Originally founded in 1985 with the support of Japanese publishing giant Tokuma Shoten, Studio Ghibli has been independent since 2005, but this independence will come to an end 18 years later with the announcement that on October 6th the studio will be acquired by Nippon TV and become a subsidiary through a share acquisition by Nippon Television Holdings, Inc.
This is not, however, a hostile takeover. In a statement published by Studio Ghibli On its website discussing the deal, the studio states:
As director Hayao Miyazaki is 82 years old and producer Toshio Suzuki is 75, we have been preoccupied with the question of who will succeed them (as company leaders) for a long time.
Goro Miyazakison of the renowned director Hayao Miyazakihas often been speculated as a possible candidate to take over as head of the company if his father retires, but according to the statement Goro himself stated:
It would be difficult for me, as just one person, to take on all of Ghibli’s responsibilities, so we should act differently in terms of who to entrust with the company’s future.
Also Toshio Suzuki have the same opinion:
The Ghibli has become something too big to be carried by one person. I think we need the support not of an individual but of a large company to manage things well.
The idea of acquiring the Studio Ghibli for the Nippon TV appeared in an unusual place. Suzuki presented the idea of acquiring Ghibli to Nippon TV while taking a hot spring bath with Nippon TV president Yoshikuni Sugiyamasometime in 2022. “Would it be possible for Ghibli to have Nippon TV help with our management and operations so that we can focus on film production?” asked Suzuki, to which Sugiyama responded that his company was looking forward to “support Ghibli’s work and protect its film production environment”.
Although the Nippon TV become the largest shareholder in the Studio Ghibli and control 42.3% of the studio’s corporate voting rights, Ghibli’s statement states that “Nippon TV respects Studio Ghibli’s autonomy and after (the share acquisition) Studio Ghibli will focus on the production of animated films, as well as the operations of the Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park.”
After the agreement, the Ghibli will have a board of directors made up of eight people, with Hayao Miyazaki in the position of director and honorary president, Toshio Suzuki as representative director and president, and Goto Suzuki as administrative director.
Hiroyuki Fukudaone of three Nippon TB executives who will be placed on the board, will be the company’s president, and at least one of the two remaining board seats will be filled by an auditor.
O Studio Ghibli and the Nippon TV have had a friendly working relationship for decades. When Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind made its debut on TV in 1985, it was on Nippon TVand the station continued to air anime from Ghibli several times a year as part of its weekly film program Friday Roadshow.
