Spirited Away Wins Best Animated Feature (2002)
If The LEGO Movie’s unexpected and widely maligned exclusion from the animation category this year has done anything worthwhile, it has cast a light on two smaller, quieter, more evocative gems. Song of the Sea and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya both deserve a spot in this race; however, the latter’s status as the penultimate film from Studio Ghibli could give it an advantage in this year’s category.
Too often, beautifully drawn and emotionally nuanced work from smaller studios is shoved under the carpet in favor of splashier mainstream fare. Last year, box office behemoth Frozen handily beat the superior The Wind Rises, and it didn’t feel like a close contest. If Princess Kaguya loses this year, at least the Academy has still awarded one Studio Ghibli classic with the animation honor: Hayao Miyazaki’s splendid Spirited Away.
In a year with an uncommon number of animated titles – so many that the Academy spread the race to five spaces, instead of the then-typical three – Spirited Away was the only nominee in a foreign language and to not get a wide release. The other nominees included hits like Ice Age; however, while that film is now remembered for spawning unnecessary sequels that rake in the dough worldwide, Spirited Away is credited for introducing a new generation to the wonderful world of Studio Ghibli.
Widely considered one of the best films of the 21st century, animated or otherwise, this enchanting tale of a young girl’s journey between the world of whimsy and danger (i.e. girlhood and adulthood) has stood the test of time. One can thank the Academy for letting this Japanese “kingdom of dream and madness” show off in front of viewers around the world.
Published: Feb 18, 2015 12:59 pm