Director Hayao Miyazaki to retire at 72

Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki is set to retire from movie-making following the release of his final film, The Wind Rises. The acclaimed animator, 72, was absent on Sunday (01Sep13) as his last picture premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, and it was Koju Hoshino, president of production firm Studio Ghibli, who announced Miyazaki’s plans to quit at the event.
He refused to go into detail about the big news, but insisted the Spirited Away filmmaker would explain all during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, this week (begs02Sep13).
Hoshino said, “He wants to say goodbye to all of you.”
The Wind Rises, aka Kaze Tachinu, is a fantasy about the designer of Japan’s World War Two fighter planes and is in competition for the Venice Film Festival’s prestigious Golden Lion honour.