Studio Ghibli’s Final Film With Hayao Miyazaki Is Almost Ready For 2023 Release

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki are gearing up for a swan song together with the imminent release of the film Kimi-Tachi wa Do Ikiru ka (or known in English as How Do You Live?).
 

The film is based on a novel by Genzaburo Yoshino of the same name. It follows a precocious young boy named Koperu—Copper, in English—and his uncle as he navigates through the pains of growing up, losing his father, poverty, education, and progress.

The movie swivels between Koperu’s thoughts and experiences and a journal his uncle had kept for him, filled with advice on the trials and tribulations of life.

 
According to The Film Stage, this is one of Studio Ghibli’s most extensive works as over 60 animators have been contracted to work on the project, keeping in line with Miyazaki’s signature of hand drawing each frame. In comparison, My Neighbor Totoro only had eight animators.
 
The last update of the movie was in 2020, when it was meant to be released in time for the Olympics. But the pandemic got in the way, and production halted. Now, ahead of the opening of the Studio Ghibli theme park, president Kohi Hoshino announced that it has “progressed very smoothly,” and it is on track for a 2023 release.
 
Miyazaki had previously planned to retire after completing the WWII film, The Wind Rises. But it seems that the director is not done yet as he graces us with one final piece that is sure to be treasured by Studio Ghibli fans everywhere.
 
 
 
[via CBR.com and The Film Stage, images via various sources]