In August, news outlets reported that Hayao Miyazaki would receive an honorary Academy Award. The creator of My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa, and countless other favorite films was elected to receive an Honorary Award at the Academy’s 6th Annual Governors Awards.
The Governors Awards, which celebrate lifetime achievements of the film industry, is awarded to “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
The ceremony was held on the 8th, to a select crowd of guests. It was here, that he delivered a short, interesting speech that celebrates the departing era of hand-drawn animation while delivering a few not-so-subtle digs at American foreign policy. It’s brief and to the point, but certainly worth a watch.
The acceptance speech transcript is as follows:
My wife tells me that I’m a very lucky man.
And I think I’ve been lucky because I’ve been able to participate in the last era when we can make films with paper, pencils, and film. Another fact of luck is that my country has not been at war for the 50 years that I have been making films. Of course, we’ve profited from wars, but we’re very fortunate that we have not had to go to war ourselves.
But my greatest moment is that I’ve been able to meet Miss Maureen O’hara today! So I’ve been so happy, and feel so blessed with luck in my life. Thank you.
