'Spirited Away' director Hayao Miyazaki is retiring.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker is bowing out of the movie world with 'The Wind Rises' - in competition at the Venice Film Festival this year - his Studio Ghibli president Koju Hoshino announced yesterday (01.09.13).
Speaking ahead of the film's world premiere at the festival in Tialy, Hoshino said: "Miyazaki has decided that 'The Wind Rises' will be his last film and he will now retire. He wants to say goodbye to all of you."
Miyazaki's Italian distributor said the 72-year-old director was not at the festival as he wanted to stay in his native Japan for the domestic release of the animated movie.
Miyazaki is regarded as one of the greatest animators in the world and, as well as numerous TV shows and shorts, has directed 11 movies, including 'My Neighbor Totoro', 'Ponyo' and 'Princess Mononoke'. His international recognition has seen him pick up an Best Animated Feature Oscar for 2001 film 'Spirited Away' as well as a Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 2005.
'The Wind Rises' is a fictionalised account of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the Mitsubishi Zero aircraft used by Japan in World War II.
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