10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki - Season 1

An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the genius of Japan's foremost living film director, Hayao Miyazaki -- creator of some of the world's most iconic and enduring anime feature films. Miyazaki allowed a single documentary filmmaker to shadow him at work, as he dreamed up characters and plot lines for what would become his 2008 blockbuster, "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea." Miyazaki explores the limits of his physical ability and imagination to conjure up memorable protagonists

As he dreams up characters and plot lines, he delves into memories of his late mother for a thread to weave the story. "Movies show who you are," Miyazaki says, "no matter how hard you try to hide it."

Sparks begin to fly as he and his son, Goro - an up-and-coming director - work on the film "From Up on Poppy Hill" (2011). In the final stretch, a massive earthquake and nuclear disaster rock Japan and leave the team in shock. Amid power outages, they decide they must pause their work. That's when Hayao puts his son's resolve as a director to the test.

At age 72, he takes on a new challenge - one that would become the highly-acclaimed "The Wind Rises" (2013), Miyazaki's first film about a historical figure. Bringing the film from concept to reality turns out to be a long and difficult journey. In the process, Miyazaki grapples with tough questions about issues like aging, and the meaning of making animated films in a turbulent time.