Michael Dudok de Wit (1953, the Netherlands) is an animator, director and illustrator. He is presently based in London where he directs and animates award-winning commercials for television and cinema.
In 1978, he graduated from the West Surrey College of Art with his first film 'The Interview' followed by 'The Monk and the Fish' (1994), which was made in France with the studio Folimage. This film was nominated for an Oscar and has won numerous prizes including a César Award for Best Short Film and the Cartoon d'Or.
His most well-known film 'Father and Daughter' (2000) won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, the Grand Prix at Annecy, and dozens of other major awards. This was followed by 'The Aroma of Tea' (2006), an experimental film painted entirely with tea.
Michael also writes and illustrates children's picture books and teaches animation at art colleges and universities in England and abroad.
Producer and Chairman of Studio Ghibli
Born in 1948 in Nagoya, Japan. Toshio Suzuki graduated from Keio University with a degree in Literature in 1972, and joined the publishing company Tokuma Shoten Co., Ltd. After working for the weekly magazine "Asahi Geino", Suzuki co-founded the monthly animation magazine "Animage". While working as its vice editor, and later chief editor, for the magazine for 12 years, he took part in the production of films by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, including NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984), CASTLE IN THE SKY (1986), GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988), MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988) and KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989). He participated in the founding of Studio Ghibli in 1985, and has worked full-time at the Studio since 1989. Suzuki served as the producer for ONLY YESTERDAY (1991), PORCO ROSSO (1992), POM POKO (1994), WHISPER OF THE HEART (1995), PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997), MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS (1999), SPIRITED AWAY (2001), THE CAT RETURNS (2002), HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2004), TALES FROM EARTHSEA (2006), PONYO (2008), THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (2010), FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (2011) and THE WIND RISES (directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2013). He served as planner for Ghibli's latest film THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (2013). He served as producer for THE RED TURTLE (2016), directed by Michael Dudok de Wit.
He has also served as producer for other projects such as Hideaki Anno's live action film RITUAL (2000) and the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (opened in 2001 in Mitaka, Tokyo). He is the co-producer of Mamoru Oshii's animated feature INNOCENCE (2004, a Production I.G film) and, with Hideaki Anno, of the "Tokusatsu" special effects short film "A GIANT WARRIOR DESCENDS ON TOKYO" (2012, directed by Shinji Higuchi). Since 2007, he has hosted his own radio talk show "Toshio Suzuki's Ghibli Asemamire" on Tokyo FM. He is also the author of several books, including "Eiga Doraku" (Movies as a Hobby, 2005), "Shigoto Doraku" (Work as a Hobby, 2008) and "Ghibli no Tetsugaku" (Ghibli's Philosophy, 2011).