It’s Officially the End of an Era for Studio Ghibli

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In 2023, Hiroyuki Fukuda, CEO of Nippon TV, oversaw the renowned animation house Studio Ghibli. Now, after three years in the role, he is retiring, ushering in a new chapter for Ghibli and its artists.

At a meeting on May 14, 2026, Studio Ghibli announced that Kenichi Yoda, currently a content strategy specialist at Nippon Television, will become its new President and Representative Director, starting June 22, 2026.

According to , Yoda will be working with Nippon Television’s production team to foster new partnerships. Ghibli explained that they hope to develop exciting new projects by bringing the strengths of both companies together.

Studio Ghibli Under New Leadership this June

Yoda works in the business division of Nippon Television, where he mainly manages events like concerts, exhibitions, and stage shows that the network puts on and broadcasts. He’s also played a key role in growing the world of Studio Ghibli, most notably as the producer of the first official stage play adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro. This production premiered at the Barbican Centre in London in October 2022.

Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s classic animated film, My Neighbor Totoro is a stage production created through a partnership between Improbable, Nippon Television, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The show features stunning sets, a live orchestra, and unique puppets designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

The film features music by renowned Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisashi, who also acts as an Executive Producer. He’s joined in that role by Griselda Yorke from RSC.

Since its release, My Neighbor Totoro has become very popular. It even broke the Barbican Centre’s record for the most tickets sold in a single day. After several successful showings, the production moved to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End in March 2025.

Although My Neighbor Totoro is set to be shown, the continued success of the production proves that Studio Ghibli can effectively adapt its distinctive stories for formats beyond traditional animated movies. Following Hiroyuki Fukuda’s move to a director role at Ghibli on June 22nd, Yoda will become both President and Representative Director.

In 2023, Studio Ghibli released The Boy and the Heron, which is currently Hayao Miyazaki’s final animated feature. Soon after the film came out, producer Toshio Suzuki mentioned that Miyazaki had already begun developing a new anime project. As of May 2026, details about this project haven’t been officially shared. Hayao Miyazaki will continue to be involved with Ghibli as Honorary Chairman on the Board of Directors, and Kiyofumi Nakajima will remain on the Board as co-Representative Director and Vice President.

You can now watch Studio Ghibli’s beloved anime films, like Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Ponyo, on either Max or Netflix, depending on where you live. This makes over 100 hours of Ghibli’s content temporarily available to viewers.

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2026-05-18 19:11