Miyazaki Hayao next movie – Gake no Ue no Ponyo
The first details have been revealed of the next project for master animator Miyazaki Hayao (66). “Gake no Ue no Ponyo”, his follow up to 2004’s “Howl’s Moving Castle”, will be drawn entirely by hand and is scheduled for release in July 2008. An original story that draws on the classic tale of the Little Mermaid, it tells of the relationship between a mermaid princess who longs to be human and the 5-year-old Sousuke. The inspiration for the story came to Miyazaki in 2004 when he and Studio Ghibli employees took a company trip to a small town on the Seto Inland Sea. Miyazaki ended up spending two months in the town. The character of the young boy is said to be modeled after Miyazaki’s own son Goro (40), who made his directorial debut with last year’s “Gedo Senki” (Tales From Earthsea). The elder director is following his usual unorthodox style, and so far has drawn out a story board for about the first hour of the movie, with the remainder yet to be decided. Fans of the animator in Japan will be able to watch a rare documentary on his creative process on NHK’s “Professional” on March 27. The show documents the first several months of the development of his latest project.
Source: Japan-zone.com News
ah this is really good news. Even though I am still waiting for that Gedo Senki DVD, I’m happy that the maestro is returning with another movie. So for the time being, I will pass the time watching his old movies 
. According to nausicaa.net (THE site to go if you are a Ghibli fan and don’t understand Japanese), the english translated title is “Ponyo on a Cliff”. The mermaid princess is called Ponyo. More news and commentary on Ghibli World (another great site to go to for all things Ghibli-related).
Yes, I’m a Ghibli fan and the only place which I truly want to visit if I go to Tokyo is Ghibli Museum at Mitaka!
Posted by inoyume on March 22, 2007 at 4:19 pm
that’s good news indeed … i just love Hayao Miyazaki’s works. The Ghibli Studio’s animation movies especially the one by Hayao Miyazaki are the best (i even prefer them to Disney’s). i’m also waiting for Gedo Senki to be available. unfortunately, the reviews that i’ve read on it so far are not so good. i guess, no one (not even his son) can compare to Hayao Miyazaki himself yet!!
Posted by alw8871 on March 22, 2007 at 5:13 pm
yes the reviews are mixed for Gedo Senki but I still want to see it. The only Ghibli movies that I dont have a liking ie wont re-watch even if I dont have anything to see are Pom Poko and Cat’s Return.