 Initially, "Earthsea" author Ursula K. Le Guin wanted  Hayao Miyazaki (qv) to direct the film. At the time, however, the  elder Miyazaki was tied up working on  _Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)_ (qv), and thus could not come on board  at the right time. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to make  the film, Miyazakis son Goro Miyazaki (qv) stepped up to the  plate and decided to make this his first film.