Since making his film debut in 1979, one of Japan’s most inventive filmmakers, Hayao Miyazaki, has gained significant recognition. He had a major influence on the animation industry after founding Studio Ghibli in 1985, and he was just nominated for an Oscar in the animated feature category for his film The Boy and the Heron.
In 2003, he won a competitive Oscar for Best Animated Movie for his film Spirited Away. The Boy and the Heron just made history as the first non-English and anime film to win the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.
The Boy and the Heron is widely regarded as one of Miyazaki’s best works, receiving praise from both fans and reviewers and winning awards in a variety of categories. However, Studio Ghibli had a lot of issues in creating the masterpiece and they even put the fate of the movie in the hands of Netflix with a gamble.
The Boy and The Heron Might Be Hayao Miyazaki’s Best Film Yet
The Boy and the Heron centers on Mahito Maki, a young boy, who after the Pacific War, following the death of his mother, moves to the country. There, he finds an abandoned tower close to his new house and enters a magical realm where he meets a talking grey heron. The Boy and the Heron is the most expensive film ever made in Japan.
According to Box Office Mojo, the movie made US$167 million in box office receipts globally. Among its many honors, it took home the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film. Not only that, it earned the praise of critics and fans alike.
Two more accolades have been bestowed upon the film: the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animation and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Picture, and with the nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the movie has proved worth every penny and might be Hayao Miyazaki’s best film yet.
Studio Ghibli Gambled With Netflix For The Boy and The Heron
According to a statement which was shared by Crunchyroll, Studio Ghibli producer and previous president, Toshio Suzuki once stated that the Studio had lifted “digital distribution ban” to “make money for film production.” They were making The Boy and The Heron at the time and needed money for the project. Therefore they chose Netflix, to distribute their other movies.
This would have been a very risky and expensive gamble because if Studio Ghibli movies did not generate enough cash to fund the picture, it would have been an even bigger issue because The Boy and The Heron was already taking too long, and losing money would have caused more complications.
The quality may have deteriorated, the film would not have been completed on time, the plot would have changed, the release would have been delayed, and such issues would have cost Miyazaki and The Boy and The Heron their Oscar nomination. However, in the end, it all worked out for the better and the movie is on its way to hopefully win an Academy Award.
