Yoshifumi Kondō seemed destined to become a major director at Studio Ghibli—until he died of an aneurysm in 1998 at just 47 years old. Most accounts tie his death to overwork, and it hit the studio hard. Miyazaki actually announced his retirement that same year, which many saw as a direct response to losing Kondō. He didn't actually step away from directing in the end, but Kondō's death clearly shaped how Miyazaki approached his work afterward, pushing him toward a slower, less grueling pace.