The Boy and the Heron: Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-Shortlisted Masterpiece
Hayao Miyazaki's enchanting film, The Boy and the Heron, has captivated audiences worldwide Now, it sets its sights on the coveted Oscars, following its remarkable success at the Golden Globes Get ready to be transported into a magical world of Studio Ghibli's creation
Hayao Miyazaki's film "The Boy and the Heron," from Studio Ghibli, has made the shortlist for its first Oscars category. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists for 10 categories for the 96th Academy Awards on Thursday, December 21.
Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" is shortlisted in the Music (Original Score) category. Notably, the film is also one of the 33 feature films eligible for the Best Animated Feature Film category, with nominations set to be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
After the Golden Globes, Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and The Heron enters the race for the Oscars
The Academy released the shortlists on their official website, including the following 10 categories: Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Sound and Visual Effects.
Out of 148 eligible scores for the Music (Original Score) category, only 15 made it to the shortlist. Among them is Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron or 君たちはどう生きるか (Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka, translated as 'How Do You Live?'), recognized for its poignant score composed by Joe Hisaishi.
Hisaishi's nomination for Best Original Score at the 81st Golden Globes is well-deserved. The Boy and the Heron also received a nod in the Best Motion Picture - Animated category, joining the ranks of Makoto Shinkai's Suzume no Tojimari.
Hisaishi has worked with Miyazaki on numerous projects including My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and The Wind Rises. Nevertheless, The Boy and the Heron marks his initial entry into Western awards, and if nominated on January 23, it will be his first Oscar nomination.
The film premiered in Japan on July 14, 2023, and in the United States on December 8, 2023. The English voice cast includes notable actors such as Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, William Dafoe, Mark Hamill, and Florence Pugh.
The film's synopsis on IMDB reads:
"A young boy named Mahito longs for his mother and explores a world where the living and the dead coexist. In this realm, death marks a conclusion and life embarks on a fresh start. This semi-autobiographical fantasy is crafted by the ingenious mind of Hayao Miyazaki."
Mahito and the Grey heron (Image via Studio Ghibli/ Hayao Miyazaki)
The Boy and the Heron is eligible for the Best Animated Feature Film category alongside the following:
Suzume
Blue Giant
The First Slam Dunk
Lonely Castle in the Mirror
The nominations voting for the selected categories will start on Thursday, January 11, 2024, and end on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. The Academy is set to reveal the nominations on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The 96th Oscars are scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024. For further information, please visit the official page of the Academy at oscars.org.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan of Hayao Miyazaki's work, I am thrilled that his latest film, "The Boy and the Heron," has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the Music (Original Score) category. Joe Hisaishi's score is truly enchanting and perfectly captures the film's magical and emotional atmosphere. I am also excited that the film is eligible for the Best Animated Feature Film category, as it is a beautiful and thought-provoking work of art that deserves recognition on the world stage.
Miyazaki's films have always resonated with me on a deep level, and "The Boy and the Heron" is no exception. The film's themes of life, death, and the search for meaning in a complex world are particularly relevant to my generation, and I believe that it has the potential to touch the hearts of audiences of all ages. I am eagerly awaiting the Oscar nominations on January 23rd and hope that "The Boy and the Heron" will receive the recognition it deserves.
