After a decade-long hiatus, legendary Japanese animator and director Hayao Miyazaki is coming out of retirement to release a new film next year. He initially announced his retirement from feature films in 2013, citing his old age, but he returned to work on his upcoming feature film. And now, it just got its release date!

Miyazaki movie release date

Studio Ghibli recently announced the release date of Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka. The movie, which is tentatively titled in English as How Do You Live?, is set to open on July 14, 2023 in theaters in Japan. The announcement tweet is accompanied by artwork from the film featuring a sketch of a bird-like creature.

The new feature film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has been announced! HOW DO YOU LIVE (tentative title) opens in theaters in Japan on July 14, 2023. https://t.co/fHnLM6epTS

— Studio Ghibli (@GhibliUSA) December 13, 2022

How Do You Live?

Inspired by the 1937 novel of the same name written by Yoshino Genzaburo, How Do You Live? tells the story of a young boy named Junichi Honda, also known as Koperu, who gets taken in by his uncle following his father’s death. The novel tackles school life, family, friendship, spiritual growth, poverty, and finding one’s place in the world.

According to Studio Ghibli co-founder and producer Toshio Suzuki, the film is dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki’s grandson. “Miyazaki is making the new film for his grandson. It’s his way of saying, ‘Grandpa is moving on to the next world, but he’s leaving behind this film.’”

The novel by Yoshino Genzaburo is also said to be Hayao Miyazaki’s favorite childhood book.

Previous Studio Ghibli films

Since Hayao Miyazaki’s initial retirement, Studio Ghibli has released several films from different directors and writers, including The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) by his lifelong collaborator Isao Takahata and Earwig and the Witch (2020) by his son Goro Miyazaki.

おはようございます。 pic.twitter.com/ayRkppbmT1

— スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) December 12, 2022

But Hayao Miyazaki’s last work as director and writer was The Wind Rises (2013), which he said was supposed to be his last film before retirement. Prior to 2013, the director had announced his retirement several times, including once in the late 1990s before returning to release the Oscar-winning Spirited Away in 2002.

Binge-watch on Netflix

While waiting for How Do You Live? next year, you can watch the many Studio Ghibli movies again on Netflix, including works by Hayao Miyazaki himself.

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