Director Hayao Miyazaki's new animated film, "Howl's Moving Castle," which has just premiered in Japan, will also be screened in South Korea, France, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the producer of the film said Saturday.

The film, based on a children's book of the same title by British author Diana Wynne Jones, will hit South Korean theaters Dec. 24, followed by the three other countries in January or later, producer Toshio Suzuki told a news conference.

Studio Ghibli"When the film was shown at the Venice Film festival, people seemed to have been impressed with its sophistication," he said. "I suppose people will get the same kind of reaction in the countries where the movie will be shown."

Studio Ghibli, which made Miyazaki's film, received the Osella outstanding technical contribution award at the Venice Film Festival in September.

Speaking at Toho Co., which released the film across the country Saturday, Suzuki said Miyazaki's latest film is likely to be shown in about 50 countries, as was the director's prize-winning "Spirited Away."

Suzuki said he is now negotiating with distributors in the U.S. and other countries.