At the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, where Studio Ghibli was honored with an Honorary Palme d'Or, director Goro Miyazaki gave fans a glimpse into the mindset of his father, Hayao Miyazaki.

Speaking to the press before the awards ceremony, Goro Miyazaki highlighted Hayao Miyazaki's competitive spirit. According to him, Hayao Miyazaki, despite his advanced age and illustrious career, still considers all the animators around him as rivals.

“Even at your age, all the animators around you are rivals. Whether they are younger, your support staff, inside or outside the company, if they have the title of animator, they are all rivals.”, explained Goro.

He further elaborated on how this competitive nature influences Hayao Miyazaki's approach to new projects.

After the release of his latest film, The boy and the heronHayao Miyazaki quickly began conceptualizing his next project.

However, Hayao Miyazaki remains extremely secretive about the details.”He doesn't say anything. He absolutely won't tell anyone.”, Goro said. This caution stemmed from Miyazaki’s perception of other animators as rivals.

“That's why he makes sure not to accidentally share his ideas with them. He won't reveal anything until he's sure he's 'the one',” he added.

In addition to discussing his father's competitive spirit, Goro Miyazaki also touched on the future of Studio Ghibli, jokingly stating that it will be determined when Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki are no longer around.

Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985, flourished under the co-leadership of Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki. Their first collaboration came with the 1986 release of Castle in the sky, based on Miyazaki's manga. However, Away from spiritReleased in 2001, it is the duo's most notable film, achieving international acclaim and popularity.

Other notable works by the duo include – Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Cure etc.

Studio Ghibli became the first studio to receive the Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes, marking the first time the honor was given to a group rather than an individual.

Source: Yahoo Japan