Hayao Miyazaki, the internationally acclaimed animator-director behind Studio Ghibli, celebrated his 81st birthday on January 5 amidst tributes to his work on social media.
Tributes to the legendary director could be found on social media under the hashtag #HayaoMiyazaki. Nickelodeon Animation posted an “ode” in the form of a cartoon integrating Studio Ghibli’s signature style and references with some of Nickelodeon’s own characters.
Other artists and creators from around the world posted their own tributes as well with original artwork adapting Studio Ghibli’s iconic characters and style.
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Others posted memes and memorable, often blunt quotes from the director, who one user wrote is the “only person keeping it real around here.”
Miyazaki, who began his career in 1963 as an entry-level animator in Tokyo, has continually come out of retirement to direct additional films, including as recently as this year.
Feature Image via GKIDS Films
