Hayao Miyazaki Wins First Golden Globe at 82

Golden Globes 2024: Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki won Best Motion Picture – Animated award for “The Boy and the Heron.”

Renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has clinched his first Golden Globe Award at the age of 83, securing the accolade for his latest film, “The Boy and the Heron.” This award is not just a personal triumph for Miyazaki but also a historic achievement for Japan, marking the first time a film by a Japanese director has won in this category since it was started in 2007. It is surprising how long this took, considering how Japanese animators have always been miles ahead in the field. Other’s nominated for the same category were Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, Wish, Suzume and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki founded Studio Ghibli together in 1985. Since then, they have come a long way and are probably the most famous duo in Japanese animation. Having created films like Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Ponyo, Ghibli is a household name in the country. In 2014, Miyazaki became the second Japanese film director to receive an Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, following Akira Kurosawa.

Now let’s talk about a little about The Boy and the Heron; The storyline follows Mahito, a fictional Japanese boy navigating World War II. After the loss of his mother, Mahito encounters a talking heron that transports him to a magical tower, unraveling a captivating fantasy world. The film is said to reflect a lot of Miyazaki’s own life, making it a more poignant watch.

The English version of the film is voiced by a list of stars like Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Robert Pattinson and Mark Hamill.

This Golden Globe adds to the long list of accolades in Miyazaki’s illustrious career. The 2002 Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the 2003 Oscar for “Spirited Away,” and a 2014 Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are just a few highlights.

Miyazaki’s comeback after his brief retirement in 2013. While he initially announced his departure from filmmaking after “The Wind Rises,” Miyazaki delved back into the art in 2017 to bring this full-length feature to life.

Written and directed by Miyazaki himself, the film stands out as the first original anime in history to top the North American box office shortly after its December release, gaining widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike.