There have been rumors that Studio Ghibli will be shutting down operation on animated films, and unfortunately they appear to be true, ComingSoon.net is reporting. The news comes from an announcement made by general manager Toshio Suzuki on Japanese television. Please note that what follows is a translation and may include some errors:

“Just moments ago, Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli producer, announced on the TV show of the MBS Jounetsu Tairiku chain effectively as announced as sources close to the studio, Studio Ghibli will close and production studio anime, leaving himself only as a company that will manage its trademarks. As stated in the program’s producer, “the production department of anime will be dismantled,” which coincides with the data that we gave in our previous post on this decision had been taken from spring after the poor reception at the box office of Kaguya-hime no Monogatari.

In the interview, Suzuki has also admitted that it was a major setback for the study progress Hayao Miyazaki, one of the reasons already unveiled the portal Rakuten Woman. Once we have access to the full TV interview, adding more data. No doubt that this is a very sad news for Japanese animation, of which we are all fans, because it is undeniable everything Studio Ghibli has given the anime. Please remember that what will be his last film, Omoide no Marnie, premiered at the Japanese box office on 19 July.”

What this would mean, apparently, is that the studio will no longer be making feature films, instead placing its attention on “maintaining a small staff to focus on trademarked material.” What that material would be, of course, remains a question.

The news is not completely surprising. Last year, studio founder and celebrated Oscar-winning animation director Hayao Miyazaki retired after finishing production on The Wind Rises. The studio’s last feature film, When Marie Was There, was released on July 19th in Japan. No US release date has been set.

More details will be provided as they become available.

UPDATE: First Showing has more information on the studio’s “closure,” explaining that its doors will still remain open, even if just to a few employees. An apparent reason? The studio’s movies were costing too much to produce, and without Hayao Miyazaki directing anymore, they could no longer count on having surefire hits. Whatever production that continues to take place at the company will be primarily focused on “managing the brand,” with that mainly consisting of “licensing,” as well as on the popular Studio Ghibli Museum which is located in Japan.

UPDATE #2: Entertainment Weekly is reporting that the company is currently evaluating its future, and making a pause in production in order “to take stock of itself.” Does this mean that the studio will possibly make feature films again one day? Hopefully, but it probably won’t be for a long time if they do.