The nine Comic-Cons I’ve attended consecutively since 2001 have naturally began to blur in my mind.  Sure there have been events that have stood out, (i.e. Brad Bird talking about Incredibles,  Guerrmo Del Toro talking about Pan’s Labyrinth, meeting Brian Singer, Mike Mignola trading me a sketchbook for a VHS copy of The Promethean, Joss Whedon and Dr. Horrible’s showing,  etc.) but for the most part my absolutely best year at Comic-Con and my absolute worst are not that far apart in scope.  Comic-Con is just awesome, some years are better than others, but it is all still awesome.

Thus I didn’t think Comic-Con 2009 shone any brighter than the other years . . . except for one thing . . . I was in the same room as my favorite director . . . EVER!!!  Hayao Miyazaki

He didn’t say anything I hadn’t heard before, but I was there and he was there . . . in the same massive convention hall and I found myself having a hard time breathing and tears in my eyes.

For a long time my “favorite director” was a three way tie between Hitchcock, Wes Anderson, and Miyazaki.  But I realized that, thought there are things I love deeply about each director’s films, Miyazaki was the only one of the three that I loved with no caveats.  I love every one of his films and I don’t have to warn, avoid or make excuses for anything he’s made.  His films are pure magic, and, in the end, I want to emulate him in y own creativity more than any other filmmaker.

For an excellent treaties on Miyazaki’s greatness check out Why I Love Miyazaki by Brandon Dayton.