Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, has officially announced his retirement.
Detailing his reason for his decision to retire, Miyazaki said, “It took five years to complete The Wind Rises. My next work might take six or seven years, and I would use all the time I have in my 70’s. There are more things I want to do besides anime films.” He also added, “There are various things I’d like to do, but not really create something myself. I don’t want to become a person of culture. I want to stick to the lifestyle of an old man leading a small workshop.”
When asked about what the future of Studio Ghibli without him will be, he said, “On this occasion, I’d like to ask the young staff to work hard. I want them to keep coming up with ideas. Otherwise, it’s over. In our 30s and 40s, we made a lot of plans, thinking that if we could do it, we should make it happen. The future of Ghibli depends on the efforts of the younger generation.”
His most recent (and final) animated feature film, The Wind Rises, currently ranks eighth in the highest-grossing anime of all time, and is an official entry to the Venice Film Festival.
Miyazaki's official resignation letter
Official Resignation
Hayao Miyazaki
I think I want to work for another ten years. As long as I can come and go between my home and my workplace without help, I want to continue working. For the time being, I estimate that to be about ten years.
It might be less, but that is something my lifespan will decide, so I will just go with my estimate.
I wanted to make theatrical anime, and so I did, but I had no way to stop the rapidly growing distance between my works; it just became a norm.
There is five year span between The Wind Rises and my previous work. The next one might take six or seven years... That won’t hold up the Studio, and by that time, my 70s, or rather the time I have left of my 70s, will be used up.
Even besides anime films, there are other things I’d like to try out. There are also a lot of tasks that I feel I must do, for example, an exhibition at the Ghibli Museum.
These things, regardless of whether I do them or not, do not pose any inconvenience toward Ghibli. They might, however, still inconvenience my family the same as before. So, I hereby take myself off Ghibli’s program.
I am free. However, my daily life won’t change a bit, I will walk the same path every day. Taking Saturday off has been my dream. I am not sure if I will make it a habit, but I will never know unless I try.
Thank you very much.
9/4/2013