Miyazaki wanted to make Ponyo 2, inspired Ernest & Celestine co-director
Tomorrow is the 86th Academy Awards, which will see Hayao Miyazaki’s currently slated final feature film The Wind Rises going up against Disney’s Frozen, DreamWorks’ The Croods and Studio Canal’s Ernet & Celestine in the Best Animated Feature category. However, Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki revealed in a presentation at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences that it was under his orders that Miyazaki adapted his own Kaze Tachinu manga, with the legendary animation director’s original intention being to create a sequel to 2008’s Ponyo.
The presentation also emphasised the impact Miyazaki has had on the animation industry, with presentation host John C. Reilly asking the producers and directors of the category’s nominated works to name one work that inspired them in animation – with half a dozen citing films previously directed by Miyazaki. The co-director of fellow nominee Ernest & Celestine, Benjamin Renner, was visibly emotional and even had to pause to compose himself as he detailed the influence Miyazaki’s films have had on his life, such as Spirited Away, which inspired him to go to film school.
The 86th Academy Awards will be broadcast live on Sky Movies Oscars from 1:30am on Monday morning.
