Miyazaki's last film?

Hayao Miyazaki announced that his latest movie will be his last. Unfortunately, it's a line we've heard far too often.

(Source: www.bcdb.com)

Like former baseball legend (and notorious language mangler) Yogi Berra used to say, "It's like déja vu all over again!"

Anime legend Hayao Miyazaki has announced that his current project, Ponyo on a Cliff (Gake no ue no Ponyo in Japan) will be his last. Ordinarily, this would be cause for heartbreak among Miyazaki fans . . . if we hadn't heard this three times before.

Don't get me wrong: I consider Hayao Miyazaki to be the greatest anime director of all time. I would go so far as to say (even though he hates the comparison) that he's as important to the art of animation as Walt Disney ever was. Go watch Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away and tell me otherwise.

That doesn't change the fact, however, that Hayao has announced his retirement almost as many times as The Who.

He first claimed he was quitting the biz way back in 1997, after completing Princess Mononoke. But the sudden North American success of that flick, coupled with a burst of inspiration, convinced him to return and direct 2001's Spirited Away. No problems there: many consider this movie his best work, and it won the 2003 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. But Hayao said time, "No. This time, I'm done."

His second retirement was even shorter. That same year, Hayao was lured out to direct Howl's Moving Castle. No one complained: the movie was another worthy addition to his catalog. When Hayao finished that flick, he announced (for the third time) that he was off to work on his golf game. Observers started wondering how long this was going to last.

Blame this return on Goro Miyazaki, Hayao's eldest son. The box office success of Goro's directorial debut, Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki in Japan), was a boot to the teeth for Hayao, since he had publicly stated that Goro lacked the necessary experience to direct a feature film. At that point, sharper observers looked at Hayao and wondered, "Is he gonna take this lying down?"

Obviously the answer was "No." As soon as it was apparent that Goro had the chops to direct a successful movie, Hayao felt his rep was on the line. A notorious workaholic, Hayao hadn't become the greatest anime director just to watch his son run him out of town.

Enter Ponyo on a Cliff, which Hayao is taking an unprecedented 20 months to work up. This is by far the most time he has ever spent on a movie. It's obvious: Hayao wants to make sure this flick is done right and make his son eat his dust. What may lead to more tension in the Miyazaki household is good news for animation fans.

However, Hayao's announcement (yet again) that he's retiring after Ponyo on a Cliff is ringing hollow. Studio Ghibli head Toshio Suzuki announced that Goro will make another movie; if it does well as Earthsea, I have no doubt that Hayao will be making another 'triumphant' return.

Don't get me wrong: I'm more than happy to wait for Ponyo on a Cliff. If it's anything like Hayao's other movies, I'm gonna love it. But spare us the retirement speeches, Hayao. We know now that nothing short of a direct meteor strike will keep you from making movies.