The Wind Rises

"The Wind Rises" (Japanese: 風立ちぬ, Kaze Tachinu) is a 2013 Japanese animated historical fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film is based on Miyazaki's manga of the same name, which was in turn inspired by Tatsuo Hori's short story "The Wind Has Risen." It presents a fictionalized biography of Japanese aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi, focusing on his engineering career from his time at the University of Tokyo in 1923 to the first test flight of the Mitsubishi Ka-14 in 1935. The film juxtaposes these historical events with a fictional romance inspired by Hori's semi-autobiographical novel. Set in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s, it portrays a turbulent society and the personal struggles and passion of Horikoshi in designing beautiful aircraft. In addition to Jiro's career, the movie depicts his love affair with Naoko, a girl suffering from tuberculosis, highlighting the struggle between chasing his dreams and his personal feelings. "The Wind Rises" was Miyazaki's final film before his announced retirement, and it received widespread acclaim for its profound themes and exquisite animation.