Studio Ghibli is closing down..

[Octoberist]

An End of an era..

STUDIO GHIBLI ANNOUNCES CLOSURE
Toshio Suzuki has announced the closure of Studio Ghibli. Here’s a translated version of the news article:
"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.”

http://oh-totoro.com/post/93700803450/studio-ghibli-announces-closure-toshio-suzuki

 

[Thundercrack85]

Damn that sucks.

I hear the anime industry isn't doing well in Japan... or anywhere for that matter.

 

[kvz5]

Damn.

 

[Doppelganger]

I need a drink.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

While I haven't seen some of the more recent movie output, it's kind of like when Satoshi Kon died. A big part of the new quality storytelling and animation industry just disappears with them.

I liked the Wrath of the White Witch video game that had their involvement most recently.

 

[DA_Champion]

Awful news.

 

[Dr. Evil]

 

[terry78]

CG is all the rage now, even overseas.

 

[cabel]

Maybe we jumped the gun?

 

[Lencho01]

I was all, "Whaaaaaaaa?!?!?!" until that Kotaku article.

 

[Incrediblejeff]

I hope it's not ending anytime soon.

 

[Jaspertian1105]

One of the last bastions of 2d animation closing is always sad, i work in CG but my first love will always be 2d so this kind of news whether it closes or not is sad. Still i believe 2d will make a comeback with the insistence if use of mo cap in cg, animators will have to branch out and set themselves apart from hiper realistic results, so hopefully we will see more styles in the future including a higher demand for 2D animation

 

[mclay18]

If they're restructuring, and not shutting down, it's not going to be the same. Not just with two of their prized directors retiring, but if they're restructuring, they're likely to outsource all the major animation work as part of it. Most of the Ghibli animation was done in-house in Japan, but if they're looking for sustainability in the long-term... outsourcing the work will be one of them.

 

[Gabe99]

Forbes July 18, 2017:
The Anime Movies Of Hayao Miyazaki Are Getting New Editions Later This Year

With the 30th anniversary of My Neighbor Totoro looming, Gkids has partnered with Studio Ghibli to reissue many of its movies on DVD and Blu-ray later this year.

According to Variety, the first six movies set for reissue will be Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo and Princess Mononoke on October 17.

This will then be followed by reissues of both Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on October 31.

While Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is technically not a Studio Ghibli production, as it was made before the studio was formed, these reissues comprise the bulk of Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial output. The only major omissions here are Porco Rosso and The Wind Rises. However, it seems this new agreement with Gkids will include these titles but when they will be released remains to be seen.

For me, having Castle in the Sky in wider circulation again is only a good thing. It is the first movie made by Studio Ghibli and is my personal favorite. I recently reviewed the release of an artbook for the film and that too comes highly recommended.

The reason I love Castle in the Sky so much is that much like Future Boy Conan, it deals with the impact of ancient advanced technology on a modern world and is also has a very lean narrative.

The only worry with these new reissues, Castle in the Sky included, is that I hope we get all-new subtitles. The prior releases tended to err on the side of dubtitles and that would be a shame to see that happen with these new versions.

In any case, the works of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki will be getting new DVD and Blu-ray editions this October and that makes me very happy indeed.

Forbes September 27, 2016:
'The Art Of Castle In The Sky' Book Review: A Beautiful Archive Of Studio Ghibli's Formative Work


Variety July 17, 2017:
Reissues of Six Miyazaki Films in the Works From Studio Ghibli, Gkids

Gkids is partnering with Studio Ghibli to handle the Japanese animation studio’s catalog in North America, including Hayao Miyazaki’s 2002 Academy Award winner “Spirited Away.”

The alliance was announced Monday and will start with the Oct. 17 reissue of new Blu-ray and DVD editions of six titles from Miyazaki: “Spirited Away” and Oscar-nominated film “Howl’s Moving Castle” along with “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Ponyo” and “Princess Mononoke,” followed on Oct. 31 with “Castle in the Sky” and “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.”

The Studio Ghibli library is led by directors and studio co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Gkids has handled theatrical rights for the Studio Ghibli catalogue since 2010, and released “From Up on Poppy Hill,” “Only Yesterday,” “Ocean Waves” and the Academy Award-nominated titles “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya” and “When Marnie Was There.”

Gkids previously announced a partnership with Fathom Events to bring six Ghibli titles back to theaters nationwide this year including “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” which will play on July 23 and 24 in both dubbed and subtitled versions at approximately 600 theaters.

Other animation covered by the new agreement include “Porco Rosso,” directed by Hayao Miyazaki; “Pom Poko,” directed by Isao Takahata; “Whisper of the Heart,” directed by Yoshifumi Kondo; “My Neighbor the Yamadas,” directed by Isao Takahata; “The Cat Returns,” directed by Hiroyuki Morita; “Tales From Earthsea,” directed by Goro Miyazaki; and “The Secret World of Arrietty,” directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Wait...WHAT, WHAT?!?! Say it isn't so?!?!