Studio Ghibli, the animation studio co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Ponyo) has announced its next film, set for release in Japan in the summer of 2010.
The Anime News Network reports that the official website for Karigurashi no Arrietty (The Borrower Arrietty) went live earlier today (December 17th in Japan). However, Miyazaki will not be the director.
Those honors go to 36-year old animator Hiromasa Yonebashi, who had previously worked in various capacities in the production of several Ghibli films.
Karigurashi no Arrietty is an adaptation of the children’s book The Borrowers by the late British author Mary Norton about a race of tiny people who “borrow” things and keep their existence a secret.
The Borrowers series has previously been adapted as a 1973 live-action American television movie, a 1992 BBC series with a 1993 sequel and a 1997 American/British co-production live-action theatrical movie.