Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio that was founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata along with producer Toshio Suzuki. Although Studio Ghibli has produced countless works under multiple directors, its best-known productions are undoubtedly the works of Miyazaki, including the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke.
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Studio Ghibli announced its partnership with Lucasfilm in a Twitter post, but as mentioned, the short video offered nothing in the way of further details. The video merely features the Lucasfilm logo followed by the Studio Ghibli logo, which happens to feature the famous and beloved Totoro, who serves as a mascot for the animation studio. Star Wars: Visions season 2 seems like the most likely project to bring Lucasfilm and Studio Ghibli together, considering the space saga is arguably the former’s most profitable franchise and the latter produces anime work, but again, nothing else was featured in the video announcement to give a clear indication either way.
It is also worth noting that Star Wars is not the only brand owned by Lucasfilm, which itself is a division of Walt Disney Studios. Indiana Jones and Willow are among the most popular franchises under the Lucasfilm umbrella, both of which have new projects coming in the future. In fact, an Indiana Jones Disney Plus TV series is reportedly in the early works as part of Lucasfilm’s plans to continue to franchise after the fifth feature film. With Harrison Ford declaring that Indiana Jones 5 will be his final adventure as the titular hero, a Studio Ghibli animated feature or short would certainly be one way to keep the character alive without needing to bring back Ford himself.
Of course, with no further details on the Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm collaboration available at this time, all fans can do is speculate about what they’re cooking up. With the Willow series for Disney Plus just weeks away from premiering, perhaps Lucasfilm is seeking to make use of Studio Ghibli’s penchant for fantasy as a means to continue the story of the titular Nelwyn sorcerer.
Whatever the case may be, Star Wars: Visions was ranked highly by many fans, so if the second season of the anime series is what brings Lucasfilm and Studio Ghibli together, after all, it will likely be a partnership well worth the wait.
The Star Wars saga is now streaming on Disney Plus.
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Source: Studio Ghibli
