Hayao Miyazaki is back at it again. After announcing his retirement in 2013 (not for the first time), it was rumored last year that he was working on a new feature film, based on a CG short named Boro the Caterpillar. Now, officials at Studio Ghibli have confirmed it: Miyazaki is working on a new feature.
Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki revealed the news at a pre-Oscars interview for The Red Turtle (which Studio Ghibli co-produced and which is nominated for Best Animated Feature). It was reported by a number of sources including a journalist for the Kyodo news agency:
A separate report from The Inquirer states that the film in question is the adaptation of Boro the Caterpillar, clips of which can be seen above. This was originally a computer-generated short film made for the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo. Little is known about its story other than Miyazaki’s description: it tells the tale of “a tiny, hairy caterpillar, so tiny that it may be easily squished between your fingers.” The short version of Boro is due to be released some time this year, while the longer version is due out in 2019.
As to why Miyazaki keeps announcing his retirement only to return to filmmaking; well, we’ll leave that for him to explain:
Comments
as planned
By Sassette on 02.24.17 8:01am
Again
By WayAway on 02.24.17 8:15am
He’s only officially gone into retirement once(2014 after the wind rises), it’s just every time he’s talked about it in interviews in the past the media runs away with stories about how he’s retired.
By Rafael Aguilera on 02.24.17 9:03am
Nobody "officially" retires. If you say you’re retired, you’re retired. It’s that easy.
He’s done it at least six times according to the Japanese media. You can read about some of these (in English) at the bottom of this page: http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/miyazaki/101.html
Many of these announcements are at least as "official" sounding as his 2013 announcement, such as his 1998 formal resignation from Studio Ghibli and subsequent purchase of a "retirement place".
He basically retires after every film, then unretires when he feels like making another one. I’m sure it’s on purpose, so there’s no pressure on him to deliver for the studio. The studio doesn’t rely on him for their profits; he can just rely on them to give him whatever he wants when he wants it.
By badasscat1 on 02.24.17 12:41pm
Amazing news.
By Forbius on 02.24.17 8:17am
This guy just can’t stay away, and I’m fine with that
By DJCR33P on 02.24.17 9:39am
It’s a mistake.
By ardent on 02.24.17 12:19pm
Why?
By Rolf on 02.24.17 9:20pm