Studio Ghibli’s “The Heron and the Boy” Wins Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film
March 11, 2024, was a historic day for Studio Ghibli as their animated film “The Heron and the Boy” won the prestigious Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles. The film, directed by the legendary 83-year-old Hayao Miyazaki, marked his second win in this category after 21 years.
Despite Miyazaki and the film’s 75-year-old producer Toshio Suzuki not attending the awards ceremony, their absence did not go unnoticed. Suzuki’s representative explained that their age prevented them from being physically present at the event. However, Suzuki made sure to express his gratitude through a statement read by a translator during the press conference.
“We are extremely honored to receive the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. We are grateful to the Academy for awarding us this accolade,” Suzuki’s statement read. He also thanked everyone involved in the production and distribution of the film for their support.
Reflecting on his win and the challenges faced during the making of the film, Suzuki remarked, “It was indeed difficult to complete this film, and I am very grateful that after overcoming these difficulties, the work created has been recognized by so many people around the world.”
Despite Miyazaki’s initial announcement a decade ago that he would retire from making movies due to his age, winning the Oscar seemed to reignite his passion for filmmaking. Suzuki mentioned that Miyazaki regretted his previous statements and celebrated his victory in private at his studio.
In addition to “The Heron and the Boy,” another Japanese film, “Godzilla Minus One,” also scooped an Oscar for Best Visual Effects on the same day, marking a significant achievement for the Japanese film industry. Japanese media hailed this double win as a momentous occasion, with the “Yomiuri Shimbun” stating that “Japanese film history has opened a new chapter.”
As the Japanese film industry celebrates these victories, fans and critics alike eagerly await to see what the future holds for Studio Ghibli and its talented team.