Studio Ghibli’s Next Movie Teased at Cannes, Miyazaki Slates Modern Anime

After accepting a monumental Palme d’Or on behalf of Studio Ghibli, Goro Myazaki (son of Hayao Miyazaki) made a bold accusation about the current state of anime. Ghibli’s award marks the first time the honorary Palme d’Or award has been given to an entire studio, rather than an individual. Thierry Frémaux, Director of the Institut Lumière, opened the award ceremony (via Cannes Festival), saying:

“We’re all here because we’re besotted with this Japanese animation. And what a studio! Represented by Gorō Miyazaki, I give you the Studio Ghibli!”

Goro took to the stage to accept the award on behalf of the studio. “Ghibli was launched 40 years ago by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Tokuma Shoten,” Goro said, before giving larger praise to everyone that works at the studio:

“They may be the studio’s biggest contributors, but I want to extend this award to all the hard-working teams. This is an honor owed to all those who have loved our films, too: I’d like to thank all Ghibli fans.”

During his speech (via 20 Minutes), Goro went on to tease his father’s next film, and revealed his opinion on the current state of anime. Goro said:

“I think my father has ideas for a new feature film. It made him happy. But he believes the golden age of Japanese animation has passed and that there’s not much new left.”

Is Hayao Miyazaki at the End of His Career?

Spirited Away (2001)

Release Date

July 20, 2001

Cast

Rumi Hîragi , Miyu Irino , Mari Natsuki , Takashi Naitô , Yasuko Sawaguchi , Tatsuya Gashûin

Runtime

125

Studio

Walt Disney Pictures

Tagline

The tunnel led Chihiro to a mysterious town…

Franchise

Studio Ghibli

Goro Miyazaki closed his speech by saying that his father believes “that this award symbolizes the end of his career.” As sad a notion as this seems, retirement is nothing new for the legendary auteur of animation. To date, Hayao Miyazaki has retired three times in his career, only to return to the director’s chair for more animated projects. Fans and those closest to him link this to the sheer exhaustion of producing an animated feature film, which Miyazaki often joins in with the hand-drawn process.

The Palme d’Or marks the second monumental award Ghibli has won this year. Miyazaki’s latest feature film, The Boy and the Heron, earned this year’s Academy Award for the Best Animated Feature Film, marking the second time the studio has won the award (Spirited Away in 2003). Many believed Miyazaki would retire following the film. But, both the director himself, and his son during the Palme d’Or speech, have teased the legend of Japanese animation may return for more.

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Speaking to The Guardian, Susan Napier, a professor of Japanese studies at Tufts University, US, believes it will take a lot more than exhaustion to pry Miyazaki from crafting animated movies. Napier said:

“I think he’ll retire when he can no longer hold a pencil. The man was not made for retirement. His work is the most important thing in his life.”

Miyazaki hasn’t revealed what his next project will be, or if it actually exists, although rumors are circulating that it will be a short film. Miyazaki famously keeps his ideas secret until they are fully conceptualized. Speaking to Yahoo Japan, Goro Miyazaki revealed that his father believes that even some of his own animators are the “rivals.” Goro said:

“He won’t tell anyone. He won’t ever tell. Even at that age, all the animators around him are his rivals, whether they are younger than him, the staff who support him, whether they are inside or outside the company.”