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Among animation studios, Japan’s Studio Ghibli enjoys a global reputation second only to that of Pixar—a credit to its artistry, considering that the home base of Isao Takahata (The Tale Of Princess Kaguya, Grave Of The Fireflies) and the legendary Hayao Miyazaki has released only 20 animated features in its 32-year history. But now, after a temporary halt on production, things are moving again at the tightly-knit studio as it prepares to begin work on what is presumed to be Miyazaki’s final film, How Do You Guys Live?, and an untitled new computer-animated projected by his son, director Goro Miyazaki (From Up On Poppy Hill).




Though nothing is known at this point about the younger Miyazaki’s new project, How Do You Guys Live? is understood to be inspired by the work of the Japanese children’s author Genzaburō Yoshino. (The title comes from a 1937 book by Yoshino, though the film isn’t an adaption.) The elder Miyazaki—who “retired” after 2014's The Wind Rises, but announced his return to animation earlier this year—announced the new project in October at the opening of a new museum dedicated Natsume Sōseki, the Japanese writer best known for his comic classic I Am A Cat.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the new projects have resulted in a change in senior management at Studio Ghibli. Koji Hoshino stepped down from his position as president earlier this week to become its chairman; Kiyofumi Nakajima, who has been the director of the Ghibli Museum since 2005, will now run the studio’s business side. Production on How Do You Guys Live? began this fall, and is expected to take 3-4 years, meaning that we’ll have to wait until the early 2020s for the next work by the world’s most acclaimed animation director.