Studio Ghibli Sold to Nippon TV After Finding No Successors for Hayao Miyazaki

Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation company celebrated for its beloved classics like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away,” has been acquired by Nippon TV after facing challenges in finding a successor for its legendary co-founder and director, Hayao Miyazaki.

The boards of directors of both companies convened on Thursday and approved a resolution for Nippon TV to purchase shares of Studio Ghibli, officially making it a subsidiary of the television network. While the financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, the move aims to address the issue of succession with Miyazaki, who is now 82 years old, and producer Toshio Suzuki, who is 75 years old.

In a joint statement, the companies explained, “With director Hayao Miyazaki now 82 years old and producer Toshio Suzuki also 75, Studio Ghibli has long been struggling with the issue of their successors.”

Nippon TV has expressed its commitment to preserving Studio Ghibli’s artistic quality and brand values. They intend to allow Studio Ghibli to maintain its autonomy and focus on filmmaking. The statement also mentioned that Miyazaki’s eldest son, who is an animation film director, had been proposed as a potential successor, but he declined, believing it would be better to entrust the future of Studio Ghibli to someone else.

The future of Studio Ghibli has been a topic of discussion for several years, with Miyazaki announcing his retirement in 2013, prompting calls for a transformation within the company.

Hayao Miyazaki is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest animators and a Japanese cultural icon. His films have had a profound impact on the animation industry and have received critical acclaim worldwide. He recently came out of retirement to create his final film, “The Boy and the Heron,” which was released earlier this year.

The joint statement revealed that the film took seven years to complete, and the companies expressed their deep gratitude for the positive reviews it has received. Nevertheless, the issue of succession remained unresolved, leading to discussions with Nippon TV, which has had a long history of collaboration with Studio Ghibli.

Nippon TV has been a partner in broadcasting Ghibli films, investing in Ghibli movie productions, and supporting the Ghibli Museum. As part of the new arrangement, Nippon TV will become the largest shareholder in Ghibli, holding 42.3% of the voting rights.

Since its establishment in 1985, Studio Ghibli has been renowned for its hand-drawn animation and a commitment to traditional, labor-intensive frame-by-frame methods. Each of its acclaimed films, such as “The Wind Rises,” “Princess Mononoke,” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” features meticulously crafted characters, beautifully designed settings, and a seamless sense of motion.

Throughout his career, Hayao Miyazaki has created numerous films that seamlessly blend fantastical elements with important themes such as environmentalism, feminism, and anti-war messages. His 2001 masterpiece, “Spirited Away,” gained international acclaim, grossing a record-breaking $274 million worldwide and earning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.