I heard that Miyazaki retired after Mononoke Hime. Is this true?
No, Miyazaki did not retire, at least not exactly. He is going to make short films to be screened at the “Ghibli Museum” (to be opened in October 2001) in Mitaka City in Tokyo. The films will be based on children’s books. Ghibli’s younger staff members are supposed to make these films, and production is supposed to start after they’ve taken a break following the completion of My Neighbors the Yamadas. Whether or not Miyazaki will direct these films is still unclear, although he has written storyboards for them.