Godzilla Minus One took it upon itself to break the mould, ditching Tokyo for Hollywood this winter. The film took the world by storm, stomping its way to a historic run in 2023. With the Academy releasing a list of eligible films for its consideration, all eyes have been looking for Godzilla’s presence on the list.
The list that has been released is strictly a list of eligible films alone. The list is not indicative of any sort of shortlisting or nomination. Those will be disclosed at a later date. What this list reveals is that out of the 1000s of films released this year, which ones are eligible to be shortlisted and eventually nominated for the Oscars?
Godzilla Minus One has already been shortlisted
Godzilla Minus One has already been shortlisted for an Academy Award, but it is not for Best Picture (yet). The film has the distinction of being the first Japanese film to be nominated for its visual effects, which allegedly only cost $15 million to make. This caused the film to make waves when it made landfall in the West.
Constantly compared to other studio films that usually have 10 times the budget dedicated to special effects, it’s no surprise that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to recognise the film for its ingenuity.
Godzilla Minus One was a very different film from its Western counterpart, taking the nuclear menace back to its roots, depicting a post-World War Two Japan. The film has managed to become a cultural phenomenon, with the film fraternity at large appreciating the efforts that went into making the film.
Godzilla Minus One is not the only Japanese film eyeing a nomination
While Godzilla Minus One is eligible to be nominated for Best Picture, there are a host of categories that could feature other Japanese properties of note as nominations. The Boy and the Heron, along with Suzume, is eligible to be nominated for Best Animated Feature.
Joe Hisaishi has found himself shortlisted for the Music (Original Score) category at the Academy Awards for his work in Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. Other animated films that have found themselves eligible for the Best Animated Feature are Blue Giant, The First Slam Dunk and Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Suzume and The Boy and the Heron make it five films of Japanese origin that are eligible for the Best Animated Feature Category out of the 33 films in total that are eligible for it.
Apart from these, Japan also has a film in the running for the Best Documentary category, titled YOSHIKI Under the Sky. All nominations for the Academy Awards will be released by the 23rd of January, with the ceremony scheduled for March 10th.
