Instead of the film's producers, who were unable to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles, the trophy was presented in their honor. Later, Toshio Suzuki, co-founder and producer of Studio Ghibli, published a message on X, which was formerly Twitter. Although Miyazaki was not in attendance at the ceremony in Los Angeles to accept the award, Toshio Suzuki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and producer of "The Boy and the Heron," remarked that it arrived at an opportune moment.
Hayao Miyazaki wearing a black suit The Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature has been awarded to The Boy and the Heron. This is such a momentous occasion that Studio Ghibli has expressed their delight at the award! The Boy and the Heron generated considerable anticipation before its Japanese release, having been promoted as the concluding film by Hayao Miyazaki.
It remained shrouded in mystery until its premiere, when Studio Ghibli declined to disclose any promotional materials about the film. Since then, the film has amassed worldwide acclaim and has proven to be one of the most triumphant commercial and critical successes in the company's catalog.
The Boy and the Heron is not only the first film directed by Hayao Miyazaki to win a Golden Globe but also the first overall production by Studio Ghibli to do so.
Studio Ghibli producer and co-founder Toshio Suzuki thanked the Golden Globes in a message published on the company's social media after the win:
“„I am very happy to hear the newsthat The Boy and the Heron has received an award at the historic Golden Globe Awards.- Toshio Suzuki
“„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. When I hear the reports of many people still wanting for rescue in the disaster areas, I am filled with a sense of despair.- Toshio Suzuki
“„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. Together with our U.S. distribution partners, we look forward to further success with The Boy and the Heron. Thank you very much to the Golden Globes for this honor.- Toshio Suzuki
Opening to a better-than-anticipated $12.8 million in December, the film established a record for Miyazaki in North America, Gkids, and Studio Ghibli. It has since been a box office success in numerous territories. Globally, it has generated over $136 million in revenue.
The breakthrough domestic triumph was accompanied by almost unanimous critical acclaim, establishing it as an awards season heavyweight, especially in an unusually lackluster year for certain perennial animation powers.
Both Disney's Wish and Pixar's Elemental were nominated for Golden Globes. However, Wish failed to impress both critics and audiences at the box office. Similarly, despite garnering some admiration, Elemental was considerably less successful culturally and commercially than previous Pixar films.
Although Miyazaki's fable-inspired films have encompassed an array of fantastical personas, The Boy and the Heron was a close adherence to his personal life narrative. It has been hailed as the 83-year-old animation titan's most personal work to date and will likely be his last.
The plot of the film centers on Mahito, a young child who has recently experienced the loss of his mother. He embarks on an expedition with a sly and deceitful gray heron to an enigmatic realm beyond time, where the living and the deceased coexist.
Suzuki has stated that after the passing of Miyazaki's mentor and companion Isao Takahata, the story's core had to be revised. As a result of the revision, the peculiar yet captivating companionship between Mahito and the heron was emphasized.
On Sunday, the U.S. Golden Globes honored the renowned Japanese anime titan Hayao Miyazaki for best-animated film, marking his return as the victor of a significant international competition. The 124-minute fantasy "The Boy and the Heron" won the award for the first time in the category, which was established in 2007, and was directed by a Japanese national.
Producer of Studio Ghibli, which is owned by Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, remarked that the victory "feels extraordinary" and hoped it would bring "good news" amid the misfortunes that have befallen Japan since the beginning of the year.