 05/10/2022
Pages: 195
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.94h x 6.00w x 0.44d
ISBN13: 9781476685052
ISBN10: 1476685053
BISAC Categories:
- Performing Arts | Film | Genres | Animated

About the Author
Deborah Scally is an assistant professor of humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas. She writes mostly about anime and manga.