Miyazaki’s latest film competes with Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume for Best Animated Feature
Kodoani.com – The New York Film Critics Circle announced the winners at their 89th annual awards ceremony on Thursday. Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, “The Boy and the Heron” (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, or literally The Boy and the Heron?), won the award for Best Animated Film. The film competed with famous works such as Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” , “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”, “Robot Dreams” and “Elemental”.
GKIDS has licensed the film and will release it in North American theaters on December 8, with a preview screening on November 22. Screenings will include an English dub along with Japanese screenings and English subtitles.
The film made its international debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), serving as the event’s opening film on September 7 at Roy Thomson Hall. This is the first time the festival has opened with an animated film as well as the first time for a Japanese film. The San Sebastian Film Festival (SSIFF) screened its European premiere at Donostia-San Sebastián’s Kursaal Auditorium in Spain on September 22 following a gala opening the event. This is Miyazaki’s fourth film to be screened at SSIFF and the first time his film has participated in the event’s Official Selection. The festival honored Miyazaki with the Donostia Award for career achievement.
The film opened the 2023 Animation Is Film Festival, which took place at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese 6 Theater from October 18 to October 22.
The Boston Independent Film Festival screened the film on October 23. The Miami Film Festival’s Gems 2023 event will screen the film on October 23. November 4 at 4:30pm EDT at Silverspot Cinema 12.
The film opened in Japan on July 14 and sold 1.003 million tickets and grossed about $13.2 million in the first three days. The film sold 1.353 million tickets and grossed 2.149 billion yen (about $15.53 million) during the long weekend from Friday to Monday. “The Boy and the Heron” earned a total of 8,333,397,800 yen (about $55.60 million), becoming the 74th highest-grossing film ever in Japan.
This is Studio Ghibli’s first film to be released simultaneously in IMAX. The film is also shown in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Cinema and DTS:X.
Miyazaki is credited as the author of the original work, in addition to directing the film and writing the script. Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro) composed the music. Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man, My Hero Academia, March Comes in like a Lion) performed the theme song “Chikyūgi” (Globe).
Theo: Kodoani.com
