Hallo, Black Rabbit, you will be pleased to hear that Studio Ghibli have 2 films due out in Japan this year, although not directed by Miyazaki himself.
As mentioned by the 2 previous posters, the first one which is due out in Japan in the Summer, is "The Borrowers", based on the classic children's fantasy stories by the British writer, Mary Norton, written in 1952. The full Japanese title is Yukash*ta no kobita-tachi, also known as Chiisana Arrietty (the Japanese working title).
I loved the books as a child and have re-read them as an adult with just as much enjoyment. In case you don't know, they are about a family of little people, just a few inches high, who live secretly under the floorboards of a large house. They survive by "borrowing" things from the main house. For example, a cotton reel becomes a table, etc. The heroine of the story is the daughter, 10-year old Arrietty, which of course makes the story ideal as a Studio Ghibli film.
The director is one of the studio animators, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, in his first directorial role. At 36 he is the youngest person to have directed a Studio Ghibli film. But do not fear, Hayao Miyazaki is supervising the project, as well as being the writer of the screenplay. He himself began the development stages for the film in July 2008. This film is evidently close to his heart as he and Isao Takahata, who was the co-founder of studio Ghibli with Miyazaki and directed "Grave of the Fireflies", had considered adapting the novel for the past 40 years!
Interestingly, the film takes place in Western Tokyo's neighbourhood of Koganei, where Studio Ghibli is located. So not only close to Miyazaki's heart but also close to his studio!
I can't wait to see the film, I may even take a trip to Japan, which I have been promising myself for years now, and see the premiere. Now that would be something!
The other film due out this year is still in production. Its Japanese title is
"Taketori monogatari", or in English "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter". It is being directed by Isao Takahata. More information is available on IMDbPro, which I am not registered with.
Finally, the info on IMDb about Studio Ghibli says that Miyazaki has signed up to direct 2 more films himself over the next 3 years. So we can look forward to some great new films. Have you any preferences for the sort of film you'd like him to do? I see you're a fan of Watership Down, but that's been done. We shall see. I can't wait.
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Truusso
15 years ago
Yes as john-1931 says, Miyazaki has announced that he is not done with directing, even thought rumors said that he was going to retire. Personally I hope that his next movie will have a story more alike his adventurous works, Monoke, Howl, Castle in the sky, that stuff. Of topic, Howl is probably my all time favourite movie...
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dballred
15 years ago
I saw a glimpse of Arietta the other day. A little bit of the story was shown and discussed on a televised special before the broadcast premier of Ponyo on Japanese television (Friday Japan time on NTV Channel 4). It looks beautiful and the characters appear very Miyazaki-esque.
It appears Miyazaki's level of participation in this project will be about the same as his contribution to Whisper of the Heart. It's not a tri-fecta (write, direct, and animate) like Totoro or others, but it should be great--and the subject material is right up his alley.
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Truusso
15 years ago
Yes as john-1931 says, Miyazaki has announced that he is not done with directing, even thought rumors said that he was going to retire. Personally I hope that his next movie will have a story more alike his adventurous works, Monoke, Howl, Castle in the sky, that stuff. Of topic, Howl is probably my all time favourite movie...
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