‘Please hurry up’: Hayao Miyazaki’s Chinese fans eager for his new animated film How Do You Live? – as Japanese fans share their thoughts after seeing it

There was no advance publicity for the release in Japanese cinemas of Studio Ghibli anime feature How Do You Live? – but fans were quick to respond to the film

The first in a decade from its octogenarian director, and possibly his last, it elicited huge social media interest worldwide, with Chinese fans joining in

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Women look at a display in Tokyo showing a poster (above, right) for Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, “How Do You Live?”, on the first day of its screening in cinemas in Japan. The film, his first in a decade, may also be his last. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:39pm, 14 Jul 2023Updated: 4:20pm, 14 Jul 2023

Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Kimitachi wa Do Ikiru ka (How Do You Live?) generated a frenzied response among Japanese and Chinese fans on social media after its July 14 release in Japan.

The Japanese title of the film – the director’s first feature in a decade and expected to be his last – was the top trending topic worldwide on Twitter on Friday morning, with more than 90,000 tweets.

Enthusiastic Japanese users posted their fan works about the film – for which composer and long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi once again penned the score – discussed the cast, and shared their reviews and thoughts after watching it.

“Although it was the culmination of Hayao Miyazaki’s previous works, it was a completely new work,” wrote Twitter user @castle_gtm. “I couldn’t help but admire how he could still make a film like this after reaching the age of 80.”

Fabulous cast! When will it be screened in China?

Post by a Weibo user

On Chinese social media platform Weibo, the topic “Hayao Miyazaki, How Do You Live?” was also a trending search term.