“Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki,” a documentary following the award-winning animation director, will be shown at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at the IU Cinema.
The film, a television documentary about Miyazaki after his decision to retire, was released in Japan in 2016 and in the United States in 2018. The film follows the famed director as he deals with a desire to create new work despite his retirement. Its screening at IU Cinema is a part of the cinema’s International Arthouse Series.
Miyazaki has directed several films for Japanese film studio Studio Ghibli since co-founding it in 1985. He is known for directing and writing 1988’s “My Neighbor Totoro,” 1997’s “Princess Mononoke” and 2001’s “Spirited Away,” which won the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Miyazaki directed, produced and wrote several studio films until his 2013 retirement.
However, Miyazaki was brought back into the animation industry when he decided to make a new short film using computer animation. After enlisting a team of CGI animators Miyazaki began creating his first ever CGI film, the short “Boro the Caterpillar.” The short’s style is a departure from Miyazaki’s other works, which were created using hand-drawn animation.
The documentary will give viewers a behind the scenes look as Miyazaki overcomes struggles to create his short film using CGI, according to IU Cinema’s website.
“Miyazaki films have always been well attended at IU Cinema, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share with audiences a unique look behind-the-scenes at Miyazaki’s creative process,” said Brittany Friesner, associate director for the IU Cinema.
Tickets for the screening are $4 for IUB students and $7 for non-students. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at the IU Cinema website or in person at the IU Auditorium box office.
