PS: It’s very difficult to keep a diary. I don’t know what to share. Most of the diaries are personal and trivial, and most of the notes are summaries, so I’d better excerpt an old article for emergencies!

This book is rich in content and excellent in writing, but the name should be changed to "A Critical Biography of Hayao Miyazaki" more appropriately.

At most one-third of the book is about Hayao Miyazaki’s experience, and most of the rest is a multi-angle interpretation of Hayao Miyazaki’s films and ideas, even interspersed with the development history of Japanese animation. Compared to the first half of the experience, the second half was actually more interesting. (Because most of the experiences of Hayao Miyazaki mentioned in it have been read through other channels and are not new.)

The following points are impressive about the whole book.

1. Paint with your mind. When Hayao Miyazaki was a child, he and his brother participated in a painting competition held in school. His brother found an object to sketch, while Hayao Miyazaki painted with his mind. The specific method was to use his mind to feel, imagine, and experience every aspect of the scene. details, and then complete it in one go, the effect is outstanding. When making movies, Hayao Miyazaki also insists on collecting scenes on the spot rather than collecting photos. He believes that for a scene to be vivid and vivid, it must be experienced on the spot. The real scene changes in many ways. For example, if a mountain is visited today, it snows, and when we visit tomorrow, there will be an extra cloud. The charm is contained in these changes. In fact, this is true for writing, work, and even life. The true meaning of Tao exists in changes. It is difficult to exhaust it in written language. The beauty of application lies in one mind. When writing, go deep into your heart and capture impressions, rather than excerpting chapters and sentences and parodying them. Such articles will be full of vitality. Go deep into your heart, constantly explore the unknown, and discover territories that you don’t even know yourself. Writing, working, and living in this way are a joy and an unknown journey full of surprises.

2. About Totoro. "My Neighbor Totoro" is the first film I watched Hayao Miyazaki, and it is also my favorite Hayao Miyazaki movie. Therefore, there are special emotions. "My Neighbor Totoro" is a work full of childlike innocence, dreamlike and wonderful. The book mentions that the strange image of Totoro comes from an unusual feeling. This feeling is inexplicable, including tension and joy, excitement and anticipation, and even a bit weird, which is what children like. The image of Totoro perfectly fits these feelings. So it’s no wonder that Totoro can only be seen by children. For children, this wonderful perception is innate. The world is novel and unique in their eyes, and every day is a brand new adventure. They Immerse yourself in this moment and gain an incredibly rich sensory experience. For us adults, to the extent we can maintain our childlike innocence, we can capture the beauty of the world, gain doubled fun, and save our own empty hearts.

3. Hit the right person. The birth of Ghibli is inseparable from the promotion of Miyazaki Hayao's hit star Yasuki Tokuma. Tokuma Yasukai made the bold bet because Hayao Miyazaki left a deep impression on him. He felt the energy and enthusiasm in Miyazaki's eyes. Therefore, people must cheer up even if they are in trouble. People's mental outlook can infect others. People must save themselves before others can save them, and people must be confident before they can trust others.

4. Dreams and love. The book mentions that "The Wind Rises" has two lines, dream and love. The two lines are intertwined, but they are both struggling against the background of "The Wind Rises". The male protagonist of "The Wind Rises" is also a character who is risking his own life for his dreams and love. Dreams and love are so beautiful. The more beautiful they are, the rarer they are. They seem to be cursed. You have to go through many tests and jump to reach them, just like plum blossoms blooming in the bitter cold. It is impossible to smell their fragrance without a chill to the bones.

In the process of reading this book, I reviewed the documentary about Hayao Miyazaki "A Dream in Ten Years" on Station B. I also have some feelings to share.

1. Hayao Miyazaki said that creation is like fishing in the brain. This can be mutually confirmed with my previous understanding of writing. When I kept a diary before, I discovered that writing is about constantly casting a net in the brain to capture impressions. Whether it is writing or other creative processes, it is leading to a new and unknown place.

Continuously exploring, enduring the fear of the dark and unknown, and maintaining the yearning and enthusiasm for novelty are the only ways to persevere.

2. Hayao Miyazaki said that once you decide to create, you must be prepared to devote all your efforts, and you must do it with the determination to change the world, even if the result is nothing. Yes, without firm will and determination, without lofty goals, how can we keep moving forward on this long and dark road. Only this kind of trip can make life more meaningful.

3. "You have to create with a sincere attitude...bring happiness to the world...discover the hidden beauty." This is Hayao Miyazaki's creative belief. These beliefs are ultimately about truth, goodness and beauty. It is precisely with this belief that Hayao Miyazaki's films have a powerful appeal.

The name Hayao Miyazaki carries my dreams and my losses. That kind of beautiful fantasy drifted farther and farther, and finally became a small dot in the sky of my heart, but it did not disappear completely. Once I doubt it, my heart becomes sad. It reminds me how far apart I am from those talented and hard-working people. The road ahead is so long, I feel a little hesitant. In life, you have to do something. Regardless of whether you have talent or not, hard work is required. When your heart is shining, just follow the guidance of your heart, even if it is a journey of despair.