Hayao Miyazaki takes home his first Oscar for "Spirited Away."
Congratulations to “Spirited Away” and director Hayao Miyazaki, who beat out some of this year's animated favorites such as “Ice Age,” “Lilo and Stitch,” and “Stuart Little Two” to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film on March 23rd at the Academy Awards in Hollywood. Unfortunately, Miyazaki was not present to accept the award from the stunning Cameron Diaz due to his busy filming schedule, but surely he is most excited and thankful for this, his first Oscar.
This was the perfect climax to a year filled with awards for Miyazaki and his amazing film. “Spirited Away” was named best animated movie of the year in December of 2002 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as the U.S. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. It was also the first ever animated film to win the Golden Bear prize at the Berlin Film Festival in February, and it came away with four more awards at the 30th annual Annies, including Top Animated Theatrical Feature.
Although Miyazaki has attempted retirement twice, the last time being in 2001, animation lovers should not fear, as Miyazaki seems to be as busy as ever, currently directing a film entitled “Howl's Moving Castle,” which is projected to be released in the summer of 2004.
The film, which is based on a book by British fantasy and sci-fi author Diana Wynne Jones, stars a young girl named Sophie. Sophie has lived a miserably dull existence working day in and day out in her father's hat shop. But things become exciting one day when a witch suddenly casts a spell on her, transforming her into an old woman. In order to break the spell, Sophie decides she must venture out of her tiny town and seek out Wizard Howl and his mysterious moving castle. On her journey she encounters many adventures in this unknown land where it appears that anything is possible.