He hasn’t quite put down the paint brush, but Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is closing out his feature film career with The Wind Rises and, according to a new report, the iconic animation company will waste no time proceeding to their next film. We’re still awaiting news on further distribution on the completed Princess Kaguya, but today Toho announced a new project.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi, coming off the excellent adventure drama The Secret World of Arrietty, will next direct When Marnie Was There. An adaptation of Joan G. Robinson‘s novel, the ghost story follows a lonely girl named Annie who meets her first friend in the mysterious Marnie. It sounds like animators have already been hard at work, considering a release is planned for next summer.
As we anticipate the next film from Studio Ghibli, we also have an update on an adaptation of one of their works. Kiki’s Delivery Service has been given the live-action treatment in Japan, thanks to The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu, and today we have a new trailer. Set for a release on March 1st in its native country, check it out below, along with a poster. [Variety//Film]
What do you think of the new project? Would you see a live-action Kiki’s Delivery Service?