6 Miyazaki Films That Triumphed with Western Awards
Discover the enchanting world of Hayao Miyazaki's films, six of which have been recognized and honored with prestigious Western awards From the whimsical Spirited Away to the aviation adventure Porco Rosso, these beloved anime masterpieces have captivated audiences worldwide
Hayao Miyazaki has been behind some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed anime films in the last 30 years. Known as "Miyazaki movies," these films are part of his body of work at Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma.
Fans of anime and film were shocked to hear that Miyazaki's latest movie, The Boy and the Heron, might be his last. Although there are rumors that this may not be true, fans are treating the film as if it could be the creator's final work.
The 6 Miyazaki movies that won a Western award are not ones fans would likely expect
At the very least, The Boy and the Heron is receiving international acclaim and the recognition it rightly deserves, particularly as the 2023 film awards season gains momentum. This has sparked inquiries from fans about the number of Miyazaki movies that have received Western awards.
1) Porco Rosso
The beloved Porco Rosso was the first of the many Miyazaki movies to win a Western award (Image via Studio Ghibli)
Porco Rosso, released in Japanese theaters on July 18, 1992, was the first Miyazaki movie to win a Western film award. The film received the Best Film award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and also won Best Animation Film at the Mainichi Film Award. The story follows the protagonist, an Italian World War I fighter ace cursed to have a pig’s head, and his romantic and competitive escapades with friend Gina and American ace Curtis. It also delves into the stories of other characters introduced throughout the film.
2) Spirited Away
Spirited Away is both one of the most beloved Miyazaki movies and one of the few to win a Western award (Image via Studio Ghibli)
Spirited Away made its debut in Japanese theaters on July 20, 2001, and quickly became one of Miyazaki's most acclaimed films. It received numerous awards from various Western festivals and academies, including the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature, Directing in an Animated Feature Production, and Outstanding Writing in an Animated Feature Production. In addition, it also won the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival’s Silver Scream Award, the Berlin International Film Festival’s Golden Bear, the Boston Society of Film Critics Awards’ Special Commendation, the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Best Animated Feature, the Cambridge Film Festival Audience Award - Best Film, and many others.
Cinekid Festival, Cinekid Film Award
Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain, Best Foreign Film
Critics’ Choice Awards, Best Animated Feature
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, Best Animated Film
Film Critics Circle of Australia, Best Foreign-Language Film
Florida Film Critics Circle, Best Animated Film
Los Angeles Film Critics Association, LAFCA Award
National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Best Animated Feature
New York Film Critics Circle, Best Animated Film
New York Film Critics Online, Best Animated Feature
Online Film Critics Society Award, Best Animated Film
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award, Best Animated Film
San Francisco International Film Festival, Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature
Satellite Awards, Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature
Sitges Film Festival, Special Mention
3) Howl’s Moving Castle
The anti-Iraq-war protest of the Miyazaki movies is legendary for both its message and its staying power (Image via Studio Ghibli)
Released in Japanese theaters on November 20, 2004, Howl’s Moving Castle may not have received as many awards as previous Miyazaki movies, but it is just as popular and well-known as any other film on this list.
The film has received several Western awards, such as the Hollywood Film Awards’ Animation of the Year, the Nebula Award for Best Script, the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Animated Film, the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film, the Sitges Film Festival’s Audience Award - Best Feature Film, and the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Osella for Outstanding Technical Contribution.
4) Ponyo
While Ponyo's Western award count may be underwhelming compared to other Miyazaki movies, it remains one of the most beloved of them all (Image via Studio Ghibli)
Ponyo was initially released in Japanese theaters on July 19, 2008, and quickly became one of the most cherished and successful Miyazaki films to date. Regrettably, the film's only Western award victory came in the form of the Venice Film Festival's Mimmo Rotella Foundation Award. Despite being nominated in several other Western festivals and academies, Ponyo's triumph at the Venice Film Festival stands as its sole accolade.
The film follows the titular character, a goldfish who escapes from the ocean and is found by the five-year-old human boy Sosuke after she washes ashore while trapped in a glass bottle. As the two bond with each other, Ponyo strongly wishes to become human, but learns of the devastating consequences brought about by her acquisition and use of magic after.
5) The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises' portrayal as a reimagined autobiography ultimately solidified its place as one of the select Miyazaki films to receive numerous accolades in the Western world. Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli.
The Wind Rises stands out among Miyazaki's works, having secured multiple awards in the Western film industry after its initial release in Japan on July 20, 2013. The movie depicts a fictionalized account of Jiro Horikoshi, most recognized for creating the Zero aircraft utilized by the Empire of Japan during World War II. The film's most prominent achievement in the Western film circuit is undeniably the Annie Award for Writing in an Animated Feature Production.
The film also won numerous awards including the Boston Online Film Critics Association’s Best Animated Film, the Boston Society of Film Critics’ Best Animated Film, the Chicago Film Critics Association’s Best Animated Feature, the EDA Awards’ Best Animated Feature, the National Board of Review’s Best Animated Film, the New York Film Critics Circle’s Best Animated Film, the New York Film Critics Online award for Best Animated Feature, the Online Film Critics Society’s Best Animated Feature, and the Satellite Awards’ Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature.
6) The Boy and the Heron
The purported final installment of Miyazaki's films is also poised to be the most successful in terms of Western awards (Image via Studio Ghibli)
Last but certainly not least on this list is The Boy and the Heron, purported to be Miyazaki's last film. As of the time of writing this article, certain awards for which the film is eligible have yet to announce their nominations. It's also possible that the film has won some awards since the writing of this article that are not listed below for this reason. Its most notable current victory is undoubtedly the Golden Globe Awards' Best Animated Feature, with others including:
Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards, Best International Filmmaker,
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Best Animated Film
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, Best Animated Film
Dallas-Forth Worth Film Critics Association Awards, Best Animated Film
EDA Awards, Best Animated Film
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards, Best Film and Best Animated Film,
Imagine Film Festival, Silver Scream Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, Best Animated Film
National Board of Review, Top Ten Films
New York Film Critics Circle Awards, Best Animated Film
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, Best Animated Film
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards, Best Animated Film
Be sure to keep up with all anime, manga, film, and live-action news as 2024 progresses.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of Hayao Miyazaki's films, I am thrilled to see that six of his masterpieces have been recognized and honored with prestigious Western awards. From the whimsical Spirited Away to the aviation adventure Porco Rosso, these beloved anime masterpieces have captivated audiences worldwide and left an indelible mark on the world of animation.
Miyazaki's films are not only visually stunning but also deeply moving and thought-provoking. They explore universal themes such as friendship, courage, and the power of love, while also addressing important social and environmental issues. His unique storytelling style and attention to detail have made him one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. I am grateful for the opportunity to experience his incredible work and am excited to see what he will create in the future.
