Here’s some great news for fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli movies. According to a report in Anime News Network, the master’s final film, How Do You Live?, which is opening in Japan on July 14th will be screened in IMAX. This is a first for Studio Ghibli films as the movies did not get the IMAX treatment when they were originally released. How Do You Live? Which is billed as Miyazaki’s final movie, will also screen in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Cinema and DTS: X in Japan. The 124-minute-long film will be released by powerhouse indie distributor GKIDS in the U.S. later this year.
Unlike previous Ghibli movies, the studio and its partners have decided not to do any pre-release advertising and advance information about the heavily guarded project. To date, we know that the movie is inspired by the 1937 novel of the same name by Genzaburo Yoshino. Miyazaki has said the book plays an influential role in the life of his film’s protagonist. Only one mysterious image of a character in a bird costume was released in early June.
Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki said, “ “So, 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. …It’s s an issue of over-supply. From the perspective of the viewer, it’s like they’re taking away all the truly interesting parts. So, since it’s come to this, I thought we should just go with a single poster.”
However, Miyazaki admitted to being a bit nervous about this unusual approach. During the opening of the Ghibli Exhibit at Warehouse Terrada in Tokyo, Miyazaki stated, “I wonder if it’ll be okay without publicity. I am beginning to worry … I’m concerned, that’s all.”
Sources: Anime News Network, The Guardian, Gizmodo
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