Hayao Miyazaki is an acclaimed Japanese director, screenwriter, and producer, co-founder of Studio Ghibli. His career is defined by seminal works such as *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind* and subsequent animated masterpieces.

Among his most celebrated films are *My Neighbor Totoro*, *Princess Mononoke*, *Spirited Away* (winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature), *Howl's Moving Castle*, and the recent *The Boy and the Heron* (also an Academy Award winner).

His style is characterized by a deep focus on nature and ecology, pacifist messages, strong female protagonists, and detailed animation that blends realism and fantastical elements, creating enchanting and moving worlds.