Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio has announced that 2020 will be productive for them. The studio is working on two films including How Do You Live? (Kimi-tachi wa Dou Ikuru ka), directed by Hayao Miyazaki and inspired by the early 20th century book by Genzaburo Yoshino.
The project was first announced in 2017. the project is proceeding at a very careful pace, with producer Toshio Suzuki saying during an NHK interview last month that the film was about 15 per cent completed after three-plus years.
How Do You Live? had been expected to debut timed to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but the film doesn’t have an official release date yet.
Details on the second project are scanty, but the studio may be referring to the CG-animated film being directed by Miyazaki’s son Goro Miyazaki (Tales from Earthsea, From Up on Poppy Hill), which was also announced in 2017. The release date is yet to be confirmed.
The announcement reads:
Happy New Year to all.
Thank you for always supporting Studio Ghibli.
Last year was not a bad year for Studio Ghibli, because it was possible to share the news of our Kabuki stage production and other works; the official announcement of Ghibli Park, and active overseas development. However, disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains in Japan are continuing, and it is painful to think that there are a lot of people who are forced to have a hard life even at this time. We would like to express our sincere condolences to those affected by the damage, and pray for the rebuilding of our lives as soon as possible.
By the way, the zodiac sign of 2020 is “rat”. Rats are symbolic of prosperity because of their prolific reproduction, and are also said to be the angels of the god of fertility. I hope that the stagnant mood of society will be renewed, and that we will have a year of hope.
Studio Ghibli continues to work on two new films. Also, Ghibli Park has started in earnest, so we hope to be able to deliver a lot of excitement this year.
Cannot wait for another breathtaking project from the masters!