News of Hayao Miyazaki¡¯s retirement can¡¯t ever be trusted.

The Japanese animation master¡¯s repeated claims that he¡¯ll give up filmmaking are a response to the strain that creating each of his largely hand-drawn universes entails. At least that¡¯s what Toshio Suzuki, a founder of Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki¡¯s right-hand man for the past 40 years, believes.

¡°Every time he finishes a film, he¡¯s so exhausted he can¡¯t think about the next project,¡± Suzuki explains. ¡°He¡¯s used up his energy physically and mentally. He needs some time to clear his mind. And to have a blank canvas to come up with new ideas.¡±