Hayao Miyazaki, Acclaimed Filmmaker, Retires From Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki, mastermind behind beautifully animated films such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle" will no longer be making films after the release of his latest film "The Wind Rises." Studio president Koji Hoshino said Sunday that co-founded Miyazaki would retire from filmmaking after 52 years. Though there was no indication of an exact date for his retirement, but confirmed that his latest work would be his last.

The award-winning Japanese filmmaker, 72, started his career at Toei Animation in 1968, where he served as chief animator for Isao Takahata's "Hols: Prince Of The Sun." He dabbled in television animation in the early 1970s, where he also teamed up with Takahata to co-direct 14 episodes of the popular television series "Lupin III." He directed his first film, "The Castle Of Cagliostro," in 1979 and another in 1984 entitled "Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind."

"Valley Of The Wind" proved so succesful, that is allowed he, Takahata and Toshio Suzuki to launch Studio Ghibli in 1985. Studio Ghibli has since released 18 films, 11 of which Miyazaki served as director, writer or producer. The studio distributes it products to the U.S. through its partnership with Disney. Miyazaki won an Oscar for the acclaimed "Spirited Away" in 2004. "Princess Mononoke," released in 1997, earned him a number of best director awards as well as a Japanese Academy Award for Picture of the Year. He won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2005.

Miyazaki's final film is due to arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2014. The film details the true life story of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed some of the most iconic planes in history, including the Zero fighter. The animator retired once before following the success of "Princess Mononoke," but returned to the helm four years later to direct "Spirited Away," and took charge of "Howl's Moving Castle" when the original director, Mamoru Hosoda, unexpectedly quit mid-production. "The Wind Rises" was featured at this year's Cannes Film Festival.