It looks like Hayao Miyazaki is not ready for retirement. The legendary animator is currently on a high, thanks to the success of The Boy and The Heron, which has been widely promoted as his final Studio Ghibli film. Or is it? Producer Toshio Suzuki has just confirmed that Miyazaki has been hard at work on his next animated project!
Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki was interviewed by the French newspaper Libération where he revealed that Hayao Miyazaki has been working on a new project while Japanese fans were flocking to theaters to watch The Boy and The Heron.
"He thinks about this new project every day, I can no longer stop him, I have given up on that. I’m no longer trying to dissuade him, even if it might be a bad film. In life, only work enchants him," Suzuki said.
"We spoke again earlier today," he added. "He started talking about this new project, so I'm not stopping him anymore."
Suzuki went further to express his support for Miyazaki's work. "As long as he works I will not retire. He is 82 years old, I think he will continue until he is 90 years old and I’ll be going along with him for the ride," he said.
This is interesting news considering that The Boy and The Heron was expected to be Miyazaki's final project and that he would finally retire after a long and successful career. However, it looks like the animation legend is still bursting with ideas and is determined to continue working on more projects. With that in mind, fans are already excited about his follow-up to Studio Ghibli's most recent hit.
Miyazaki's latest release The Boy and the Heron made waves at the Japanese box office and garnered attention at Western film festivals. It has already grossed over $55 million in Japan alone. The Japanese title of the film translates to How Do You Live? and references the 1937 novel by Genzaburō Yoshino. Although there are similarities in the story, the movie follows the story of a grieving 12-year-old boy adjusting to a new town after his mother's death. His life takes a magical turn when he meets a talking heron who claims his mother is alive, leading him on a whimsical quest to reunite with her.
The Boy and The Heron is already set for international release by the end of the year. The latest Studio Ghibli film will finally hit North American theaters on December 8, 2023.
