Hayao Miyazaki Shares His Oscar Win with the Entire World in the Most Memorable Way Possible
Hayao Miyazaki won his second Oscar for Best Animated Feature for his widely acclaimed project The Boy And The Heron. The celebrated Japanese animator and Manga artist is one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation. The 83-year-old co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 along with Takahata, and went on to become the brain behind classics like My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away.
Recently, the Academy Award-winning director shared his Oscar with the entire world in one of the most memorable ways.
Hayao Miyazaki Shares His Academy Award With The World In A Unique Way
At the age of 83, when actors and directors are busy with their retirement plans, Japanese animator and legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is busy securing Oscars under his name. After winning an Oscar for Spirited Away in 2003 in the Best Animation Feature, Miyazaki made his way to his second Oscar in a similar category with The Boy And The Heron. He went on to share his Oscar with the entire world in one of the most unique ways. The Boy And The Heron Oscar statuette has been kept on display at the Ghibli Park, in Japan.
Hayao Miyazaki’s gesture speaks a thousand words about his humility. His The Boy And The Heron took the front seat during the 2024 award season leaving behind Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, Nimona, Robot Dreams, and Elemental. The Boy And The Heron even took home a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. The critically acclaimed movie revolves around the life of a boy named Mahitio Maki, who ends up shifting to the countryside after the death of his mother. He comes across a mystical hern in a deserted tower, an outlet that transports him to a different world of fantasy.
Reason Why Hayao Miyazaki Did Not Attend The 2024 Oscars
The world has resonated with Hayao Miyazaki’s heart-touching storytelling method since the 1980s. Despite winning an Oscar for The Boy And The Heron during the 96th Academy Awards, the visionary filmmaker was absent during the prestigious ceremony. His award was accepted by the presenters Chris Hemsworth and Anna Taylor-Joy on his behalf. However, looking back at his remark on the political agenda of the US during the 2009 Comic-Con, it can be assumed that Hayao Miyazaki’s absence from the Oscars had a political angle. He had said–
“The reason I wasn’t here for the Academy Award was because I didn’t want to visit a country that was bombing Iraq. At the time, my producer shut me up and did not allow me to say that, but I don’t see him around today. By the way, my producer also shared in that feeling.”
Being a renowned figure in the entertainment industry, Hayao Miyazaki believed that it was necessary to take a stand against the Iraq bombings. However, the reason he chose to end his ban on the US during the 2009 Comic Con, was his good friendship with the Pixar Animation Studios creative chief John Lasseter. The Pixar chief had helped bring Miyazaki’s Ponyo to the US. The Boy And The Heron went on to secure a box office collection of $167.9 million against a production budget of $100 million.
