Anime's most beloved director, Hayao Miyazaki celebrates his 74th birthday today, January 5th, 2015. After graduating from Gakushuin in 1963 with degrees in political science and economics, he began working as an animator at Toei in April of that year. This year, this is an excellent way to appreciate the culmination of five amazing decades of work.

In addition to the home video of his final movie, The Wind Rises, there's Mami Sunada's acclaimed documentary look behind the scenes, The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, currently playing in select theaters as well as iTunes, Amazon and other digital platforms.

This is a good thing to remember. http://t.co/ZtPHBJ13qT pic.twitter.com/ei3kAoSnT8 — LICH KING DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) January 5, 2015

Congratulations to the Master. May you be with us for some time yet. #HappyBirthdayMiyazaki pic.twitter.com/ugYyD9kiim — Josh Dunham (@Josh_Dunham) January 5, 2015

Miyazaki Wins Again, After 11 Animated Features http://t.co/iorQGXb8Ds — NYT Movies (@NYTMovies) January 2, 2015

Miyazaki receiving his honorary Oscar award in November





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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.