Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron won a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Motion Picture. This is the first Golden Globe that was awarded to a Studio Ghibli title. The movie managed to beat Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume, Super Mario Bros. Movie, Elemental, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Wish which were also nominated in the same category.
In addition to the Best Animated Motion Picture, The Boy and the Heron was also nominated in the Best Original Score category for Joe Hisashi’s soundtrack at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. Miyazaki wasn’t present at the ceremony. Producer and Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki issued a statement after the win:
“This is the first Golden Globe awarded to a Studio Ghibli film and it is a very special feeling. Since the beginning of this year, Japan has been hit by a series of tragic earthquakes and accidents… In such a situation, I hope the bright news of winning an award can bring a smile to everyone’s face, even if only a little.“
Suzuki daughter shared a video of him finding out that the movie won:
The Boy and the Heron, dubbed as Miyazaki’s final movie, was released in July of this year in Japan. The film was inspired by Yoshino Genzaburo’s How Do You Live? novel from 1937, but it is not a direct adaptation. Instead, it features elements from Miyazaki’s own life. The movie had its international premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, while the US premiere came during the 61st annual New York Film Festival. The movie has been screening in North American, Australian, and New Zealand cinemas since December.
Kenshi Yonezu performed the film’s theme song titled “Spinning Globe.” The voice cast includes:
The Boy and the Heron is also the first Japanese movie to win a Golden Globe award.
Source: The Boy and the Heron at Golden Globe
©2023 Studio Ghibli