One of Miyazaki's earliest directorial efforts was the post-apocalyptic adventure tale, Mirai Shonen Konan, or alternately, Conan, The Boy in Future (in its official English title). Many hold this twenty-six episode series to be the greatest thing Miyazaki has ever created, and for good reason. The style, themes, characterizations, and trademarks that make Miyazaki's movies so indelibly his, all have their roots in this epic masterpiece. Everything from strong child protagonists and flying machines, to political and ecological themes was present and perfectly executed here.
I consider myself blessed to have been heavily exposed to the show from early childhood. Still, it wasn't until I was able to rewatch the series as an adult in its original Japanese (with English subtitles) that I was able to fully understand the plot and appreciate the genius. My childhood viewing was done to a stack of VHS tapes that were dubbed in Korean, which may have had a lot to do with my general lack of full comprehension.
Honestly, Miyazaki was so far ahead of the game back then (in 1978, no less) that it makes the competition of the time seem pitiful by comparison. And that's not just in animation fluidity, but in straight storytelling. Have you ever watched a show that you loved so much that when you got to the end, you felt like someone had hollowed you out? Have you ever felt the sadness of knowing that you would never see the characters develop further beyond the confines of their fictional universe? I felt that... and continue to feel it when I reminisce about this story.
So it's with intense fondness that I urge you to keep a lookout for this one. If you're a fan of the singular, rare, and beautiful in life, this is something you're going to want to see. Arigato gozaimashita, Hayao Miyazaki, the world owes you an unpayable debt.
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