By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Ever since the news broke late Summer about Studio Ghibli taking a break in producing feature films, just what this production house is able to do next is subject to speculation. Depending on what fans read into producer Toshio Suzuki’s statement, thankfully this studio is not closing its doors. This company is merely taking a break.
When everyone is back, the group will reassess their future. With the ‘retirement’ of famed director Hayao Miyazaki, who helped establish this company, the future seems bleak. Recently, it has been reported that he said that he will continue making anime until he is longer able to and that’s good news. Production may be slower and that’s fine.
Fortunately, co-founder Isao Takahata has not indicated that he is retiring. His output may be slower when considering his last film, My Neighbour the Yamadas, was made in 1999. His latest work, The Tale of Princess Kaguya took a year to arrive in North America. The wait is certainly well worth it as the film skillfully reproduces the same visual style as his previous work and goes further. This film beautifully fuses a watercolour panache upon an artistic landscape that’s found in many a Japanese wall scroll.
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