[Marwhini]

How many people are aware of Miyazaki Hayao*?

He makes movies (anime) of Fantasy worlds, usually dealing with Post-Apocalyptic Worlds, or of the Spirit World intruding upon our world.

In his creation of these worlds, he says that he does not so much "create" them, as he does "discover" them.

Has anyone looked at the comparison of these two authors and the worlds they create?

The fact that both embody Spirit-Worlds where Good/Evil, Light/Dark are physical, tangible things is one comparison that comes immediately to mind.

But contrasted to this is Miyazaki's Conservative Shinto Beliefs to Tolkien's Conservative Catholic Beliefs; both however have a staunch belief in a Higher Power, even if the Personal and Impersonal Aspects of the God, O-Kami, Chi-Kami, or even Yōkai are different.

For instance, there is a distinction between "O-Kami-Sama" (THE God who created the Universe, equivalent to Tolkien's Catholic God, or Middle-earth's Eru Ilúvatar), and the O-Kami (more properly Oo-Kami), and Chi-Kami in Shinto. The latter would be the equivalent of the Valar and Maiar.

While the Yōkai would be beings like Orcs, Balrogs, and other demonic spirits.

Just wondering if anyone else had explored this comparison?

MB

* My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä and the Valley of the Winds, Lupin San-Sei (III): The Castle of Caglrostro, Anne of Green Gables (The Anime production, of which Miyazaki produced ½), Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Mononoke Hime, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle (His son's first production is Tales from Earthsea