Cannes Film Festival has chosen to award its highest honor, the Palme d’Or, to the renowned Japanese anime studio, Studio Ghibli, marking the first time the festival has bestowed its prestigious lifetime achievement prize to a company rather than an individual. The news was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.
The decision was announced by Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Fremaux, who praised Studio Ghibli for its significant impact on animated features, creating characters and universes that have enriched our imaginations. They stated that Ghibli has elevated Japanese animation into a cherished realm of cinematic artistry.
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Studio Ghibli has enjoyed four decades of remarkable success, producing animated classics such as ‘Grave of the Fireflies,’ ‘My Neighbor Totoro,’ ‘Porco Rosso,’ ‘Princess Mononoke,’ ‘Howl’s Moving Castle,’ and ‘Ponyo.’
Expressing gratitude for the honor, Studio Ghibli’s Toshio Suzuki reflected on the studio’s journey over the past four decades, thanking the Cannes Film Festival for recognizing their dedication to delivering high-quality animation for audiences of all ages.
While some Ghibli films have previously debuted at prestigious international festivals such as Berlin and Toronto, the studio’s presence at Cannes has been limited. ‘The Red Turtle’ (2016), a collaborative effort between Studio Ghibli and a European production company, screened in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section.
As the 77th Cannes Film Festival approaches, there is growing anticipation for the special recognition of Studio Ghibli’s contributions to the world of animation and cinema.