Animation legend Hayao Miyazaki kicked off 2025 by sharing a special illustrated message to Studio Ghibli fans, celebrating the Year of the Snake. The celebrated filmmaker, who won his second Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for The Boy and the Heron in early 2024, has made an annual tradition of illustrating the year’s zodiac animal for a New Year’s greeting since 2021.
For this year, Miyazaki (who was himself born in the Year of the Snake, 1941) created a drawing of a snake with eight heads, similar to the mythological creature Yamata no Orochi. Snakes can represent many qualities in Japanese tradition, including transformation — by its side is a small mouse (a symbol of fertility and prosperity), and a tiny snail (a symbol of protection) perches on the snake’s tail. Those born in the Year of the Snake are said to be intelligent, mysterious and charming.
The card’s text reads, “How are you?” “I look forward to your continued good will in the coming year,” a common New Year’s greeting in Japan.
The studio shared the following New Year’s Day message along with Miyazaki’s card:
“We would like to extend the warmest of New Year’s greetings to you all.
Thank you for always supporting Studio Ghibli.
Last year began with a series of natural disasters and accidents, making it a year that started with a heavy heart. We sincerely hope that those affected by these events can return to their normal lives as soon as possible, and we pray from the bottom of our hearts that those in other areas can enjoy a peaceful New Year without any incidents.
Regarding Studio Ghibli, we have almost completed the worldwide release of The Boy and the Heron and not only have many people seen it, but we have also received many awards. In addition, we are currently in the process of touring exhibitions and developing new projects, so we hope that you will look forward to them. The second area of Ghibli Park has opened successfully, and all five areas that were originally planned have now been completed. This year, we will strive to further enhance and improve our facilities and operations.
Studio Ghibli will resume work on Monday, 6 January. Director Hayao Miyazaki’s 84th birthday falls on the preceding day, but staff will most certainly celebrate with him at the studio on this day.
Thank you for your continued support of Studio Ghibli and Studio Ghibli works this year.”
Miyazaki is a co-founder of Studio Ghibli and a highly esteemed animation director, whose films including My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2011) and Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) have received slews of international honors, including six Japan Academy Film Prizes, two Oscars, a Golden Globe, five Annie Awards, a BAFTA and 12 Tokyo Anime Awards.
[H/T Sora News 24]
