In a thrilling turn of events at the Art Directors Guild Awards nominations for the Animated Feature Film category, excitement and anticipation filled the air. Hayao Miyazaki’s cinematic masterpiece, “The Boy and the Heron” (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, or literally “How Do You Live?”), and the animated delight “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” both secured well-deserved nods.
A crowning achievement for “The Boy and the Heron” unfolded at the 81st Golden Globes Awards on January 7, where it claimed the prestigious title of Best Motion Picture – Animated. The film, accompanied by the remarkable composition of Joe Hisaishi, also earned a nomination for Best Original Score – Motion Picture, showcasing its undeniable brilliance even in the face of narrowly missing the award.
In the realm of original songs, “Peaches” from “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” received a nomination for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. While it fell short of clinching the accolade, the Art Directors Guild expanded its recognition with a new category, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, where “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” received a nomination.
“The Boy and the Heron” continued its triumphant journey, earning accolades at the London Critics’ Circle’s 2024 awards show. A historic moment unfolded when the Florida Film Critics Circle bestowed upon the film the Best Picture award on December 21, marking the first time an animated feature film received such an honor. Further wins in categories like Best Animated Film and Best Score followed.
Acknowledging the film’s excellence, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists named it Best Animated Film in the EDA Awards. Hayao Miyazaki also received recognition with a nomination for Best International Filmmaker at the Astra Film & Creative Arts Awards.
In Japan, “The Boy and the Heron” witnessed monumental success, opening on July 14 and selling 1.003 million tickets, accumulating around US$13.2 million in its first three days. With a total gross of 8.66 billion yen (about US$61.4 million), the film secured its position as the third highest-grossing domestic film in Japan in 2023.
Making waves beyond borders, the film had a remarkable debut in the U.S. box office, earning the top spot with US$12,836,313 in its opening weekend. Variety reported it as the “first original anime production” to claim the number one spot in the U.S. box office.
Hayao Miyazaki, credited with the original work, took on multiple roles, including director and scriptwriter. Musical genius Joe Hisaishi, renowned for his work on iconic films like “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro,” composed the enchanting soundtrack. The theme song “Chikyūgi” (Globe) was performed by Kenshi Yonezu, adding another layer of brilliance to the film.
Meanwhile, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” earned a nomination for Best Animated Family Film at the upcoming CBS’ Family Film and TV Awards, heightening anticipation for its potential success.
As the year concluded, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” claimed the title of the second top-earning film worldwide and in the United States. Remarkably, it stands as the third highest-earning animated film globally and the 17th highest-earning film of all time. Its exceptional performance also earned it the distinction of being the highest-grossing foreign film in Japan in 2023.
The cinematic journey that commenced with its U.S. and global release last April marked a triumphant moment for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” leaving an indelible mark on the world of animated films.
