Reporters at the Venice Film Festival were left reeling today when Studio Ghibli president, Koji Hoshino, announced that the iconic director Hayao Miyazaki will be retiring. His most recent film The Wind Rises, which is currently screening at the festival, will apparently be his final project.
The legendary filmmaker has earned a special place in the hearts of Anime fans with highly regarded films such as My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo. In 1985 he founded Studio Ghibli with fellow great director Isao Takahata.
His 2001 feature Spirited Away has been acclaimed as one of the greatest animated films of all time, earning Miyazaki the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
No further details were given in Venice but Miyazaki is due to hold a briefing in Tokyo later.
