“The Boy And The Heron” premiered internationally as the Opening Night Gala of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival on September 7th. It was one of the festival’s most anticipated films, as it sold out all five TIFF screenings in record time. It would go on to receive glowing reviews and placed top three for the TIFF People’s Choice Awards. The film made its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival, its European Premiere on the Opening Night of the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and its U.K. premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. It was later presented in IMAX at L.A.’s Chinese Theater on October 18th as the Opening Night of the Animation is Film Festival. The film’s critical, financial and audience success has led to nominations for Best Animated Feature Film at the BAFTA, Annie Award, Producer’s Guild, the Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe win for Best Animated Feature. It also won Best Animated Feature from the New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Producer Toshio Suzuki recently delivered an interview discussing the experience of working with legendary director Hayao Miyazaki on this film and the story’s development, which connects to Miyazaki’s real life. Such a strong emotional connection to the material has resonated with audiences all over the world, making the film a leading contender to possibly win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature on March 10th. Please check out the exclusive video below and be sure to consider “The Boy And The Heron” this awards season for Best Animated Feature Film. We may not know how many more masterpieces Miyazaki has left in him, but we’re sure glad to be alive while he’s making them.
Have you seen “The Boy And The Heron” yet? If so, do you think it will win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Twitter account and check out our current Oscar predictions for Best Animated Feature here.
