Hayao Miyazaki‘s last film was about the friendship between a goldfish and a five-year-old boy. His next movie looks like it will be slightly more serious. According to ANN [via Twitch], the legendary director’s next film is based on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, “the man who designed the Zero fighter plane used in the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. Horikoshi was an aeronautical engineer who developed a number of military aircrafts, with Zero being his most famous invention.” Miyazaki’s films are known for their supernatural and mystical aspects, so I’m not sure where they would fit into this story, if they do at all. Based only on the subject matter, I’m reminded of another Studio Ghibli picture and one of the saddest movies ever made, Grave of the Fireflies (if you haven’t seen it, watch it and bring a crate of tissues).

Completion on Miyazaki’s untitled picture is slated for late 2013.