The news hit the Venice FilmFestival unexpectedly: Hayao Miyazaki, the world’s most honored creator of animated features, was ending his movie career.

Koji Hoshino, who is the president of Mr.Miyazaki’s production company, made the announcement at the film festival, where Mr.Miyazaki’s latest work, The Wind Rises,was shown. “Miyazaki has decided that The Wind Rises will be his last film, and he will now retire,” said Mr.Hoshino. The language of the announcement is believed to have left the door open for Mr.Miyazaki to work on shorter projects.

Mr.Miyazaki’s latest work has been met with some controversy in Japan and in Republic of Korea.The Wind Rises is a fictional account on the life of JiroHorikoshi,the engineer who designed the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a fighter plane used in the attack on Pearl Harbor in1941. Some Japanese conservativeshave criticized Mr.Miyazaki for the film’s antiwar stance, while some Internet users in Republic of Korea have accused him of romanticizing the inventor of a plane that became a symbol for the Japanese military during World War II.

The controversy, however, doesn’t change the fact that Mr.Miyazaki is one of the most celebrated figures in animated filmmaking.

The72-year-old has directed11animated features over 34 years, including the international hits My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Awayand Howl’s Moving Castle.

In the age of digital animation(and live action ), Mr.Miyazaki has remained faithful to the hand-drawn technique. His movies,known for their entertaining plots, compellingcharacters and breathtaking animation, won him critical acclaimas well as public recognition. In2003,Mr.Miyazaki won an Oscar for best animated feature for Spirited Away, and he was awarded a Golden Lionfor lifetime achievement at the Venice FilmFestivalin2005.

It’s doubtless a shame if animation buffs will really see no more new works from the legend. May his announced retirement be a brief, dark whim. May he go on enchanting moviegoers for years to come.