Legendary Japanese animators Studio Ghibli have become the first collective to receive an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Oscar-winning studio, founded 40 years ago, is beloved worldwide for masterpieces like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle.
Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, 83, did not attend the French festival, but his son Gorō Miyazaki received the award, which is typically bestowed on individuals.
Gorō Miyazaki a un petit message pour tous les fans du Studio Ghibli 💛 Quel est votre Ghibli préféré ? #Cannes2024
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 20, 2024
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Gorō Miyazaki has a little message for all Studio Ghibli fans 💛 What's your favorite Ghibli? #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/JUKmoAC9dh
"I would like to thank all the fans worldwide," he said on stage after receiving the honour, before attendees were treated to four short films from the wildly imaginative collective.
Among them was 2002's Mei and the Baby Cat Bus, billed as a "mini-sequel" to Hayao Miyazaki's 1989 classic My Neighbor Totoro.
In Mr Dough and the Egg Princess, a giant gloop of dough helps a tiny egg in a pink dress escape a ravenous witch.
House Hunting and Boro the Caterpillar - the second starring a tiny grub munching on leaves - featured amusing human voiceovers for everything from a friendly river monster to squeaky bicycles.
All were welcomed with good-natured laughter.
"Today you have given the Studio Ghibli encouragement for the next 40 years," Gorō Miyazaki said after the screening.
Gorō Miyazaki - Honorary Palme d'or for Studio Ghibli at #Cannes2024 ✨
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 20, 2024
"Ghibli was created 40 years ago by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Tokuma Shoten. They are the studio's greatest contributors, but through this award I would like to associate all the work of the teams… pic.twitter.com/G66ZL6gJSw
Hayao Miyazaki has announced his retirement more than once, but he continues to work and was back in cinemas last year with The Boy and the Heron.
He appeared on the big screen in a video to say: "Thank you very much."
The Boy and the Heron won an Oscar this year and Gorō Miyazaki said the studio had to wrap the statuette in a hotel towel to fly it home safely from the United States.
He said he was really glad the honorary Palme d'Or had a box.
Meryl Streep received an honorary Palme at the festival's opening and George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, is to receive the accolade at the closing ceremony on Saturday.
Source: AFP
