Animator Hayao Miyazaki Retiring After 'The Wind Rises'

Hayao Miyazaki is retiring after five decades creating critically acclaimed animation films.

The announcement was made at the Venice Film festival by Studio Ghibli head, Koji Hoshino, who said "Miyazaki has decided that Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) will be his last film, and he will now retire." Miyazaki also heads Studio Ghibli but was not present at the festival. Further details of Miyazaki's retirement will be announced at a briefing in Tokyo next week, Variety reports.

The 72-year-old is responsible for dozens of animated films including Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. His first involvement in an animated project began in 1963 and his career has spanned five decades. The Wind Rises, was written and directed by Miyazaki. The animation features the voices of such actors as Hideaki Anno (Evangelion), Mirai Shida (Reunion), Jun Kunimura (Kill Bill) and Hidetoshi Nishijima (Dolls).

The Wind Rises is set in the inter war period and follows the life of Jiro Horikoshi, a famous military designer, including a tragic love story based on Tatsuo Hori's novella Kaze Tachini (The Wind Has Risen). The film has received complimentary critical reviews and has gained $80 million in Japan since its release in July.

The Wind Rises was released on the 20th July this year in Japan. The film was shown at the Venice Film Festival last night (1st September). It will also be featuring at the Toronto Film Festival on 11th September and the New York Film festival on the 28th September.