Hayao Miyazaki’s mastery of his craft has inspired millions across the globe. Apart from the movies, the director’s experience is reflected in his words during his public appearances and interviews. There’s always something you can take away from his words, and that’s something that Maybe Happy Ending star Darren Criss also believes in. 

Darren Criss is an actor, singer, and songwriter who’s leaving a mark on Broadway with his consecutive excellent performances. During an interview, Criss recently mentioned how Miyazaki’s words helped him continue with theatre and look at the bright side of the format. 

Hayao Miyazaki’s words inspired Maybe Happy Ending star Darren Criss

Maybe Happy Ending is a very popular Korean musical, and Darren Criss starred in its Broadway production. The musical has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Criss became the first Asian American actor to win a Tony Award in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical category. 

Related: Hayao Miyazaki’s Art Style Is Iconic, but It’s Not Why Ghibli Films Are One of a Kind

During Variety’s Actors on Actors interview with Cole Escola, both actors were discussing theatre. Escola mentioned how the flaws in his performance stay with him even on his day-offs. To which Criss mentioned how Hayao Miyazaki‘s quote helped him with that feeling. 

Chihiro and Haku in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away | Credits: Studio Ghibli

This particular quote in question is from Miyazaki’s career memoir, Turning Point: 1997-2008 (as mentioned in this Fast Company article). The director speaks about the regret that comes after finishing a movie. He says:

When we look at films we’ve made, all we can see are the flaws; we can’t even watch them in a normal way. I never feel like watching my own films again. So unless I start working on a new one, I’ll never be free from the curse of the last one. I’m serious. 

Criss mentioned how this particular quote was quite shocking to him, given how it’s coming from the man who created Spirited Away. He also mentioned that he still realizes where it’s coming from, and it helped him realize the bright side of theatre as a format. 

Darren Criss’ interpretation of Hayao Miyazaki’s words 

Miyazaki’s words explain why every time his retirement is announced, it’s followed by the announcement of his next project. The director might always have something to say or something to fix from his previous works. It also tells us how he’s not just a harsh critic for others, but has the same attitude towards himself. 

Related: The Greatest Anime Series Ever According to Hayao Miyazaki: Is It Worth a Watch?

Darren Criss positively took this quote. He shared how the best part of theatre is that even if you mess up one day, you have another show coming up the very next day. It’s a unique advantage that theatre has as a format. It allows you to work on your faults in real time. 

This indirect interaction between Miyazaki and Criss tells us a lot about how they perceive their own skills and craft. Where Miyazaki’s words focus on regret more realistically, Criss is more optimistic about the scope for improvement. It’s always nice to get a glimpse of what goes into an artist’s performance, and this is just one of those instances.

Spirited Away and other Ghibli movies are currently available to stream on Netflix.
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