'Never-Ending Man' Trailer: New Doc Follows Acclaimed Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki As Makes His Comeback

One of the biggest questions that anyone faces when entering retirement is — what’s next? Do you just sit around, read books, watch TV, and enjoy the simple life? Do you find a new hobby? Maybe you just travel all the time? Well, for acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, retirement was boring. So, he decided to go back to what he loved — filmmaking.

That’s the premise for the upcoming documentary “Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki.” The incredibly influential creator, best known for his films “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” among many, many more, really wanted to retire when he announced he was leaving filmmaking behind. However, after becoming restless at home, Miyazaki decided to go back to his love of film, but with a new twist. Miyazaki decided that he was going to tackle the world of CGI, a process he’s never used in his animated works previously.

‘Never-Ending Man’ shows an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaker’s process, from announcing his retirement and becoming unsatisfied with sitting around to tackling this new venture and hoping that it all works out.

“Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki” comes to theaters for special screenings on December 13 and December 18.

Here’s the synopsis, as well as the new trailer:

In 2013, film director and animator Hayao Miyazaki suddenly announced his retirement at the age of 72. But he couldn’t shake his burning desire to create. After an encounter with young CGI animators, the filmmaker embarked on a new endeavor, his first project ever to utilize CGI. But the artist, who had been adamant about hand-drawn animation, confronted many challenges. The film even faces the danger of being canceled. Can an old master who thinks he’s past his prime shine once again? This program goes behind the scenes over two years as Miyazaki overcomes struggles to create his short film using CGI.