Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki remains active at Studio Ghibli at age 85, coming to work daily even as the studio says it has no next feature in development. His earlier films continue to circulate through 4K remasters, IMAX screenings, and museum and publishing projects.

Synthesized from 10 Yomimono stories · updated Oct 4

Studio Ghibli's most visible current activity is not new production but the re-release and preservation of Hayao Miyazaki's existing work. Kiki's Delivery Service, his 1989 feature, was remastered in 4K and played in IMAX in North America in March 2026 and in Japan from June; a 4K UHD and Blu-ray set from Walt Disney Japan follows on November 25, 2026. It becomes the third Ghibli feature with a 4K UHD edition, after The Boy and the Heron and Princess Mononoke. In the UK and Ireland, the remastered Kiki opened in IMAX on August 21, 2026 and moved to a wider 4K theatrical release on August 28.

Other Miyazaki titles are being revived in different formats. GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment screened Castle in the Sky in U.S. theaters for five days in August 2026 for its 40th anniversary. Iwanami Shoten published the sixth volume of the Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Complete Collection on June 4, 2026, collecting 178 image boards and storyboards from Whisper of the Heart and On Your Mark, with a seventh volume on Princess Mononoke due in December. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures received over 120 items from Ponyo, including key animation drawings by Miyazaki, for an exhibition that runs through January 10, 2027.

On new work, Bloomberg reported in August 2026 that Studio Ghibli has no next feature in development more than two and a half years after The Boy and the Heron. New president and CEO Kenichi Yoda said the studio will not force a film without the right idea, and Miyazaki, 85, still comes to work daily though no one knows what he is working on. Producer Toshio Suzuki, asked in an Asahi Shimbun interview whether generative AI can mimic a Ghibli work, answered flatly, 'No.'

Key facts

Kiki 4K UHD and Blu-ray release: Walt Disney Japan will release a two-disc 4K UHD and Blu-ray set of Kiki's Delivery Service on November 25, 2026, priced at 11,880 yen including tax. ↗
Third Ghibli title on 4K UHD: Kiki's Delivery Service is the third Studio Ghibli feature to get a 4K UHD edition, after The Boy and the Heron and Princess Mononoke. ↗
Suzuki on generative AI: Studio Ghibli co-founder and producer Toshio Suzuki said generative AI cannot mimic a Studio Ghibli work, pointing to the depression Miyazaki draws when someone presses Totoro's stomach. ↗
No next feature in development: New president and CEO Kenichi Yoda says Studio Ghibli will not force a film without the right idea, and no next feature is in development more than two and a half years after The Boy and the Heron. ↗
Miyazaki's daily routine: Miyazaki, 85, still comes to work daily, though no one knows what he is working on. ↗
Castle in the Sky 40th anniversary: GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment screened Castle in the Sky in U.S. theaters for five days in August 2026, with Japanese and English versions and a post-film clip from 'The World of Laputa.' ↗
Kiki IMAX debut in UK and Ireland: Kiki's Delivery Service screened in IMAX across the UK and Ireland starting August 21, 2026, with a wider 4K theatrical release on August 28. ↗
Image board collection volume 6: Iwanami Shoten released the sixth volume of the Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Complete Collection on June 4, 2026, with 178 image boards and storyboards from Whisper of the Heart and On Your Mark. ↗
Ponyo donation to Academy Museum: Studio Ghibli donated over 120 items from Ponyo, including key animation drawings by Miyazaki, to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for an exhibition running through January 10, 2027. ↗
Princess Mononoke kabuki run: The Super Kabuki adaptation of Princess Mononoke ran from July 3 to August 23, 2026 at Tokyo's Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre, directed by Kensuke Yokouchi with a script co-written by Keiko Niwa. ↗

Timeline

Oct 3, 2026 Kiki's Delivery Service 4K UHD Blu-ray Set Lands November 25
Sep 8, 2026 Toshio Suzuki Says AI Cannot Mimic Studio Ghibli's Craft
Aug 18, 2026 Studio Ghibli Has No Next Film Lined Up, New CEO Says
Aug 14, 2026 GKIDS and Fathom Bring Castle in the Sky Back to U.S. Theaters for 40th Anniversary
Aug 6, 2026 Spiritstead, a Miyazaki-Inspired Village Builder, Launches on Steam
Jul 21, 2026 Kiki's Delivery Service Gets First IMAX Release in UK and Ireland
Jul 3, 2026 Toy Story 5 Opens in Japan With Record-Breaking Box Office
Jun 4, 2026 Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Collection Vol. 6 Covers Whisper of the Heart and On Your Mark
May 30, 2026 Rare 'Ponyo' Work From Studio Ghibli Donated to Academy Museum
May 17, 2026 Princess Mononoke Kabuki Play Reveals Cast in Costume

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Noted: draws the depression when someone presses Totoro's stomach as a detail CGI and AI cannot replicate · 2026-09-08
Noted: still comes to work daily, though no one knows what he is working on · 2026-08-18

Connections

Directs: kiki s delivery service, castle in the sky, ponyo

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/hayao-miyazaki. CC BY 4.0.

Claim activity

When a claim about Hayao Miyazaki was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

Confirmed Hayao Miyazaki directs Ponyo Sep 12 · source
Confirmed Hayao Miyazaki directs Castle in the Sky Sep 10 · source
Confirmed Hayao Miyazaki directs Kiki's Delivery Service Sep 4 · source

All coverage

Oct 3

Kiki's Delivery Service 4K UHD Blu-ray Set Lands November 25

Walt Disney Japan will release a 4K UHD and Blu-ray set of Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. The set is a two-disc package, one 4K UHD disc and one Blu-ray made from the same new master, priced at 11,880 yen including tax. The film was remastered in 4K and played in IMAX theaters in North America in March 2026 and in Japan from June. The release is the third Studio Ghibli feature to get a 4K UHD edition, after The Boy and the Heron and Princess Mononoke. The set comes in a three-sided slipcase with digipak packaging. Enclosed bonuses include three original art cards, and the Blu-ray carries a trailer collection of about three minutes covering the 4K digital remaster IMAX release and the expanded release. The feature runs about 102 minutes and dates to 1989. Subtitles include Japanese, English, and barrier-free Japanese.

Sep 8

Toshio Suzuki Says AI Cannot Mimic Studio Ghibli's Craft

Studio Ghibli co-founder and producer Toshio Suzuki gave his first public response to the 'Ghibli-style' AI image trend in an Asahi Shimbun interview posted Sunday. Suzuki said he expected people to tire of the images, and they did. Asked whether generative AI can mimic a Studio Ghibli work, he answered flatly, 'No.' He pointed to the depression Miyazaki draws when someone presses Totoro's stomach as a detail CGI and AI cannot replicate.

Aug 18

Studio Ghibli Has No Next Film Lined Up, New CEO Says

Bloomberg reports that Studio Ghibli has no next feature in development more than two and a half years after The Boy and the Heron. New president and CEO Kenichi Yoda says the studio will not force a film without the right idea. Hayao Miyazaki, 85, still comes to work daily, though no one knows what he is working on.

Aug 14

GKIDS and Fathom Bring Castle in the Sky Back to U.S. Theaters for 40th Anniversary

GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment will screen Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky in U.S. theaters for five days in August, marking the film's 40th anniversary. The 1986 fantasy adventure follows Pazu and Sheeta as they search for the floating castle Laputa. Screenings include both Japanese and English-language versions, plus a post-film clip from the featurette 'The World of Laputa.' Tickets are on sale now.

Aug 6

Spiritstead, a Miyazaki-Inspired Village Builder, Launches on Steam

Turbo Dog Games released Spiritstead, a relaxing village-building game set in a magical world where humans and spirits cooperate, on Steam on August 7, 2026. The game is available for 1,200 yen with a 10 percent launch discount. Players lead villagers, assign work, build houses, and construct facilities such as cafes, markets, campfires, and farms to increase happiness. Hidden spirits with unique appearances and abilities assist with caring for villagers, managing the village, and automating daily tasks. The goal is to restore the Sanctuary of the Great Spirit to bring balance between spirits and humans. Spiritstead includes two modes: Adventure Mode, a relaxed playthrough of about six to eight hours, and Creative Mode, which allows free-form village building without goals. The hand-drawn visuals and warm atmosphere draw influence from Hayao Miyazaki's films, as developer Diana stated the team grew up watching his works and wanted to capture that comforting feeling. The game supports Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and eight other languages, totaling twelve. Turbo Dog Games is an independent studio of four people based in Europe, founded in January 2025, and Spiritstead is its debut work.

Jul 21

Kiki's Delivery Service Gets First IMAX Release in UK and Ireland

Kiki's Delivery Service, the 1989 Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, will screen in IMAX theaters across the UK and Ireland starting August 21, 2026. The release is the first time the film has played on IMAX screens in those territories. Tickets are on sale now for both the original Japanese language with subtitles and the English dubbed version. The film has been newly remastered in 4K. A wider 4K theatrical release follows on August 28, 2026. The IMAX release is the first UK cinema outing for GKIDS after the distributor acquired the rights to the 23-film Studio Ghibli library earlier in July 2026. GKIDS is working with sister company Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor recently acquired by GKIDS' parent company Toho Global. Additional Studio Ghibli titles slated for future IMAX releases in the UK and Ireland include Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart.

Jul 3

Toy Story 5 Opens in Japan With Record-Breaking Box Office

Toy Story 5 opened in Japan on July 3, 2026, following a record-breaking US debut that earned approximately $160 million in its opening weekend. The film's worldwide box office has surpassed $585 million, exceeding the final totals of Toy Story and Toy Story 2. The Japanese dub cast includes Alice Hirose as the new character Lily Pad, with comments from the actress and details on theater bonuses.

Jun 4

Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Collection Vol. 6 Covers Whisper of the Heart and On Your Mark

Iwanami Shoten released the sixth volume of the Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Complete Collection on June 4. The book collects 178 image boards and storyboards from Whisper of the Heart and On Your Mark, including unpublished drawings. It also features an interview with producer Toshio Suzuki. Volume 7, focused on Princess Mononoke, is due in December.

May 30

Rare 'Ponyo' Work From Studio Ghibli Donated to Academy Museum

Studio Ghibli has donated over 120 items from the 2008 film "Ponyo" to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, including key animation drawings drawn by Hayao Miyazaki himself and artboards that served as early concept blueprints for the film. The donation, which also includes original Japanese release posters, came as a surprise to senior exhibitions curator Jessica Niebel, who had repeatedly asked Ghibli for materials over several years without a response. After the museum's 2017 Hayao Miyazaki retrospective closed, Niebel received an email from Studio Ghibli offering the items. The donation is now part of the museum's new exhibition "Studio Ghibli's Ponyo," which opened recently and runs through January 10, 2027. The exhibit is Niebel's first designed specifically for children, with interactive play spaces, viewing stations, and a movable woodcut of Ponyo that children can manipulate. Niebel also conducted new interviews with Ghibli artists for the exhibit, a rare opportunity since the studio's artists typically do not give interviews.

May 17

Princess Mononoke Kabuki Play Reveals Cast in Costume

The Super Kabuki stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke has released a video ad showing the main cast in costume. The play stars Danko Ichikawa V as Ashitaka, Kazutaro Nakamura as San, and Tokizo Nakamura VI as Eboshi Gozen. It runs from July 3 to August 23 at Tokyo's Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre, directed by Kensuke Yokouchi with a script co-written by Ghibli veteran Keiko Niwa.