Studio Ghibli is one of, if not THE, best animation studio ever. I don’t think it’s even disputable. The source of its success is down to the two founding members, Hayao Miyazaki (SPIRITED AWAY) and Isao Takahata (GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES).
So it’s been worrying to hear that Miyazaki has, on numerous occasion, threatened to retire. Thankfully Isao Takahata has announced that Ghibli does not just have one of his films in production, but also one from Miyazaki.
Little is known about Miyazaki’s production and it is reported that he is working on a autobiography (whether his own or adapting another’s is unknown), and IMDB is stating he is directing PORCO ROSSO: THE LAST SORTIE, a sequel to the 1992 film about a fighter-pilot pig. He has talked about this production for a long time but never believed that he would be able to make it.
Takahata though has some details on his project, which is based on a Japanese folk tale in the 10th Century called Taketori Monogatari, or THE TALE OF THE BAMBOO CUTTER in ye olde English tongue. Here is the Wiki description;
It primarily details the life of a mysterious girl called Kaguya-hime, who was discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant. She is said to be from Tsuki-no-Miyako (??? “The Capital of the Moon”) and has unusual hair that shines like the moon.
Ghibli is at its best when dealing with fantasy elements so the news of the above story being adapted is great. Takahata states that both projects are no where near complete even though they have been in the making for two years, with it being another two years until it’s in the cinema.
