Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki’s First Directed Anime is Finally Coming to Streaming

Hayao Miyazaki, renowned in the world of anime for crafting emotionally stirring, iconic films through Studio Ghibli, has defied expectations by announcing that he’s not quite done yet, despite “The Boy and The Heron” being billed as his final work. In a surprising twist, Miyazaki is planning to continue working within the anime industry, and fans can look forward to revisiting one of his early creations as “Future Boy Conan” makes its debut on a streaming platform for the very first time. Although this series may not be associated with Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki’s distinctive style is clearly evident throughout it.

Originally airing in 1978, before Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Castle of Cagliostro,” the post-apocalyptic anime series titled “Future Boy Conan” is set in the year 2008. The main character, Conan, struggles to survive amidst a harsh environment and encounters a mysterious girl named Lana. Pursued by a secretive group of operatives, the duo venture out to uncover their world’s secrets, meeting various intriguing companions along the way. The original series spanned twenty-six episodes during its initial broadcast, followed by another series in 1999, although Miyazaki himself did not oversee the sequel. “Future Boy Conan” will debut on RetroCrush this coming Friday, April 18th.

The Future Boy Is Now

Yolanda Macias, Cineverse’s Chief Content Officer, expressed their enthusiasm about acquiring “Future Boy Conan” by saying, “We can’t wait to add Future Boy Conan to RetroCrush! This gives fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in a significant piece of animation history. The combination of heart-stopping action, peaceful moments of awe, and an enduring tale about perseverance and survival makes Future Boy Conan a must-see for lovers of Japanese animation, novices, and particularly admirers of Hayao Miyazaki.

For nearly four decades, Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away” and other Miyazaki masterpieces were scarcely seen in North America due to his legendary reputation. However, in 2021, GKIDS obtained the rights to the series and released a new 4K restoration of Miyazaki’s work in the West. Yet, “Future Boy Conan” had not been streamed online until RetroCrush stepped in and decided to distribute it themselves.

Via IndieWire

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2025-04-02 23:09