Why we don’t believe in Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement claims

Last week, it was reported that world-renowned, award-winning Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki would be coming out of his retirement to direct the newest Studio Ghibli film, How Do You Live?. While this is exciting news, the first thought that occurred to me wasn’t “I wonder what this new movie is about?” But, instead was, “Wait, Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement? What retirement?”

The fact that it has been reported on multiple platforms that Miyazaki is not only “coming out of retirement” to direct this newest Ghibli endeavor, but also that this will be the “last Studio Ghibli film” is, simply put, laughable.

Don’t get me wrong. I have immense respect and admiration for the director behind arguably some of the best animated films in existence, from Howl’s Moving Castle to Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. And most of us are beyond thrilled by the news that this anime legend will be directing yet another fantastical fantasy.

The new film is based on a 1937 coming-of-age novel by Genzaburo Yoshino, which follows fifteen-year-old Tokyo schoolboy Copper as World War Two approaches. Sure, we’d be lying if we said this wouldn’t be an incredible film to end Miyazaki’s career, especially with it being a childhood book favorite of his.

But, the truth is, there is very little chance of this being the Japanese director’s last studio Ghibli film, because Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement is more like a term of irony than fact.

Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement claims has us chuckling more than ever

In 2013, Miyazaki made his first, real steps toward retirement after completing his film The Wind Rises. The director had made claims even prior to the aviation-inspired film that he would retire, but promised that, “This time, is for real.” Are you laughing yet? You should be. This was his sixth “retirement” announcement.

The first time Miyazaki claimed he would retire was in 1998. He gave it a solid try, and then, a year later, produced the acclaimed Spirited Away, which went on to win the 2002 Academy Award for the best-animated feature. That was probably a decent motivator to continue making films.

However, Miyzaki aimed to retire again in 2005, leading to his son Goro directing Tales from Earthsea. Of course, we all know a couple years later, Miyazaki returned to create three short films and the beloved Ponyo feature. And yet, the director’s claims of retirement continued on.

While Miyazaki did stick to his promise–at least temporarily–that The Wind Rises would be his last feature film, the director’s “retirement” lasted about two years before he decided, in 2015, to begin production on the Studio Ghibli short film, Boro the Caterpillar. The film was released in 2018. Another two years later, Miyazaki served as a writer and developer on his son Gorô Miyazaki’s film, Earwig and the Witch.

And here we are again, right on schedule with another Miyazaki work being acknowledged as “the last.”

We’re sorry Mr. Miyazaki, but when it comes to your retirement, we didn’t believe you eight years ago, and we don’t believe you now.

When Miyazaki was asked why he would be making another feature, he said: “Because I wanted to.” Well, that seems about right, since the famed creator hasn’t stopped working since he began as an animator in 1963, having directed twenty-four films and four television series over the last five decades.

But, as the cruel hand of time ticks on, we cannot be so naive as to believe that Miyazaki will be directing films until the earth turns cold. Still, the creator is a young 80-years-old and as imaginative as ever. And if we were to bet money on him directing yet another film in yet another two years, we’re fairly certain our finances would be safe.

One day, we will have to acknowledge the legitimate possibility of Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement becoming reality. But that day is definitely not today.

Are you excited for Miyazaki’s new film? Let us know in the comments below!