Haya Miyazaki’s next anime is underway, and the boy explains why it’s a mystery
Appearing recently at the Cannes Film Festival, Goro Miyazaki, son of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, explained why his father holds back Studio Ghibli films until they are released. This strategy, according to Goro, is because Miyazaki considers all animators his rivals.
The secret behind Studio Ghibli products
Known for its internationally acclaimed anime films, Studio Ghibli continues to be a benchmark in the Japanese animation industry. However, despite his success, Hayao Miyazaki maintains a policy of absolute secrecy about his future projects. At the prestigious Palme d’Or awards ceremony in Cannes, where Studio Ghibli was honored, Goro Miyazaki accepted the award on behalf of his father and revealed that although Miyazaki is working on his next film, he is not sharing details about the project. Not even with his immediate team. “He won’t tell anyone. Absolutely not. Even at that age, all the entertainers around him are his rivals,” Goro said.
Miyazaki’s fear is not unfounded. Concerns about neutrality are a reality in any creative industry, and Studio Ghibli’s iconic status makes it a challenging target for other animators. Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino urged new Japanese animators to “crush” Miyazaki with their own creations. “Please work hard to crush Miyazaki. “I can’t do it anymore,” Tomino said, adding that young creators must fully commit themselves if they want to surpass Miyazaki or events like One Piece.
Next projects
Despite the mystery surrounding Miyazaki’s next project, Studio Ghibli has big plans for the critically acclaimed collection of short films. To celebrate its recent triumph at Cannes, the festival will present four original short films previously only shown at the Ghibli Museum in Japan. This will be the first time these shorts, including Boro Caterpillar, House Hunt and Mr. Dow and the Egg Princess, will be officially shown outside of Japan. Among them, Mei and Kittenbus stand out as a short sequel to the beloved My Neighbor Totoro movie.
The 2024 Cannes International Film Festival will be held from May 14 to 25. Studio Ghibli fans in the United States can enjoy the studio’s extensive film library on Max. Netflix, which acquired international streaming rights to the films earlier this year, will make the content available to viewers in Canada, Australia, Africa, Europe and other major territories.
The Lasting Influence of Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki’s legacy is reflected not only in Studio Ghibli’s films and shorts, but also in the global anime culture. Combining deep narratives with stunning animation, his works have inspired generations of animators and storytellers around the world. Their stealth approach may seem over-the-top, but it’s a technique that has kept Studio Ghibli at the pinnacle of creativity and originality.
Miyazaki’s position in the animation competition shows the strength of the market and the importance of originality. By keeping his projects secret, he not only protects his ideas, but also the impact his films will have when they are released to the world.
Ghibli and the animation of the future
As the animation industry continues to evolve, the influence of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki is still undeniable. New talents in Japan and around the world face the challenge of creating works that live up to Ghibli’s creations. This competitive environment fosters innovation and the legacy of Miyazaki and his studio continues to inspire a global audience.
Miyazaki’s dedication to his art, even at his age, and his willingness to treat everyone as a rival, show a passion for animation that shows no sign of abating. Although his future films are shrouded in mystery, each new Ghibli work is eagerly awaited by fans and critics alike who know it will be a milestone in the anime world.