After rumours suggesting that When Marnie Was There was likely to be the final film from Studio Ghibli, general manager Toshio Suzuki has now reportedly confirmed that the famed Japanese animation studio will be “taking a break” as a production company and will instead focus on managing the trademarks of its impressive back-catalogue of anime movies.
Co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki (who retired from filmmaking last year) and Isao Takahata alongside Suzuki, Studio Ghibli has earned a reputation as the “Japanese Walt Disney”, releasing such classic anime films as Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo and The Wind Rises.
When Marnie Was There was released in Japan last month, and has so far made around $3.5 million at the box office. Ghibli’s previous film The Tale of Princess Kaguya grossed around $48 million, which the studio considered to be a flop.