Quick Info
So "The Wind Rises" is a Japanese animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, but it’s a bit different from his usual whimsical, fantastical stuff. It’s a historical biopic about Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed some of Japan’s iconic WWII fighter planes. What really struck me is how it’s equal parts a love letter to creation and a gentle meditation on the costs that come with it. You won’t find flying castles or talking animals here—it’s gorgeously grounded in the real world, and somehow that makes every frame more poignant.
There’s an earnestness to the way the film explores passion—for flight, for engineering, for beauty—set against the backdrop of Japan’s interwar period and eventual entry into WWII. I loved how the film didn’t shy away from acknowledging the tension between pure invention and its use in wartime. Jiro is presented as a dreamer, sometimes heartbreakingly single-minded, and Miyazaki fills his story with those trademark subtle touches: wind, light, and little moments of grace.
Honestly, the romance subplot didn’t grab me quite as much as Jiro’s relationship to airplanes and design did. The love story felt a little on-the-nose and melodramatic at points, especially compared to the more understated character work elsewhere in the film. But the film’s slower, almost dreamlike pace allows you to really soak in the period detail and Jiro’s inner world—so even when it dragged, it was at least beautiful to look at.
Visually, it’s stunning. The hand-drawn animation brings 1920s-30s Japan to life in a way that feels almost impressionistic—there’s this pastel softness to everything, but the mechanical sequences are precise and satisfying. The soundtrack is delicate, weaving quietly through scenes and letting the visuals do most of the heavy lifting. It’s the kind of film you could pause every few minutes just to take in the artistry.
You would enjoy this if you like quiet, thoughtful dramas that aren’t afraid to ask complicated questions about genius and moral ambiguity. If you’ve seen mostly Hollywood takes on this era of history, “The Wind Rises” also gives a refreshingly different cultural perspective. It’s definitely a slower burn, but if you’re patient, you’ll find it’s a movie that lingers with you long after.
