Hayao Miyazaki Says That Again: "I'm not Quitting."

The legendary anime creator of "Spirited Away", "My Neighbor Totoro", etc., Hayao Miyazaki says he is again taking back his retirement pledge made four years ago and already making what he calls "his ultimate animated feature film", Studio Ghibli bared May 19. Asked why his change of mind, Miyazaki just says, "I've found a subject matter worth creating a film of.

Miyazaki said four years ago he felt strongly his era of animated feature films was over. Back to work again, Miyazaki admits "this is definitely going to be my last work - agewise". Studio Ghibli mentions in its HP Miyazaki's days of retrospection and his sentiments over the loss of many of his dear old friends and his thoughts on his own day drawing near.

The studio is not yet in a position to announce the details of his "ultimate work", nor when it will be.

In his "adieu" press conference in September 2013, Miyazaki apologized for having announced retirement so often to no avail and declared "now I bow out as my era of animated feature films was over".

But, in a program last November, NHK featured Miyazaki as working on a storyboard for an anime film. In that program, Miyazaki handed over a work plan to Studio Ghibli's producer Toshio Suzuki, asking him to find funds - enough to make the film, etc.

Toshio Suzuki comments:

"He (Miyazaki) has various ideas budding in his mind for new work, for sure. He comes up with all kinds of projects but not everyone is worth making a film of.
"So, shall we say - the whole thing is still a clean sheet."

 So, the whole thing boils down to what Studio Ghibli puts it: not yet in a position to bare the details. (Nathan Shiga)