Hayao Miyazaki on Happiness and Life's Goal

From the excellent documentary on Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, Miyazaki reflects on the the common idea that the goal of life is to be happy. Miyazaki disagrees, and this struck me because I've long felt the same way. Maybe a goal might be to make someone else happy. Or maybe a goal is to spend a lifetime mastering a skill. But I'm cynical about personal happiness as a goal.

[@tvsonicserbia5140]

I hope Miyazaki understands that what he considering suffering for himelf brigns happinnes and meaning to lives of thousands of people

[@tvsonicserbia5140]

But yeah personal happiness as a goal of life is a very american ideal, not widespread in japan before the war.

[@leandro5an518]

That is why miyazaki says "The dreams of men are cursed, beautiful dreams but cursed" Happiness does not have to be something selfish, it has to be in the possible, shared (some call it utopia).

[@drawingmaniacsterben7144]

the goal to be just happy yourself is pretty selfish... I dont say being happy is wrong! But you can be happy your whole life and have different ... more meaningful goals...

[@fupayme5511]

Not his son tho lolol

[@iammichaeldavis]

He does understand that, and it brings him no joy at all, and that’s why he’s so unhappy

[@williamwallin2708]

I think what he means to say, altough perhaps from a more cynical view point, is that happiness as an emotion is a very short lived one which in the long run also brings naivety and a way of life that is akin to destructive hedonism. The reason people countinue to work hard and suffer is ultimetly because they derive a sense of meaning out of it. And in this case miayazaki is willing to suffer for his passion as it gives him meaning even though he might not admit it.

[@missionpupa]

Happiness was never the goal, it was never the thing you seek of, its the relief that you get as a reward from doing the 'thing', the goal is the THING.

[@Musikmaker658]

It's all about finding balance. Experiencing both the ups and downs helps us truly value happiness. There are two ways to live: seeing everything as meaningful or nothing at all. Both have their merits, but living by personal whims can make us easily swayed. Choosing one extreme prevents us from being blind to reality. The point is, fixating solely on happiness can make us feel like what we have isn't enough.

[@williamwallin2708]

@@Musikmaker658 I love how people still stumble upon this video even after seven years, great comment dude👊

[@Cyberium]

Either the right way, or the easy way, pure personal happiness isn't always the best direction.

[@juancpgo]

That is only true in the case of sacrifice: exchange happiness now for more happiness later-or for happiness for someone else I love, like my children. But, then that means that making them happy also makes me happy. Ultimately, human reality is about happiness. It's silly and absurd to try to pretend it's not, or to try to get around our need for happiness by playing with semantics.

[@solus9752]

Ones around you can not be happy if you are not truly happy, we simply can't advance any further in matter of social happiness without self fulfillment and happiness.

[@timeforamazingchest5271]

Lmao the asthmatic wheezing in the background

[@ashujchwd]

His house looks so...functional and ergonomic

[@turtlecosmic]

Well that’s not where he lives its just a separate house he uses as a studio...but either way ur right

[@WindUpLirish]

*Agressive breathing intensifies*

[@deborahkogan8742]

I wish that he could realize how much pleasure he has given others...

[@AmariLambo]

He brings happiness to other people thats why he keeps doing it it feels great i relate having made worldspaces and characters on games

[@Motofanable]

truly classy gentleman.

[@ConspiracistLizardMan]

He looks like an anime protagonist with this speech.

[@anneann3073]

please stay calm and happy. without the souls like yours, we would be all dead now. connected souls can stabilize the earth and natural disasters. The journey of sun went terribly wrong in 2018 and is still troubled now. massive deaths and natural disasters are coming. without changes, only few can survive through 2024.

[@TheNavalAviator]

What a Zen-Master, he just wallows blissfully in his day-to-day misery fulfilling his inherent destiny.

[@leftyfourguns]

You're not gonna find many Japanese that understand the concept of "self fulfillment" or "self happiness". Japan itself is a collectivist culture, where they identify themselves as one part of the same group, not as individuals as western societies view themselves. And this is for Asia in general, which is also home to a host of religions/philosophies like Buddhism, Shintoism, and Hindu that specifically steer one away from considering themselves as an "individual" separate and distinct from others

[@mimmidauria5405]

thank you for this explanation!

[@chickenflavor9880]

Identity is a joke

[@maluziusnetwork355]

I dont think your answer is completely accurate. There are lots of japanese people who live for self happiness 🤣

[@roccoanthony8930]

You’re just stereotyping Japanese/Asians lmao. I like how these kinds of comments are usually upvoted. Shows how ignorant and misunderstood Japanese/Asians are from Western people in general lol. This stereotype you just wrote is like DECADES old now.

[@gibson_smiles]

Self fulfillment is understood, happiness for happiness sake is western atheistic thinking

[@Stopitpls]

Very profound, what he says, because it’s true. You’ll never be happy but for a few short moments every now and then, but the question is do you suffer? Suffering is a right of passage in this life, anything which was worth doing requires sacrifice, and seeing that sacrifice pay off is the point. It’s always been the same, when a farmer tills his field all summer long and waits out the long and hash winter, then painstakingly plants his crops in the spring, is he not happy when the field sprouts with wheat? But then the struggle starts again, and again, and repeats until whatever comes next. But could you say anything he did wasn’t worth it? To feed himself and his family and his community? Miyazaki has been delivering works of art his entire career, and he has suffered for it, but I should think he grabs the tiniest bit of joy and happiness when he looks on a completed project, before he starts again.

[@Paolo.Celentano]

''¿How could that ever be our ultimate goal?. Filmmaking only brings suffering.'' - Hayao Miyazaki.

[@almicc]

the ultimate goal is to bring happiness to other's lives, and hope to make the life of your children more enjoyable

[@becker1776]

That’s true

[@qwerty6383]

So everyone trying to make other people happy while suffering thenselves

[@almicc]

@@qwerty6383 if you don't find enjoyment in making others happy, you should seek professional help

[@TrueEnglishMan01]

Ultimate? For some maybe, but it should definitely be *a* goal for everyone. Understanding would be another worthy goal too. And also art for art’s sake. It’s not a question that has a definitive answer really

[@BeHumbleAndStaySo]

Not anything that makes u feel happy or u think u do is the right thing!

[@baunaco]

true happiness is fulfilment and he's getting that from making movies

[@yannik3229]

Have you watched the clip?

[@baunaco]

@@yannik3229 Yes, Miyazaki was talking about a different type of happiness in the video i think.

[@oddedd7755]

he is so cool..

[@miketacos9034]

Sounds like we need to figure out what definitions of happiness we're talking about here.

[@JamesArchdeacon-ri7gj]

I love this man.comes from a culture slightly even darker than the u.s. but not anymore.

[@offroad5798]

I 100% get what he's saying

[@BioluminescentTree]

Same, actually what I don't get is how others in the comments seem not to, when it's evident to me. Maybe it's not to everyone.

[@Ahmad-nf9ez]

Miyazaki: Anime was a mistake Miyazaki after watching peppa pig: I stand corrected

[@mariamabbas6779]

Not sure if Mr.Miyazaki ever tried working as an ordinary employee.....I think living an interesting hard life is way better than an easy/hard slavery boring life

[@thetrillianaire]

Miyazaki started as an entry-level animator at Toei in the early '60s, later playing a leading role in a labor dispute there and eventually became chief secretary of the labor union. So he's definitely been an ordinary employee desperate for better working conditions. But I think that experience probably helps him appreciate more fully what it really means to get to direct and have final artistic say over something, and is part of why he works so hard to make the most of that opportunity.

[@lukeduan6291]

shared happiness

[@yujproductions]

mason got that tony soprano breath

[@pecokins7125]

Can I ask where you found subtitles for this documentary? I've only ever found the raw video.

[@MasonWestWriting]

I believe I found this inside a documentary on the NHK Roku channel. It's a channel for North American or global viewing, & the English subtitles are an option in the setup.

[@pecokins7125]

@@MasonWestWriting Ah ok, thanks for the response!

[@geminate]

@@pecokins7125 The DVD has subtitles. I watched it from Netflix DVD.

[@slayingmochi8067]

Who's sleeping?

[@pawkyyy]

someone just breathing heavily lol

[@kkim2474]

You

[@MasonWestWriting]

@@pawkyyy I have emphysema.

[@primo4915]

@@MasonWestWriting bruh moment

[@KrSaPoww]

if it doesnt bring any joy even in the long term, just stop doing it

[@patopeje1472]

make someone happy... doesn't it make oneself happy too?

[@missionpupa]

not necessarily, it can make them feel useful, meaningful or fulfilled. not always happy.

[@user-gg4od5yy8j]

Oh its not the recent video

[@theprogressionofafilmmaker8760]

Perfect.

[@juancpgo]

I don't think he's serious… he's just fooling around, and thinking out loud. I do believe everyone is constantly seeking happiness, if we deny it we are just playing with words. The opposite of happiness is pain (in my view). There's just negative and positive. So, we want positive, because negative is always a torture. Anything else we say it's just a silly attempt of "hacking" our fundamental psychological reality with semantics. I just accept the simple fact that whatever I'm pursuing is always a proxy for happiness.

[@prity777]

what the fuck

[@MrGiaretti]

I think there is some truth to what you say. I believe that in this case, filmmaking doesn't bring him happiness, at least not in the traditional way, but there is a certain satisfaction to it. I think trying to live in a state of constant happiness is a fool's errand, but being satisfied with life is what one should strive to acheive. I think he was referring to the pursuit of momentary happiness when he said he doesn't believe it's the meaning of life

[@xcero996]

I think it is a really creative/artistic way of thinking. Life itself isn't just Happyness/Sadness. And as a creator you just can't work with that binarial sense. Something similar happens with Arts. Romanticaly speaking it is said that Art is all love and pasion but in practice it includes work, dedication, skill, time, practice. You end up crying blood and not knowing if you love or hate what you are doing.

[@EhsanTaheri77]

let's rephrase the subject as "satisfaction"

[@maluziusnetwork355]

Nah, I think he is pretty adamant about this. This man never hold his words back. That's what I like about him 🤣

[@pythonanywhere3392]

Objectivity and human truth is far more important than happiness no matter what the psychiatrist says is your problem or whatever they put you on. That's the problem with the mental health industry. They take anyone trying to see reality and feed them drugs until they're happy inside and cannot think anymore. I see no future for humanity other than hedonism and death... This greatly disturbs me, but I know existence metes out just consequences for what self-crowned and well adorned professionals and society chooses is more important than human truth. But mine is a crown of thorns. They will indeed get their reward for what they have done to many an innocent voice. We surely will as well for blindly supporting them. Fathers will wake up in their 70s and realize their children know nothing because they have taught nothing and allowed forces to control their children's lives, for which they took no fatherly action and instead were weak. And I will be content with dying, because at least once before I was medicated I did at one time live. Man will become machine, but I will die a human with dignity. I'm ready to die, but I shall wait until old age to instill meaning in others, and then shall I go into the forbidden forest with no possessions or power, both of self, or others, to hold me back. I shall indeed be one with eternity then at the age of 90. I do indeed begin with the end in mind. Selah.

[@stripstew1729]

Ma man giving birth to philosophers

[@kevinbexley7367]

The psychiatry bit just shows a lack of understanding and nuance on the field. Psychiatrist fundamentally seek to help people with abnormal/unhealthy states of mind, reach a point where they can fully function independently in society. It has nothing to do with happiness. The psychiatric industry, the business aspect not the science, want money. Curing patients or even worse, preventing having any at all. Is not a sustainable business model. The "captains of industry", the hedonist that will destroy society. Are given the power by said society, to undermine any efforts by scientist (psychiatrist) to effectively help us. That's why pills and therapy sessions are emphasized over addressing poverty and general human suffering. Because misery is the feature not the bug.

[@johanliebert5834]

this was unexpected

[@darrenkhosasi1252]

But what about his son

[@sparta117corza]

If happiness was lifes goal everybody would be maximizing the amount of money they can gain to buy drugs.

[@hbyangaptx4869]

The more happy you are, the farther away you are from happiness.The important thing is not to pursue the illusion of happiness, but to live in the present. And it's important to live for others not about you.If you want to be so happy in yourself, you can take drugs

[@MossyMoht]

What? That doesn’t make sense. Happiness is to be happy. You can’t just put a direct contradiction down and act like it makes sense. Also speaking long term drugs don’t make one happy. They just put more highs and lows within it. And if anything, doing drugs is extremely living in the present too, as you don’t consider the future, only your thoughts and emotions at that exact time no?

[@Abra391]

Make a Linkin Park edit out of it

[@neige8408]

Adamım!

[@mrfoodskater]

Are you sniffing paint or something

[@TheCubecrafer]

that how i feel making youtube vids-

[@normalguycap]

Boy it takes him forever even within a 1 min video to get to the point. Just to be wrong.

[@qwerty6383]

I'm sure masochists, workaholics etc find some happiness in what they are doing. Otherwise they wouldn't be doing it

[@a.bagasm.7253]

.Who the fuc* dont want happiness?. First of all it makes you healthy, second of all its pleasureable, the phsycology literature on that is clear so why is that we shouldnt strive for it?. Well, one answer is that, tragedy is a necesery part of human existance and the suffering that goes along with it. Life is suffering and theres pain, i mean try asks people if they ever feel a sense of pain or not.there are poor people, homeless people, history is full of bloodbaths and someimes people choose to end their lives. Ok, thats the bad side of life, how about some good side, soceity had been lifting up poor people very fast at huge bargain. Un predict that they will reach their goals of lifting priverty 2005-2016 and it reachd by 2013, its amazing. And people now seems not at each other's throats all the time and not hungry all the time, so at least you can be grateful now considering some guy fixing up electricity in the middke of winter with one arm do his best work just to make electricity work. Ok back to topic. I think miyazaki isnt saying that you shouldnt be happy, if you happy well man be grateful for it cuz life could be really really tragic. Miyazaki said it isnt helpful as a goal,hapiness is a form of positive emotion, negative emotions exist because were a prey animal and also a predator even though it will make you more sick. Be meaningful and not happy, thats what hes trying to say to people cuz "" be happy" isnt enough to sustain you from tragedy. Meaning, thats the proper solution.take responsibility for meaning. And thats the proper way to live

[@sasx1487]

Interesting mind but I don't envy him one bit, your passion being constant suffering and your job seems like an awful life

[@cbx3323]

In a magazine interview, he said, "I like to be grumpy and pretend to be grumpy," meaning that his grumpiness is an act, perhaps just misanthropy

[@BadAssBullet12]

Sartre, but very subtle.