A few weeks ago, Studio Ghibli president and producer Suzuki Toshio shared the surprising news that they would not be marketing Hayao Miyazaki’s final anime film How Do You Live? This is certainly an unusual film release strategy, but he believes that it will build excitement for fans.
This means that there will be no ads, trailers, images, or voice cast info. Suzuki said: “They’ll want to see for themselves what the film is about. And to do that, they’ll have to go a theater.”
I get what he’s trying to do, but this is a terrible idea! This is Miyazaki’s final movie, and they aren’t going to market it!? That just seems completely bonkers to me, but then I’m big on marketing! The way to get audiences excited is to release stuff to get them excited! Marketing is essential, especially for a movie like this… Miyazki’’s final film!
I mean, how do they expect people to even know when the movie is released if they don’t market it!? Well, if you’re wondering what Miyazaki thinks about all of this… he’s worried, and he should be! Movies tend to bomb at the box office when there’s a lack of marketing.
In a recent interview at the Ghibli Exhibit in Tokyo Miyazaki addressed the film’s lack of marketing, saying: “I wonder if it’ll be okay without publicity, I am beginning to worry […] I’m concerned, that’s all.”
We have no idea what the film is about, but when previously talking about the film and why he was making it, Miyazaki said: “I am making this movie because I do not have the answer.” It’s also explained that the movie is a gift for Miyazaki’s grandson. Studio Ghibli co-founder and producer Toshio Suzuki added: “It’s his way of saying ‘Grandpa is moving on to the next world, but he’s leaving behind this film.'” Suzuki has also described the film as “fantasy on a grand scale.”
The movie will be released in Japanese theaters on July 14, 2023. There’s no word on when How Do You Live? will be released in the United States.
Via: World of Reel