Hayao Miyazaki reportedly “concerned” over marketing of next film

Studio Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki is apparently skeptical over how the promotion of his upcoming film is being handled.

As fans eagerly await the release of Hayao Miyazaki’s next — and purportedly last — film, many have wondered what it’s about, who proves voices and, honestly, what does its own director think of it? Now, Miyazaki has weighed in on the unorthodox release approach of his final film, How Do You Live?

As per World of Reel, Hayao Miyazaki is quite skeptical of how Studio Ghibli is handling How Do You Live?’s release, saying, “I wonder if it’ll be okay without publicity. I am beginning to worry […] I’m concerned, that’s all.”
Such concerns come after it was announced that How Do You Live? would not be released with traditional marketing…or any at all, really, with producer Toshio Suzuki — whose working relationship officially began with 1984’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind — saying, there would be “no trailers or TV commercials at all. No newspaper ads either. Deep down, I think this is what moviegoers latently desire. In my opinion, in this age of so much information, the lack of information is entertainment. I don’t know if this will work. But as for me, I believe in it, so this is what I’m trying to do.” While it’s tough to argue with his points, one can also side with Miyazaki in that such a release approach can easily put filmmakers on edge.

Building off of the secrecy surrounding How Do You Live?’s marketing campaign, we’d love to give you an idea of what the movie is about and who voices the characters, but the secrecy surrounding Hayao Miyazaki’s last has kept so many in the dark. Although it shares the name with a 1937 novel, it is supposedly not a direct adaptation. Reportedly, the film “depicts the psychological growth of a teenage boy through interactions with his friends and uncle.”

How Do You Live? will be released in Japan on July 14th. While no U.S. release date has been set, certainly one can expect to see the film later this year.

Despite its lack of marketing, are you still excited for How Do You Live? What has been your favorite Hayao Miyazaki film? Let us know below!