Summary
Studio Ghibli’s prolific director,Hayao Miyazaki, has been reported as retiring after his final film,The Boy and the Heron, but according to sources, that may no longer be the case.
Now in his 80’s, Miyazaki has been an icon for generations of animation lovers. The mind behind classics such asSpirited Away,Howl’s Moving Castle, andPrincess Mononoke, his films are a breathtaking look at the world of fantasy, all the while weaving tales that get to the heart of what it is to be human. Retirement for the filmmaker would be the end of an era, but at TIFF, news came out that his recent film would not be that end.
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“He is currently working on ideas for a new film,” Studio Ghibli’s Junichi Nishioka toldCBCthrough a translator. “He comes into his office every day and does that. This time, he’s not going to announce his retirement at all. He’s continuing working just as he has always done.”
Miyazaki has reached the hearts and minds of young people for decades with his universal themes. The filmmaker has never had a flop, and for good reason. EvenThe Boy and the Heron, which has been kept relatively under wraps with no promotion materials to speak of, seems to be another hit after screenings at TIFF. Following a young boy named Mahito,The Boy and the Heronenters a plane between the living and the dead as he chases the idea of his mother. Fromthe brief and atmospheric trailer, it looks like we can expect more of the same from Miyazaki, and that is not a criticism. Young Mahito runs into the giant titular bird, as well as the breathtaking visuals the director is known for.
Theexpensive feat ofThe Boy and the Heroncould have been a decent send-off for Miyazaki, but the world at large should be overjoyed that this is not the end of the road just yet. Of course, he has another film in him, as Studio Ghibli reports. He has always bridged the gap between fantasy and reality, telling stories that had to be told. Films likeSpirited Awayhave entered the cultural zeitgeist forStudio Ghibli fansas one of the most beautiful and moving feats of animation and teach life lessons. In a similar vein,Princess Mononokeshows the deliberate perspective of how industrialization is ruining the environment. There is no malice or nihilism in Mayazaki’s films. He is the exact sort of auteur that is needed in the entertainment industry right now. And possibly forever.
