Hayao Miyazaki’s Success at 83 Inspires Us to Keep Achieving!

Studio Ghibli’s beloved and famous producer Hayao Miyazaki wins his first Golden Globe ever at 83 for his newest movie.

Age is just a number for this Japanese producer and dad, as Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki wins his first-ever Golden Globe award at the age of 83! The movie that won him the award, The Boy and The Heron, was also the first non-English movie to win the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.

Although he wasn’t there to receive the award during the ceremony in Los Angeles, his co-producer accepted it on his behalf.

Living proof that people can win, even late in life

Whenever we find ourselves wanting to try something new, it’s easy to say that we’re “too old” to do it, or even to get into it. Maybe it’s the burnout—from working to provide for the family to managing a household, or maybe it’s just our brains giving up.

But this didn’t stop the 83-year-old producer, who announced his retirement—only to come back anyway with a brand new, complex, yet heartwarming story!

But that’s the charming part about Hayao Miyazaki. He’s living proof that age doesn’t restrain creativity. If anything, it enhances it. His award-winning movie hits a lot closer to home for him, with it making many references to his own childhood. Plus, the movie’s win is inspiring for many grandparents and a call for us, parents and kids, that perhaps it’s time to sit down and listen to the stories our elders have to tell.

After all, life will only get better if we learn what made it the way it is in the first place.

Bringing joy, even to families in Japan

His win doesn’t just inspire—but also lifts the hearts of families in Japan. Just this New Year, Japan suffered from a 7.6 magnitude earthquake, killing over 150 people, while many missing people still remain unaccounted for. The Boy and The Heron‘s win is a timely one; it celebrates how people need to rise above their personal external and internal hardships before they can find ways to truly help.

And for the many grandparents and parents following the Golden Globes Awards and its proceedings, if ever we think that we can’t achieve anything at our age, take one good look at Hayao Miyazaki. He proves that we still can chase our dreams and achieve anything—no matter how old we are.

Hayao Miyazaki is also a dad to two young men who are artists in their own right: Goro and Keisuke. He also has a grandson, whose identity remains private. His movie in 2020, The Wind Rises, was dedicated to his grandchild.

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