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A rare instance of Hayao Miyazaki being satisfied with his son's film

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A rare instance of Hayao Miyazaki being satisfied with his son's film

11:10

The short film A Night in the Valley of Witches by Goro Miyazaki has received a positive reaction from Hayao Miyazaki, who is famously known for being critical of his son's work.
Director Hayao Miyazaki gives positive feedback on his son's new film - Photo: Ryan Rice

Director Hayao Miyazaki gives positive feedback on his son's new film - Photo: Ryan Rice

Not a large-scale cinematic project, A Night in the Valley of Witches is only 14 minutes long but is attracting attention due to Hayao Miyazaki's special reaction. The work was created by his son, Goro Miyazaki, and is currently only screened at Ghibli Park, Japan.


The film premiered on July 8 at Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, inspired by the Valley of Witches area within the park. The story revolves around a night-shift worker who witnesses strange phenomena occurring after the park closes. Director Goro Miyazaki co-directed the film with Akihiko Yamashita, a veteran animator who previously worked on Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.

Notably, after watching the work, Hayao Miyazaki gave positive feedback to his son. Sharing with Bloomberg, the filmmaker stated that his father's reaction was "crazy in a positive sense."

For a filmmaker as notoriously demanding as Hayao Miyazaki, this reaction is particularly noteworthy, especially since he was dissatisfied with some of his son's previous works - Photo: Studio Ghibli

For a filmmaker as notoriously demanding as Hayao Miyazaki, this reaction is particularly noteworthy, especially since he was dissatisfied with some of his son's previous works - Photo: Studio Ghibli

Goro Miyazaki has been associated with Studio Ghibli for many years. Before transitioning to directing, he was involved in designing the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. However, his move into filmmaking did not go smoothly. Tales From Earthsea (2006), his debut work, left Hayao Miyazaki disappointed. The veteran filmmaker felt that his son was inexperienced at the time and not mature enough to handle a fantasy story.


Subsequently, the director continued to search for his own style through various projects. In 2020, he directed Earwig and the Witch, the first Studio Ghibli work produced entirely using 3DCG technology. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was still considered "quite interesting" by Hayao Miyazaki.

The latest reaction to 'A Night in the Valley of Witches' can be seen as a positive sign in the process of establishing this director's creative mark - Photo: Studio Ghibli

The latest reaction to 'A Night in the Valley of Witches' can be seen as a positive sign in the process of establishing this director's creative mark - Photo: Studio Ghibli

Currently, the film is only screened at Ghibli Park, and Studio Ghibli has not announced any plans for a wide release. It has also not been confirmed whether it will be developed into a feature-length film. Meanwhile, following The Boy and the Heron in 2023, Studio Ghibli has yet to announce its next feature film project. Hayao Miyazaki, despite having announced his retirement several times, continues to participate in the evaluation and selection process for the studio's projects.


In that context, his positive reaction to his son's new work not only attracts the interest of Ghibli fans but also marks a notable step forward in the creative journey of the next generation at Studio Ghibli.

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