Some interesting news on the Studio Ghibli front courtesy of Peter over at the stellar GhibliWorld.com. In a recent press conference it was announced that current studio president Suzuki Toshio - by the sounds of things always a reluctant manager who preferred the production to the business end of things - has stepped down as president of the company in favor of former Disney Japan exec Hoshino Kouji and will be returning to a production role. And what will he be producing? By the sounds of things new projects from company co-founder Isao Takahata and Tales From Earthsea director Goro Miyazaki. Which likely means we can look forward to more public sniping at Goro from his legendary, yet not particularly graceful, father Hayao. As for the elder Miyazaki and his on again, off again flirtation with retirement? Ponyo On A Cliff was announced as his final film but that has been the case for each of his past several projects and when he says of the new company president that "if he does the job I can do anything I want like always," it doesn't sound like a man planning on packing it in to me ...
