Ghibli founder’s scion to direct Swedish book adaptation, targets Fall 2014 airdate.
Seems that Studio Ghibli will be busy after all even though its head, Academy Award-winner Hayao Miyazaki, is leaving the limelight, as the studio has announced it will produce its first-ever anime series.
Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, which is based on the Swedish children’s book authored by Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002), was given the green-light by the studio in partnership with Polygon Pictures, Dwango, NHK Enterprises and the Author’s estate.
The book’s anime adaptation will be helmed by Goro Miyazaki, the scion of the Ghibli founder and director who won an Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2002, The series is also going to be scripted by Hiroyuki Kawasaki (Detective Yakumo). The series is slated to air in High definition over the public broadcaster’s BS Premium Satellite channel by fall of this year.
The mostly 3D-CGI anime will center on a girl named Ronja, the daughter of a bandit chieftain and her adventures in the forest where they live.
“The story is not just about a girl growing up, but also about the development and love of the parent-child relationship, and a story about the ties between friends,” the younger Miyazaki said of the project.
A film adaptation was made in 1984 helmed by Tage Danielsson with the screenplay by Lindgren. The film won the Silver Bear in the 35th Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival) in 1985 and was nominated for the prestigious Golden Bear. A Stage Adaptation and a Musical followed suit.
Goro Miyazaki’s previous works were his debut film Tales from Earthsea, which was screened out of competition in the 63rd Venice International Film Festival in 2006 and From Up the Poppy Hill, which won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation in 2012.
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter, Anime News Network, Wikipedia
