Review of “I Want to Fill the Space Between Myself and the Audience” (1998)

Following the blockbuster success of Princess Mononoke (1997), Miyazaki says he is planning to retire from Ghibli and leave the work to “those in their early thirties”. He notes that outsourcing has made it cheaper to produce animation for TV, but not to “make us realize the yearnings within our hearts” as an original film can.

I can’t say which way is better. But making animated programs aimed at profitable safe-plays will only sap the energy of young animators without allowing them to learn anything. This is why we have chosen to continue to betray our audience with each film.