Japanese animation' Studio Ghibli makes history with honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival

Studio Ghibli becomes the inaugural collective recipient of the esteemed award. (Images via X)

Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary animation studio that has racked up critical acclaim and a slew of awards for bringing inanimate two-dimensional characters to life in its seemingly serene and magical wonderland, was honored with a Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival yesterday.

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Studio Ghibli marks the first collective entity to be awarded the prestigious award. This year’s other recipients are Hollywood actress Meryl Streep, who was honored on the inaugural of the festival, and 'Star Wars'-director George Lucas who will be receiving his on May 25.

The creator and one of the co founders (alongside Isao Takahata and Tokuma Shotenet) of the animation powerhouse, Hayao Miyazaki however did not make it to the festival. In his stead, his son, Goro Miyazaki, filmmaker and Ghibli's head of creative development, made his way to represent the studio to receive the award.

“I dont understand understand any of this,” said Miyazaki in a video. “But thank you.”

Thierry Frémaux, the director of the festival, ardently said in his opening speech, “We’re all here because we’re besotted with this Japanese animation. For the very first time, Iris Knobloch and I decided to award the honorary Palme d’or to a studio, rather than a single creative. And what a studio! Represented by Gorō Miyazaki, I give you the Studio Ghibli!”

Prior to the award being handed over, a selection of the studio’s film highlights was screened, encompassing the studio’ artistic flair and creative ingenuity. The award was followed soon after Ghibli’s latest fantasy/adventure film ‘The Boy and the Heron’ bagged the Academy award for best animated feature.

“When we won the Oscar for The Boy and the Heron, the Ghibli representatives came home with a statue, but it wasn’t in a box, they had to wrap it in a hotel towel to transport it back. So I’m very glad to see this Palme is nicely packaged!,” said Goro Miyazaki as he received the award in jest.

In a gesture of gratitude, Goro Miyazaki treated the audiences with four Miyazaki shorts, three of which have never been screened outside of Japan. Mei and the Kittenbus,’ ‘Looking for a Home,’ ‘Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess,’ and ‘Boro the Caterpillar.’