Hayao Miyazaki's new project announced

Toho announces that Hayao Miyazaki's new feture animation film will be "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" (literally "Ponyo on the cliff"), to be released summer 2008.

The story is supposed to be about a gold fish princess Ponyo, who wishes to become a human, and a 5-year old boy.  It is reported that Director Miyazaki got inspiration from Setouchi inland sea area where he lived in 2005.  Producer Toshio Suzuki of Ghibli says that it is also based on the time when Goro Miyazaki, Hayao's son who directed Ghibli's last year hit "Tales from Earthsea", was actually 5 years old.

The animation will be 100% manual, with no computer intervention.  Well, considering that Disney gave it up last year, and it is an interesting move.

Source:  Yomiuri Online

<Addition 3/20>

Ryuganji has put up more detailed report.  See Ryuganji.