UPDATE: Another translation of Toshio Suzuki’s interview reveals that the idea of shutting down has been brought up at shareholder meetings, but nothing has been finalized.
This is according to an article on AnimeNewsNetwork which states, “Suzuki discussed the great changes that the entire studio is undergoing at the studio’s shareholders meeting, and mused that these changes may include dismantling the production department. While there has been talk among some about dissolving the studio outright, Suzuki emphasized that the truth is that the studio is considering “housecleaning” or restructuring for now. The end result would be “rebuilding” the studio and creating an environment for the next generation.”
Earlier today, a translation from Oh-Totoro.com stated that Studio Ghibli is shutting down. The original story is below:
Yup, you’re reading that headline correctly. Studio Ghibli, the anime studio responsible for Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and the recently released The Wind Rises, is shutting down according to co-founder and executive director Toshio Suzuki.
The news comes translated from Oh-Totoro.com which states that the company will now solely manage its trademarks and stop producing films. The full translation is below:
“Just moments ago, Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli producer, announced on the TV show of the MBS Jounetsu Tairiku chain effectively as announced as sources close to the studio, Studio Ghibli will close and production studio anime, leaving himself only as a company that will manage its trademarks. As stated in the program’s producer, “the production department of anime will be dismantled,” which coincides with the data that we gave in our previous post on this decision had been taken from spring after the poor reception at the box office of Kaguya-hime no Monogatari.
In the interview, Suzuki has also admitted that it was a major setback for the study progress Hayao Miyazaki, one of the reasons already unveiled the portal Rakuten Woman. Once we have access to the full TV interview, adding more data. No doubt that this is a very sad news for Japanese animation, of which we are all fans, because it is undeniable everything Studio Ghibli has given the anime. Please remember that what will be his last film, Omoide no Marnie, premiered at the Japanese box office on 19 July.”
“Kaguya-hime no Monogatari” will have a limited release in the United States on October 17 as “The Tale of Princess Kaguya”. Their last film “Omoide no Marnie” (translated as “When Marnie Was There”) has yet to be picked up for US distribution.
According to an article on Filmbiz.asia reporting on the opening weekend of “When Marnie Was There”, “Marnie marks the second consecutive disappointing opening for Studio Ghibli. Last November, TAKAHATA Isao 高畑勲‘s The Tale of Princess Kaguya かぐや姫の物語made ¥284 million (US$2.8 million) from 456 screens on its first two days on release. Costing a reported ¥5 billion (US$49.3 million) to produce, the film grossed ¥2.32 billion (US$22.9 million) in Japan.”
Founded in 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli has went on to produce 20 anime films among other short films, music videos, television commercials, and even two video games (“Magic Pengel” and “Ni no Kuni”). “Spirited Away” won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003 while “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “The Wind Rises” received nominations in that same category in 2006 and 2014 respectively.
Studio Ghibli will surely be missed.
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