Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest animation directors of all time, having been behind movies such as Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle in recent years.
This week My Neighbour Totoro is being re-released onto the big screen to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film, so we take a look back over Miyazaki's career.
It was 1961 when Miyazaki kicked off his animation career when he joined Toei Animation and worked on various different projects.
But his first feature length film came in 1979 when he helmed The Castle of Cagliostro - which was based on Lupin III by Monkey Punch.
However it was Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind that really boosted his career as he teamed up with Isao Takahata - who served as producer on the film.
It was after the success of this movie that Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli along with Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi Tokuma; while Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind isn't technically a Studio Ghibli movie it is widely regarded as one of their works.
Over the coming years Miyazaki would direct the likes of My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Porco Rosso. While these movies were hugely popular in Japan they failed to make any real impact in the likes of the U.S. and the UK.
In 1997 Miyazaki announced that Princess Mononoke, which is widely regarded as one of the best Studio Ghibli movies, was to be his final film.
He went out in style as Princess Mononoke was a story about humans and the forest going head to head in an ecological battle.
Over the years Miyazaki has made movies that were about the environment fighting back against man as he pushed the message that we should look after everything that grows.
Another staple of Miyazaki movies is the strong female character with the like of Nausicca, Kiki and San all leading the way.
Princess Mononoke was a box office smash in Japan and it did get a limited U.S. release as Miramax Films picked up the rights. While the movie may not have done well at the box office the home release was a success.
Miyazaki's retirement didn't last long as he returned to the director's chair in 2001 with the fantastic Spirited Away: a movie that would be the breakthrough for Studio Ghibli in the West.
The movie told the story of Chihiro Ogino a ten year old girl who finds herself in an alternate reality filled with spirits, monsters and magic. She must battle to save herself, her parents and find her way home.
Spirited Away was a critical and commercial hit when it was released as it won over audiences in Japan and around the world.
The film went on to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar and Studio Ghibli was well and truly known. There was a surge in the demand for their back catalogue as movie fans wanted to see Miyazaki and co's previous works.
Since then Miyazaki has brought us movies such as Howl's Moving Castle - my personal favourite - and Ponyo. He will be back in the director's chair later this year as his new movie The Wind Is Rising is released in Japan.
Hayao Miyazaki has delivered some truly wonderful animation movies throughout of his career - of which My Neighbour Totoro is just one - and long may it continue!!!
My Neighbour Totoro is out now
Tagged in Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli