Breaking News: Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron Makes History as First Anime to Secure Best Animated Film at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards

By Maggie Last updated Jan 9, 2024

Renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki achieved a milestone on Sunday as he secured a Golden Globe for his film “The Boy and the Heron,” marking the first such accolade for both him and Studio Ghibli.

Based partly on Miyazaki’s childhood, the film also stands out as the initial non-English language production to clinch the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Although the 83-year-old Miyazaki was not present at the Los Angeles ceremony to accept the award, Toshio Suzuki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and a producer of “The Boy and the Heron,” expressed gratitude for the recognition, especially given the challenging times Japan has faced.

Amidst a series of tragic earthquakes and accidents in Japan since the beginning of the year, Suzuki hoped that the positive news of winning the award could bring a moment of joy to people, even in the face of ongoing difficulties. Suzuki’s post on X (formerly Twitter) conveyed this sentiment, emphasizing the film’s victory as a source of light during a period of despair.

“The Boy and the Heron” is considered a significant work, potentially serving as Miyazaki’s final film, crafted over seven years. The narrative follows a 12-year-old boy navigating the realms of the living and the dead while mourning his mother’s loss during World War II.

The film, which opened at the top of the North American box office the previous month, has amassed over $137 million globally since its premiere in Japan in July. In the Golden Globes competition, it faced contenders such as “Wish,” “Elemental,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Super Mario Bros.

With the Golden Globe award, Miyazaki will go to another Oscar, which he last won in 2001 for the movie “Spirited Away”. His notable films include classics such as “Howl’s,” “Moving Castle,” “Princess Mononoke” and “My Neighbor Totoro,” all of which won Oscars in 2014.

To explain, “The Boy and the Heron” is an adventure drama set on July 14, 2023. The story follows 12-year-old Mahito, who searches for his dead parents in a mysterious tower led by the speaker. The film stars Soma Santoki It has a great voice cast, including Masaki Suda, Yuki Shibasaki, Aimyon, Takuya Kimura, and Yoshino Kimura.

In response to his historic victory at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, Studio Ghibli’s Toshio Suzuki posted a happy message on social media. By releasing it, he expressed his gratitude for the recognition and hoped that it would cause discomfort in the last sun. Joy for those affected by the disaster in Japan. He said that he was grateful for the Golden Globe award and looked forward to the further success of The Boy and the Heron with his American partners.