SPIRITED AWAY director Hayao Miyazaki and a group of investors are set to buy Studio Ghibli from Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co., reports VARIETY.
Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, director Isao Takahata, Miyazaki and other top employees have already formed an independent company in Tokyo with a market capitalization of ¥10 million ($96,000) and are seeking between $96 million-$144 million to buy out the rights to all past Ghibli productions.
Potential financing partners are the traditional investors in Ghibli films -- Toho Co., Nippon Television Network and the advertising giant Dentsu, among others.
Studio Ghibli was established as a subsidiary of Tokuma in 1985. Due to financial problems at Tokuma, the studio became a division of the bigger firm in 1997.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
