English-speaking fans of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki are going to have a chance to read one of the filmmaker's earlier manga works. Shuna no Tabi is a story written and illustrated by Miyzaki about a young prince who sets out on adventure to find a rare grain in order to make a better life for his subjects. For the first time since its publication in 1983, Miyazaki's manga will get its first English translation by First Second Books.
Hayao Miyazaki and his films with Studio Ghibli have garnered worldwide acclaim as well as a beloved fandom. The creator's works are notable for their richly developed worlds, gorgeous visuals and emotional depth. Shuna no Tabi, also known as Shuna's Journey, contains many of the elements fans love about his more popular stories. The manga is a beautiful, watercolor illustrated tale of a young noble whose quest takes him to the lands of gods.
And now, for the first time, English speakers have the opportunity to indulge themselves in the story in their own language. As the news began to break online, author Alex Dudok de Wit announced that he will be providing the English translation for First Second Books' release of Shuna's Journey. Dudok de Wit provided fans with a bit of trivia about the book, describing it as an "emonogatari," or illustrated story. He also mentioned that the story was influenced by a Tibetan folk tale and that the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke borrowed several visual and narrative cues from Shuna's Journey.
Needless to say, fans were ecstatic about the idea of a hidden gem from the creative mind of Hayao Miyazaki being brought to a new audience. Some responses mentioned they had read fan translations and were excited to see the story receive an official one. Others had never heard of the story and were delighted at the opportunity to read the manga. It comes as no surprise that people are already clamoring to read Shuna's Journey. In the last several decades, Miyazaki's name has become synonymous with quality, with the creator nominated for over 170 awards and winning 120.
It isn't just the cachet of Hayao Miyazaki's name that's got people excited. Entire generations of fans have grown up with his works, connecting with his characters, and seeing shades of themselves in stories like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. Miyazaki's works deliver thoughtful insights about the human condition in a fantastical manner that helps nurture the soul. Fans of his stories no doubt relish an opportunity to see how Miyazaki's earliest attempts at storytelling influenced the tales they know and love.
Said fans will have to be patient while they wait for the translation of Shuna's Journey to be complete. The English copies of Hayao Miyazaki's story will be available November 1, 2022.
Source: Alex Dudok de Wit
