In honor of the 40th anniversary of the legendary Studio Ghibli and one of its very first works, the creator of the excellent Spy × Family series has designed a magnificent illustration, which will serve as the basis for the reissue of a set of books.
Ghibli offers itself a sumptuous visual for its 40th anniversary
This year, Studio Ghibli celebrates its 40th anniversary. For all of its work and to commemorate the career of its emblematic leader – Hayao Miyazaki, the animation studio received an honorary Palme d’Or in 2024. But behind the letters of nobility, there is the question of inheritance. Who to succeed the master of Japanese animation and his 84 years? If the indestructible director does not intend to retire, at some point he will have to pass the torch. Son Goro Miyazaki seems to hold the rope, but we know his complicated relationship with his father.
While waiting to see the horizon of the studio take shape, the tributes continue. To celebrate the anniversary, Ghibli offers fans a collaboration with the creator of Spy x Family. More concretely, the publisher Fukuinkan Shoten unveiled a new visual of Kiki the Little Witch (which also celebrates its 40th anniversary), illustrated by the hand of Tatsuya Endo, creator of the animated series.
Illustration by Tatsuya Endo (Spy x Family) for the 40th anniversary of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” novel by Eiko Kadono. pic.twitter.com/bUNjpVIBTZ
— Catsuka (@catsuka) January 7, 2025
Illustration by Tatsuya Endo (Spy x Family) for the 40th anniversary of the novel “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Eiko Kadono.
Kiki the Little Witch in the spotlight
The illustration serves as launch of a new version of a set of six volumes which will be released soon in Japan. The first volume will have a cover with an illustration by the author of Spy x Familyand this for a limited period, from February 3, 2025. Because yes, Kiki the little witch by Eiko Kadono was originally published as a book on January 25, 1985. Behind it, five sequels followed from 1993 to 2009, followed by three special editions released from 2016 to 2022. The film was adapted in 1989.
As a reminder, in Miyazaki’s 5th feature film, Kiki, from a long line of witches, arrives and leaves the family unit at the age of 13, with her broom and her cat. She stops in the town of Koriko, a booming European city. She then manages to stay with a couple of bakers in exchange for delivering packages. Miyazaki once again highlights a lost young heroine, who must find her place in a foreign community and gain confidence.
Source: hitek.fr
