Studio Ghibli Producer Explains Why Hayao Miyazaki Won't Retire

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most important figures in the history of cinema, transcending animation and becoming a reference for millions of people. The Japanese director does not threaten to stop making films, and Toshio Suzuki, producer of Studio Ghibli, has spoken about this fact and the commented non-retirement.

Toshio Suzuki spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about Miyazaki, noting, “It was only three years after he announced his retirement, and at that time, I honestly believed that we wouldn’t be making any more films together. [Miyazaki] said that because ‘I found it quite embarrassing to come back after announcing that I’ll be retiring, I won’t be showing myself in public.’”

About The Boy and the Heron, Toshio Suzuki said, “I knew that he really wanted to make this film, so I had to decide whether or not I should let him. I finally went through the storyboards on Sunday night, and it was really good. It was very interesting and captivating,” he says, adding, “It was very clear what he wanted to do. And what he wanted to do was basically tell his life story. I could tell that this was going to be something very epically pessimistic.”

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Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s great moment

Suzuki confessed that he initially did not want to approve Hayao Miyazaki’s idea, but the renowned director did everything he could to get the project confirmed: “Now I am happy that I didn’t say no. If he hadn’t made this film, he wouldn’t have been able to die a happy man,” said Suzuki. The film has been a huge success worldwide and has been nominated for and won several awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. This is not the first time Studio Ghibli has participated in the Oscars, and there is a possibility that “The Boy and the Heron” will do what “Spirited Away” did and win a historic Oscar for Japanese and world animation.