In Studio Ghibli’s newsletter “Neppuu” co-founder Hayao Miyazaki launched into one of his now trademark tirades against the ills of technology. The remarks came in the context of an interview with Miyazaki during which he was distracted by the interviewer fiddling with his iPad. To which Miyazaki let loose:
That appears to be like a gaming device in your hand, and along with that odd rubbing motion you make, it is not attractive to me, nor am I impressed by it. In fact it makes me quite sick.
I guess people on trains will be making these strange masturbatory rubbing motions soon. First trains were full of people reading manga, then came the cell phone addiction, I’m sure this will be the same. I feel ill thinking about it.
(More iPad bashing after the jump)
In case you are unfamiliar his work here is just a sample of some of Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s movies:
When the interviewer went on to defend how he thought of the iPad as a good tool for research, and something to buy and read books on, an overall information tool. But from Miyazaki’s perspective of “all I need is a pencil and paper to create” he was not impressed which fueled his further comments:
Perhaps I’m ignoring your right but you just can’t research that way.
You can’t know the atmosphere and experience of being on an Ataka-type warship, or having an understanding of the labor and sweat endured by the men at their oars.
Grasping your iWhatever and stroking it as a tool to rake information is not a substitute for going out into the world to enrich your imagination.
I’m sure many people want this iWhatever and get a feeling of omnipotence with in their hands. You know, such as when everyone jumped in for those cassette players (bulky things) that came out in the ’60’s. They wore them proudly and took them everywhere. Those people are now pensioners but you and they are the same. You feel good jumping on the newest product. Don’t become a consumer – become a person that creates.
