Studio Ghibli Releases Statement on Oscar Win for THE BOY AND THE HERON
Of course, Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron was going to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars! There was no way that wasn’t going to happen because it is easily one of the most beautifully made films of the year.
It’s hard to believe that Studio Ghibli only has two Academy Award wins in this category. The second film is Spirited Away. Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki were not present to accept the award at the awards show, so presenters Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy accepted the award on their behalf.
Now, Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki has released a statement addressing the win saying: "As producer on The Boy and the Heron, I am extremely honored to receive the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Academy. I would also like to give my thanks to those who were involved in the production of this film, and to all those who worked to distribute the film worldwide.”
He added: "The film began with director Hayao Miyazaki retracting his retirement statement. Following that, we spent seven years in the production of this work. It has been ten years since Hayao Miyazaki's previous film, The Wind Rises, during which time there have been dramatic changes in the environment surrounding films. This film was truly difficult to bring to completion. I am very appreciative that the work that was created after overcoming these difficulties has been seen by so many people around the world, and that is has received this recognition. Both Hayao Miyazaki and I have aged a considerable amount. I am grateful to receive such an honor at my age, and taking this as a. Message to continue our work, I will devote myself to work harder in the future."
If you haven’t watched this movie yet, it definitely one you need to put on your list!
In the film: “Through encounters with his friends and uncle, the story follows a teenage boy’s psychological development. He enters a magical world with a talking grey heron after finding an abandoned tower in his new town.”
The movie boasts an impressive voice cast, which includes Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson and Florence Pugh.
Bale will take on the role of Shoichi Maki, Bautista will play The Parakeet King, Chan will play Natsuko, Dafoe voices Noble Pelican, Fukuhara is Lady Himi, Hamill is Granduncle, Pattinson plays The Gray Heron, and Pugh will be playing Kiriko. Luca Padovan has also joined as Mahito Maki. Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori and Dan Stevens are featured as the Parakeets.