Acclaimed Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli has announced that it is to take a break from producing movies to consider its future.
Co-founder of the studio Toshio Suzuki went on Japanese TV programme Jonetsu Tairuku saying that some “housecleaning” needed to be done before commencing with any future plans or new projects.
During the interview, when asked about closure rumours, he said that they were untrue and went on to say “it is by no means impossible to keep producing movies forever. However, we will need to take a brief pause to consider where to go from here.”
It was rumoured back in 2010 that the studio would cease production on new projects when animation master Hayoa Miyazaki said: “Suzuki-san is making a dissolution programme for Ghibli,”
“Ghibli should be able to continue with just five members of staff as a copyright management company that takes care of all of the Ghibli properties.”
Speculations are indicating that the reason Ghibli has decided to cease production is down to disappointing box office returns from some of their recent films with the company preferring to keep production in-house as opposed to the cheaper option of sending work overseas.
If the studio was to close down then their last two films in the US will be The Tale of Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There, with the latter not getting a release date in the UK so we may see the former film as our last journey into the brilliance of Ghibli.
Sources: digital Spy and empire
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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