Hayao Miyazaki: Little People, BIG DREAMS: Inspiring Kids with Iconic Lives

The bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series introduces young readers to influential changemakers, artists, scientists, and visionaries from around the globe. Among its most compelling titles is the biography of legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, a filmmaker whose groundbreaking storytelling and hand-drawn animation have transformed modern cinema. Known for blending fantasy, environmental themes, and emotionally layered characters, Miyazaki remains one of the most important figures in global animation history.

Born in Tokyo in 1941 during World War II, Miyazaki grew up surrounded by the realities of conflict and evacuation. His father managed Miyazaki Airplane, a company that produced fighter plane components, an experience that sparked Miyazaki’s lifelong fascination with flight and aviation. As a child, he constantly sketched airplanes, tanks, and detailed machinery, already revealing the artistic discipline that would define his future. Inspired by manga and driven by a desire to tell meaningful stories, he co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985, helping elevate Japanese animation to worldwide acclaim.

His film Spirited Away is widely regarded as his most significant achievement. The movie became Japan’s highest-grossing film at the time, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and earned international praise for its exploration of Japanese culture, fantasy storytelling, and environmental consciousness. Alongside classics such as My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki’s work continues to influence filmmakers and captivate audiences of all ages.

Known for announcing retirement more than once, he repeatedly returned to filmmaking, most recently with The Boy and the Heron. Rather than working from a completed screenplay, he develops stories through detailed storyboards, often discovering the ending as production unfolds. The name Studio Ghibli itself is inspired by the Italian Caproni Ca. 309 Ghibli aircraft, meaning hot desert wind, reflecting the studio’s mission to bring fresh energy to animation. Although My Neighbor Totoro was not an immediate box office success, its merchandising popularity ultimately helped secure the studio’s long-term future.

Featuring vibrant illustrations, historical photographs, a detailed timeline, and engaging educational facts, this Little People, BIG DREAMS biography provides an accessible and inspiring introduction to Hayao Miyazaki’s life and career. As part of a series dedicated to empowering young readers, it reinforces a powerful message: every extraordinary achievement begins with imagination, resilience, and a dream.

The book Hayao Miyazaki was created by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, a Barcelona-born writer and creative director who is constantly developing fresh concepts for children’s literature. In 2014, she made a personalized birthday book for her twin nieces, a project that soon evolved into the first title in the bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS collection, which has since sold millions of copies worldwide. The series introduces young readers to extraordinary figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Aretha Franklin, and Prince, transforming complex life stories into accessible, engaging narratives through her mindful and distinctive writing style.

This edition is illustrated by Momoko Abe, a Japanese artist based in the UK whose debut picture book Avocado Asks was published in 2020. Known for her dynamic compositions and vibrant color palettes, Abe works across digital media as well as gouache and pencil, bringing warmth and charm to every page, especially when drawing her favorite subjects, animals and food.