Studio Ghibli Receives Honorary Palme d’Or at 77th Festival de Cannes
The 77th Festival de Cannes, held in France, is set to honor Studio Ghibli, the iconic Japanese animation studio, with an Honorary Palme d'Or. This prestigious recognition highlights the studio's significant contributions to the world of animation and its cultural impact globally.
On Monday, May 20, at 3:30 PM, Gorō Miyazaki, son of the legendary director Hayao Miyazaki and Creative Development Director of the Ghibli Park, will take to the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière to accept the award. The Palme d'Or will be presented by Festival President Iris Knobloch and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux.
This event will also feature the screening of four short films directed by Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli alongside Toshio Suzuki and Isao Takahata. Notably, three of these films will be shown outside of Japan for the first time, offering a rare treat for international audiences.
The short films include:
- Mei and the Baby Cat Bus (Mei to Koneko Basu) - This 13-minute and 43-second film is a mini-sequel to "My Neighbor Totoro". The story follows Mei as she befriends a baby cat bus and embarks on a magical nighttime adventure.
- House Hunting (Yado-sagashi) - In this 12-minute and 11-second film, Fuki, the protagonist, searches for a new home and encounters various mystical creatures along her journey. The film emphasizes rich onomatopoeia and human-voiced sound effects.
- Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess (Pandane to Tamago-hime) - This 11-minute and 37-second tale features an egg princess and her dough friend escaping from the clutches of a witch. The narrative is set to the enchanting music of Joe Hisaishi, arranged from Antonio Vivaldi's La Folia.
- Boro the Caterpillar (Kemushi no Boro) - Spanning 14 minutes and 20 seconds, this film combines computer graphics and hand-drawn animation to depict the world through the eyes of a newly hatched caterpillar. The sound effects are uniquely provided by the voice of Tamori.
The tribute to Studio Ghibli at Cannes is further enriched by a special graphic tribute created by Toshio Suzuki, specifically for the festival. This event underscores the lasting influence and artistic excellence of Studio Ghibli in the realm of animation.