Hayao Miyazaki's Next Feature Film Is Still 2-3 Years Away

This is an old news post, but bears repeating as there has been very few updates in the past year. As we all know, Hayao Miyazaki returned from his "retirement" to create one more animated feature with Studio Ghibli. Titled "How Do You Live," this movie is based on a 1937 novel by Genzaburo Yoshino.

While originally planned for a theatrical release in time for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, the extremely slow production schedule has pushed back that date to 2021 or even 2022. As always, Miyazaki is drawing the storyboards himself, and animation is reportedly progressing at the pace of one minute per month (I'm still trying to find the source on that).

The pace of this production is far slower than in the past, owing greatly to Miyazaki's age (now 78) and reduced work schedule. Studio Ghibli has also had to completely hire a new staff of artists and animators, since the disbanded its animation teams in the wake of Miyazaki's retirement. Many of the biggest names such as Kazuo Oga, Yoshiyuki Momose and Katsuya Kondo have moved on to other projects and studios, most notably Studio Kajino.

For these reasons, we should not expect to see the new movie for another two or three years. Progress is being made slowly but consistently. The greatest challenge, of course, is time, as last year's passing of Isao Takahata makes all too clear. Let us hope and pray that Miyazaki-san will stay in good health long enough to complete this final work.

Western Ghibli fans should also be aware that Miyazaki's new movie will not be a fantasy in the style of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away or Ponyo, but will be a "realistic" story similar in style to The Wind Rises. Don't let the Harry Potter-ish illustration above fool you. In any event, expect one last brilliant masterwork from the sensei.

Tokyosaurus Talks The Next Hayao Miyazaki Movie

YouTube channel Tokyosaurus has posted a short video describing the details of Hayao Miyazaki's upcoming feature film, "How Do You Live?" Regular visitors to Ghibli Blog will already be familiar with the details, as we have reported on Monday. There is a short look at the book on which the movie is adapted, some speculation on how Miyazaki will adapt it to his tastes, and expectations on when it will be completed, or even if the director will still be alive.

As always, it's far too soon to speculate on anything, and we should not expect to hear many announcements from Studio Ghibli during production, which formally began in October.

The final, "final" Miyazaki movie? Well, maybe. Then again, maybe not. The only deciding factor is how much time he has remaining. Let's hope and pray that God gives us all a little more time together. You already have John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Bowie! You can wait for Miyazaki for a little longer.

Hayao Miyazaki Announces Title For His Next Movie

This weekend, at the opening of a Natsume Soseki (Botchan, I am a Cat) memorial at Tokyo's Waseda University, Hayao Miyazaki discussed his upcoming movie project, revealing its title: "Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru Ka?" The direct translation is "How Do You Live?" and is also the title of a 1937 children's book by Japanese author Genzaburo Yoshino. It is believed that the movie will be an adaptation of that book.

It was also recently revealed that Miyazaki's felt motivated to create a movie as a personal statement to his grandchild, as a final story to remember his grandfather. It is also known that the director felt inspired to return to feature film directing while working on his Ghibli Museum short film, Boro the Caterpillar. Once again, retirement does not suit him.

"Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru Ka?" is currently under production, and is expected to last three or four years. It was originally hoped to be completed in time for the Tokyo Olympics, but that deadline has since proved impossible. Miyazaki's age was no doubt a major factor. Let us hope he remains healthy enough to create one more masterpiece!

Thanks to Crunchyroll and Kotaku for this morning's news scoop.