CANNES, France (AP) — Studio Ghibli, the Japanese anime factory of surreal ecological wonders that has for 39 years spirited away moviegoers with tales of Totoros, magical jellyfish and floating castles, was celebrated Monday by the Cannes Film Festival with an honorary Palme d’Or.
In the 22 years that Cannes has been handing out honorary Palmes, the award for Ghibli was the first for anything but an individual filmmaker or actor. (This year’s other recipients are George Lucas and Meryl Streep.) Hayao Miyazaki, the 83-year-old animation master who founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, didn’t attend the ceremony, but he spoke in a video message taped in Japan.
“I don’t understand any of this,” said Miyazaki. “But thank you.”
At Cannes, where standing ovations can stretch on end, the fervor that greeted Ghibli’s emissaries — Goro Miyazaki (son of Hayao) and Kenichi Yoda — was nevertheless among the most thunderous receptions at the festival. Thierry Fremaux, Cannes’ artistic director, walked across the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière filming the long ovation, he said, for a video to send to Miyazaki.
Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
Chinese, Brazilian scientists name new flying reptiles to mark collaboration
Tibetan incense brings wealth to town of SW China's Xizang
Xi highlights advancement in education
Burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police from the top of 60ft high roof during nine
OJ Simpson's brain will not be donated for CTE research, family spokesperson says
China launches construction of biomedical platform for disease research
Int'l scientists conduct joint experiments with China's artificial sun team
Sale continues dominant run as Braves beat Padres 3
German students experience traditional tea culture in China