Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki is Back from Retirement to Spirit Us Away

Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of the famous Studio Ghibli, is now returning in all his hand-drawn animation grace. Once again, he will romanticize the mundane every-day life, and once again, we will be swept up by the dreamy scenes that he creates.

What makes Miyazaki’s movies so exceptional? Is it the realistic animation that takes years to produce due to the hard work poured into it? The themes that support humanity’s essence or the mere simplicity that takes us back to our roots?

After the release of The Wind Rises in 2013, Miyazaki had declared his retirement from the world of anime films. The news was expected, yet it managed to dispirit anime lovers worldwide.

However, in 2016, rumors spread about Miyazaki returning to direct a new feature film. In 2017, Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli’s producer, announced that Miyazaki is directing a new movie titled “How Do You Live?”

So what led to Miyazaki’s return to the world of directing? Although it was previously revealed that he wanted to direct a last movie as a gift for his grandson, there is another reason behind it that makes Miyazaki look almost cute.

He is too restless for a life of retirement. The lives of creative people are shaped around their brainchildren. However, one cannot retire from creativity. Such is the case with our favorite director.

The empty studio that he returned to, struck a chord within him, and even his wife noticed his unease and asked him to return to the studio if he really wants to create all his life. It is the artist inside Miyazaki that barred him from resting.

“How Do You Live?”, the upcoming film from Hayao Miyazaki, is being animated at Studio Ghibli and is inspired by Yoshino Genzaburo’s 1937 novel of the same name.

The film will portray a 15-year-old boy who is excellent in every sphere. However, he has to live with his uncle following his father’s death.

He experiences a new perspective of life as he interacts with his friends and his uncle. As he finally decides on his future, the audience is asked the simple question, “How do you live?”

In 2020, Toshio Suzuki revealed that the film will need 3 more years to be completed. It is a coming-of-age film that will perhaps reflect on the rebirth of Miyazaki’s director self.

About Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio, best known for its anime movies. It was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki.

The studio’s most famous production is the 2001 film, Spirited Away, which won the Oscar.

Many of its productions have won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. Its hand-drawn animations have acquired praise from all over the world and have inspired other studios.

The studio came into being after Miyazaki’s Nausicaa of the Wind Valley film. Castle in the Sky was the first film under the studio.

My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke are some of its famous films amongst many others.

Source: Indie Wire

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