Studio Ghibli: We Haven't Quit Yet

Has Studio Ghibli closed its doors? Will they continue to make feature animated films? What are their future plans? All these questions have hung over the studio since the release of their latest movie, Hiromasa Yonebayashi's When Marnie Was There. Freelance writer Jonatan Järbel traveled to Japan to get the official word from Ghibli themselves:

During my visit at studio Ghibli, a woman named Satoko Takano follows every step I take. She seems to have her hand in everything the studio does. Satoko confirms that the entire production team is on a break at the moment. But that's just normal procedure when they've finished a movie.
So the rumours regarding studio Ghibli aren't true?

"No, we haven't quit yet. Now that we don't have a plan we can say anything about, we are kind of on break, that's all."  

For safety's sake she says it again, with a laugh: "We haven't quit! For sure!"

Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli's co-founder, also expects feature animation productions will continue; he is also openly skeptical about Hayao Miyazaki's retirement, stating, ""I've never heard of film directors that retire. I have always urged him to continue making films. He will in any case make short films." As for his own future, Paku-san states he "definitely would like to do more films, if I have the strength and mental focus."

Thanks to Generacion Ghibli for sharing the source article.