Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature

Léo Favier's documentary Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature (2025) is now available to watch online on iFILM. It asks why forests, wind and water feel so alive in the hand-drawn worlds of Hayao Miyazaki.

Tracing the work of the man behind Totoro and Spirited Away, the film treats his landscapes as the point rather than the backdrop. A rotting woodland, a river spirit, a steady worry about the planet — these recur across his animation for a reason. Goro Miyazaki, longtime Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki and scholars including Susan J. Napier help map out his thinking.

Favier builds a portrait of an artist for whom fantasy and real ecological concern are the same impulse. It's made for anyone who loves Ghibli and wants to understand what sits behind the frames, not just rewatch them. Stream Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature (2025) online on iFILM.