China's leading film company, Alibaba Pictures, has signed a cooperation deal with Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli to collaborate on various projects. These include animation production, immersive exhibitions, and Miyazaki's new masterpiece, "The Boy and the Heron."

Renowned animation producer Toshio Suzuki presents a large, handwritten paper titled "The Tale of Studio Ghibli" as a gift to Li Jie, president of Alibaba Pictures, in Japan on Jan. 5, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Alibaba Pictures]

Earlier this month, Li Jie, president of Alibaba Pictures, traveled to Japan to meet with Studio Ghibli executive and producer Toshio Suzuki on Jan. 5. This date coincided with Miyazaki's 83rd birthday and the first working day for the studio. The two exchanged gifts and signed a deal to cooperate on the animated film "The Boy and the Heron." Li also conveyed greetings and birthday wishes to Miyazaki on behalf of Chinese fans via Suzuki.

"The Boy and the Heron" is a new critically acclaimed fantasy adventure directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It narrates the story of young Mahito, who moves to his family's estate in the countryside after losing his mother during the war. Mysterious events lead him to a secluded tower, where he enters a world shared by the living and the dead. Guided by a heron, Mahito embarks on an epic journey to uncover the secrets of this world and discover his true self.

Toho theatrically released the film in Japan on July 14, 2023, screening it in both traditional theaters and premium formats such as IMAX. Ghibli took a unique approach by intentionally refraining from any pre-release promotion. They abstained from releasing trailers, images, synopses, and casting details until the Japanese premiere, except for a single poster. The film garnered critical acclaim and grossed over $154 million globally. It also marked a milestone as the first original anime film and Miyazaki's first to reach No. 1 at the box office in Canada and the United States.

Among its numerous accolades, "The Boy and the Heron" won the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 236 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Soulfully exploring thought-provoking themes through a beautifully animated lens, 'The Boy and the Heron' is another Miyazaki masterpiece."

A Japanese poster for "The Boy and the Heron" by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. [Photo courtesy of Alibaba Pictures]

Miyazaki announced his retirement in September 2013, only to reverse this decision and start a new project in July 2016. Official production began in May 2017, spanning seven years and encountering delays due to COVID-19 and pacing challenges. To the delight of fans, the film continued to use Miyazaki's hand-drawing style, a rare treat in the CGI era. Toshio Suzuki revealed that "The Boy and the Heron" is Japan's most expensive film production to date, with funding partly sourced from streaming deals for previous Ghibli films. Legendary musician Joe Hisaishi composed the score, while Kenshi Yonezu contributed the theme song "Spinning Globe."

During the meeting between Li Jie and Toshio Suzuki, Alibaba Pictures, Studio Ghibli, and Creative Corporation also reached a preliminary strategic agreement for immersive exhibitions of Hayao Miyazaki's works. This venture marks Studio Ghibli's first foray into such exhibitions, with Creative Corporation managing on-site implementation. The collaboration aims to bring these iconic works to audiences through Alibaba Pictures' expertise in live entertainment and Studio Ghibli's classic films. An exhibition in Shanghai is expected later this year.

According to Alibaba-owned Lighthouse, a box office tracker and big data platform, the Chinese film market in 2023 featured 14 animated films, both domestic and international, each grossing over 100 million yuan (US$14 million). The burgeoning film market in China, along with increasing demand for high-quality content, is broadening the horizons of animated film. The strategic partnership between Alibaba Pictures and Studio Ghibli at the beginning of the new year is set to enhance the exchange and mutual learning of outstanding animated films, both Chinese and international, in a more expansive creative space, as noted in Alibaba Pictures' press release.

In recent years, several beloved classics by Miyazaki have made their way to Chinese screens. In 2018, "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988) debuted in China, earning 173 million yuan at the box office. The Academy Award-winning "Spirited Away" (2001) reached Chinese audiences in 2019, grossing an impressive 488 million yuan. "Ponyo" (2008) followed in 2020, earning 28.41 million yuan. "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" (1986) was released in China in May last year, achieving an impressive 135 million yuan. Most recently, "Porco Rosso" (1992) was released in the Chinese market in November 2023, grossing 23.16 million yuan so far.

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