News Reporting

Toshio Suzuki: Miyazaki’s New Film an “Action-Adventure Fantasy”


Toshio Suzuki commemorates the publication of Ghibli’s Fellows. Image Credit: Natalie

So, I guess we can say that Miyazaki’s taking us on one last epic adventure?

In a letter dated November 28, Toshio Suzuki described Hayao Miyazaki’s upcoming film Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka (How Do You Live?) as an “action-adventure fantasy.” According to the letter, the film is hand-drawn.

In the letter, Suzuki stated that he understands why Miyazaki returned from retirement after reading the film’s concept, and noted that Miyazaki can’t finish with The Wind Rises. He also noted that Studio Ghibli will continue making feature films until “the day it fails,” as they are “the main street of Ghibli.”

Hayao Miyazaki speaks to reporters at his Koganei studio. Image Credit: Japan Times

Suzuki also added that Goro Miyazaki is working on new CGI work.

In November 2016, we reported that Miyazaki expressed a desire to return to movie production. In NHK special Owaranai Hito Miyazaki Hayao (The Man Who Is Not Done: Hayao Miyazaki), it was revealed that Miyazaki was working on CGI short Kemushi no Boro. He wasn’t satisfied with the format, though, and presented a project proposal for a feature-length film in August 2016.

Miyazaki commented on the matter, stating that if the feature would take five years to make, he’d be 80 by the end of production. Though Miyazaki retired from feature films after 2013’s The Wind Rises, he continued to work as a director on shorts and features for the Studio Ghibli Museum.

In May, Studio Ghibli put out a hiring call for new background artists and in-between animators for the feature. In February, we reported that Miyazaki was doing prep work for a new feature film, with the aim of having it in theaters by the 2020 Olympics. Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki noted at the time that “[r]ight now in Tokyo, he’s putting all his effort into making it [the feature].”

Yesterday, Studio Ghibli appointed Kiyofumi Nakajima as the new president of the organization. He previously served as director of the Studio Ghibli museum.

Source: Eiga Natalie

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

Anime Herald

Support Anime Herald

Anime Herald is brought to you through our Patrons and Ko-fi supporters. Consider backing us for as little as $1 a month to help us keep the site ad-free and pay a fair rate to our writers.

Patrons and backers can access several benefits, including Early Article Access, our members-only Discord, and the ability to suggest articles for our team to write on your behalf.



Latest Posts