Fans of Studio Ghibli should mark their calendars for September 2016. The acclaimed anime production house will release its first co-produced foreign work next year, The Red Turtle, according to its distribution company Toho.
This should bring cheer to fans who have been concerned about the studio's fate. Since legendary animator and Ghibli's co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, announced his retirement in 2013 with The Wind Rises, speculation has been rife on whether Ghibli was headed for murky waters. The recent news of Studio Ghibli's youngest director, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, quitting the studio didn't help assure fans either.
But the announcement of the new feature, may show that the, uh, winds are turning for Ghibli.
The Red Turtle , to be co-produced with European film distributor Wild Bunch, will bring onboard Academy Award-winning Dutch director Michaël Dudok de Wit. The animated fantasy film tells the touching tale of a man stranded on an island and his relationship with a giant turtle.
Those missing Miyazaki's poignant story-telling style will be happy to know that Dudok de Wit, who won the Academy Award for Father and Daughter, was reportedly earmarked by Miyazaki himself.
The star studded crew also includes Isao Takahata, who directed Studio Ghibli’s classics Grave of the Fireflies and Pom Poko, and will serve as artistic producer on the new film. Fans are understandably excited about the studio's new release.
We look forward to the new movie #theredturtle a French-Japanese co production. #StudioGhibli @ghibli_intl pic.twitter.com/vODtJa0XIY— Japan FM (@japanfm) December 15, 2015
Such GREAT news - #StudioGhibli is coming out with a new production, #TheRedTurtle .. so exciting! pic.twitter.com/tu1uVUzo7I— Sonya Rehman (@gigglypundit) December 12, 2015
I can not wait to hear more about the film The Red Turtle! #theredturtle #filmhttp://t.co/Ts17raHd1Y— jz (@jennazona) May 26, 2013
Can't wait to see more for The Red Turtle, directed by Michael Dudok de Wit #studioghibli #animationhttps://t.co/ElBhORUzhL— Robertino Zambrano (@robertinoz) December 12, 2015