Studio Ghibli’s latest animated feature–and the first to be released following anime legend Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement–The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime no Monogatari) opened in Japan this weekend, claiming the top box office spot by taking in 284 million yen ($2.8 million) over two days from 456 screens, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on a 10th century story credited as one of the earliest examples of Japanese fiction, Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the film is directed by Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata and tells te story of a tiny baby from the moon discovered inside a stalk of glowing bamboo. Animated in a style reflecting ancient Japanese ink brush techniques, Kaguya is 78-year-old Takahata’s first feature directing effort in 14 years.
While Kaguya‘s No. 1 opening is a boon for Ghibli, it’s no competition for the performance of Miyazaki’s final film The Wind Rises, which raked in $9.6 million during its July opening weekend and lorded over the national box office for the summer.
Tho Hayao Miyazaki retired, and now is making comics :D! They still have Isao Takahata to make awesome films, and of course, can not forget Hayao Miyazaki son, who is taking the company after his father!! There are still many talented ghibli artist, and I can’t wait to see what else they produced! :D!