In a very peculiar interview, the Japanese equivalent of Walt Disney, Studio Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki, has said children should learn to make fires and use a needle and thread before they can read and write. Obviously a technophobe, he gives his opinion on the technology and other distractions in modern day life.
Via Kotaku
“The environment that surrounds our children, including our animation, is all virtual,” says Miyazaki, known for films like My Neighbor Totoro. “TV, video games, and then email, cell phones, manga. In short, I think the work that we are doing is snatching away children’s power.” This power he is referring to seems to be children’s natural sense of wonder and creativity.
Miyazaki points out the inconsistencies of this, as he makes animated films. “As we are making movies, we always ask ourselves what we are going to do about it.
“There are things date back from the Stone Age that kids must learn before kids start learning to read and write,” he continues. Like? According to Miyazaki, those are how to make a fire, how to keep it burning and put it out, how to climb a tree, how to tie a rope, how to use a needle and thread and how to use a knife. “Before children learn to read and write,” Miyazaki adds, “I think the country has a duty to teach children these things.”
Once Miyazaki was asked if he uses the internet, and he replied that he does not. “I don’t have a computer or fax,” he said. “I don’t have a DVD player either and I forgot how to use a video recorder. I even seldom watch television.” He added that he once played a Japanese chess game with a computer and lost, noting that the computer was “not fair”.Last summer, Miyazaki called the iPad a “game machine-type thing” that people are “stroking with strange gestures”. Continuing, he said the iPad was “disgusting” and added, “On trains, the number of those people doing that strange masturbation-like gesture is multiplying.”
I adore Ghibli films. This week alone I watched Porco Rosso like 4 times. They’re just beautiful and mostly perfect. Its interesting getting this mans opinion, considering he’s the driving force behind most of them. I agree to an extent that we have waaaaaay too many distractions these days, I mean, I’d be a better animator if it wasn’t for the distractions of the internet. However, if I didn’t have the internet, I could never be inspired by work on artists blogs or deviantart etc… its an interesting topic.
I know when I have kids, I’m gunna make the feckers be active, unlike me.
Whats your thoughts?
