Hayao Miyazaki surprised us after a 10-year hiatus with his new movie titled Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka aka “How Do You Live?”. The legendary director, animator, illustrator, and producer of Japanese anime has given us great moments that remain in our hearts despite the passage of time. Miyazaki is known for innovative adventures through his works such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Poppy Hill, etc.
With the “How do you live?” movie, Miyazaki is bidding goodbye by treating with a classic installment for his fans.
The official announcement for Hayao Miyazaki’s new movie came on the Twitter account of Studio Ghibli on Tuesday. The tweet also revealed the tentatively titled “How Do You Live?” movie release date in Japanese theaters. Miyazaki has named it Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, whereas its tentative English moniker is How Do You Live?, inspired by the foremost 1937 novel by Genzaburō Yoshino.
The premiere has been set by Studio Ghibli to be Friday, July 14, 2023. A teaser visual was also shared with the Ghibli fans. Check out the tweet below
“How do you live?” movie teaser visual released by Studio Ghibli does not give much insight into the movie except for a bird-seeming creature drawn in a stunning pencil ilk. We still have 7 months to premiere and fans of Hayao Miyazaki can expect more such teaser visuals coming their way. If one cannot wait, then opt to read out the English version of the novel put out by Algonquin Young Readers.
However, the “How Do You Live?” movie was expected to be released much before but got postponed since the dates coincided with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The story revolves around Junichi Honda, known as Koperu, a 15-year-old kid, and his uncle as they battle with spiritual development, poverty, and life in general. The adaptation is based on Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel book by the same title.
It will be an adventure thriller with plot twists rather than a direct replica of the Novel. The book was published in English in 2021.
When will Hayao Miyazaki’s “How Do You Live?” movie release on Netflix?
As of now, Studio Ghibli has announced the theatrical release of How Do You Live? movie in Japan on July 14, 2023. It is speculated that the English version will take another 6 months to get a premiere. It is hoped that by Christmas 2023 or even later in 2024, Miyazaki’s fans in the West will be able to watch “How Do You Live?” Japanese Dub with English subs movie.
As far as How Do You Live? movie streaming schedule on Crunchyroll or Netlfix is concerned, eh franchise has not disclosed its plans. But one can surely expect the title to be added in the catalog after its release on 14th July 2023.
What is the “How Do You Live?” plot?
Yūzō Yamamoto initially wrote the Novel as a part of the final works of the periodical Nihon Shosan Bunko Bunko. However, a medical issue prevented him from finishing it. Genzabur Yoshino took over and finished writing “How Do You Live?” Publishing it as a book in 1937. After Miyazaki made his statement, the Novel was utterly sold out.
The story revolves around the 2nd year Junior High school boy named Junichi Honda, better known by his nickname Koperu, named after the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. Despite his accomplishments in sports and academics, he was not elected class president due to his flair for mischief. His mother works as a maid, whereas his father works as a bank executive till his death.
Koperu relocates to his uncle’s home following the death of his father. There are several children of merchants, academics, and medical professionals among their classmates, and the subjects covered in class include summer vacations, ski resorts, and movie theatres. With pals, Koperu participates in and witnesses a variety of school-related activities.
Who are the “How Do You Live?” movie cast and characters?
No details have been shared by Studio Ghibli except the team of Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki will play the creative role in the film. Fans will have to wait for more news on the movie!
Why was the “How Do You Live?” movie postponed?
The film’s project timeline was primarily unaffected by the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak that began on May 14, 2020. Suzuki clarifies in a conversation, “Everything is still drawn by hand. Because we need to design more frames and visuals, it takes longer to finish a single film.
Eight animators were working on “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988), and it took them eight months to complete the project. Director Miyazaki is presently working on sixty projects.”
Suzuki informed Sight & Sound Magazine on March 25, 2021, that half of the animations for the movie had been finished. According to him, approximately 50 percent of the film’s 125 minutes are already animated, and the release date is still three years away.
He called the movie a “huge, fanciful” piece of work. When Miyazaki informed Suzuki that he intended to leave retirement, the director urged that the artist prove his return by trying something novel. Due to this unusual circumstance, the filmmaker works at his leisure without being constrained by specific deadlines and financial restraints.
After so much fuss and gossip in the circle of anime, it was expected to get released, but the dates coincided with the Tokyo Olympics. This news was a significant blow for Miyazaki and Suzuki fans as they had been waiting since 2018 after the 30-minute Drama release of the Novel.
When was Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka Manga released?
Shoichi Haga, an illustrator, turned the book into a manga, which Magazine House released on August 24, 2022. The manga sold over two million copies upon publishing, making it a best-seller.
Similar to the original, it is written to encourage readers to reflect on essential concepts, including “how to see things,” “experiences of truth,” and “human struggles, blunders, and greatness.”
Drama remake of the Novel “How Do you Live?”
It was turned into a 30-minute live-action drama for TBS/MBS and aired on May 1, 2018. Seishiro Kato portrayed Koperu, Tomoharu Hasegawa represented the uncle, and Hiroko Nakajima featured the mother.
The eldest child of Genzaburo Yoshino, the author’s grieving family, filed a complaint against the production industry since they did not have their consent.
Fans have set expectations high for the “How Do you Live?” movie’s animation and storyline, and we all hope that Studio Ghibli stands true to the expectations of all the otakus out there.
Stay tuned for updates on the “How Do you Live?” movie updates and all your favorite titles. In the meantime, don’t forget to let us know your picks from The Best Fall 2022 anime releases, the best anime movies of all time, the best English Dubbed Anime, and the Best Netflix Anime, and let us know all of your favorite titles in the upcoming Winter 2023 anime season!
