A recent issue of “Neppu”, a Studio Ghibli-published news pamphlet, contains an interview with renowned director, Hayao Miyazaki. During the interview, in response to a reporter carrying an iPad, Miyazaki made his thoughts on the device heard.
Miyazaki, it turns out, feels the swiping gestures used to control the iPad look “strange”.
“For me, there is no feeling of admiration or no excitement whatsoever,” Miyazaki reportedly said about the iPad. “It’s disgusting. On trains, the number of those people doing that strange masturbation-like gesture is multiplying.” He recalls he felt similarly fed up when the trend of using cell phones and reading manga on trains broke out.
Miyazaki goes on to compare the iPad trend to the 1960s, where people carried cassette players with them. His problem, it would appear, is that the majority of people use technology only as consumers, and not to create or be productive. In fact, Miyazaki’s thoughts closely reflect those of Gundam creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino.
In the past, Miyazaki has revealed that he doesn’t own a computer. In reply to an interviewer inquiring as to whether or he used the Internet, he replied, “I don’t have a computer or fax. I don’t have a DVD player either and I forgot how to use a video recorder. I even seldom watch television.”
What about videogames? He’s tried playing a PC version of Shogi (a Japanese version of Chess) and lost. He believes that the CPU checks and counters all approaches, which isn’t fair. Naturally, Miyazaki is in no way involved with Ni no Kuni, Level 5’s upcoming PS3 and DS RPG, for which Studio Ghibli are providing the artwork and animation.
