Japanese Anime Giant Studio Ghibli To Receive Honorary Palme d’Or At Cannes Film Festival 2024

THE Cannes Film Festival will present its prestigious Palme d’Or honor upon the renowned Japanese animation powerhouse, Studio Ghibli. This will be the first time where the festival will be honouring a company rather than an individual.

In a historic announcement, Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux declared, “For the first time in our history, it’s not a person but an institution that we have chosen to celebrate.” They lauded Studio Ghibli’s animated creations, noting how they enrich our imaginations with vibrant universes and captivating stories. They hailed Ghibli as a cornerstone of cinephilia, blending tradition with modernity in the realm of Japanese animation.

Established in 1985 by visionaries Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Studio Ghibli has achieved remarkable success over four decades. The festival commended the studio for its remarkable feat of independently producing cinematic masterpieces while also capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide. From beloved classics like Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbor Totoro to enchanting tales like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, Studio Ghibli’s contributions to cinema are unparalleled.

Expressing gratitude for the honour, Toshio Suzuki said in a press release, “I am truly honoured and delighted that the studio is awarded the Honorary Palme d’Or. I would like to thank the Festival de Cannes from the bottom of my heart.” Reflecting on the studio’s journey, he emphasised its mission to deliver exceptional animation for audiences of all ages, a vision realised through global acclaim and the enduring popularity of Ghibli’s films.

While some of Studio Ghibli’s works, like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, have garnered accolades and box office success elsewhere, their presence in Cannes has been limited. However, notable exceptions include The Red Turtle (2016), a collaboration with a European production company, which screened in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section.

The 77th Cannes Film Festival, scheduled from May 14 to May 25, will serve as the stage for honouring Studio Ghibli’s remarkable legacy in the world of animation.