They grew up marveling at The Castle in the Sky, Kiki the Little Witch or Spirited Away. To attend the presentation of the Palme d’Honneur awarded to the legendary studio, many young people from the Ghibli generation came to express their joy in the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Here a Chinese podcast author, there a Japanese director in traditional dress. And everywhere, from the heights of the balcony to the orchestra seats, admirers from all countries exclaimed: “Arigato! (thank you in Japanese)”.
Hayao Miyazaki’s son, Goro Miyazaki (The Tales from Earthsea, Poppy Hill), had come specially to receive the prize on behalf of the studio. “Through this prize, I would like to associate all the work of the teams who have worked for us over all these years” he specified. Under the leadership of seven directors, the Ghibli firm has in fact worked with dozens of artists specializing in the art of animated cinema, has its own museum and theme park in Japan. Founded forty years ago by Isao Takahata, Tokuma Shoten and Hayao Miyazaki – the “living god” of Japanese animation. -, the studio has produced more than thirty animated feature films, most of which have achieved worldwide success.
It’s the director Juan Antonia Bayona, great admirer of Ghibli films, who presented this Palm of Honor: “I remember the emotion of seeing all these films, especially The Wind rises, and its message “We must try to continue living.” Thank you for bringing us into your home and making our lives a little better and much tastier,” said the Spanish filmmaker. thank the admirers present at Cannes, the studio managers wanted to share a surprise with the public: four short films by Hayao Miyazaki, never shown outside Japan, were screened after the Palme was awarded. In the middle of a Cannes afternoon, this ceremony was a beautiful return to the land of childhood, dreams and poetry.
