Anime giant Miyazaki's new work wins Golden Globe

The semi-autobiographical fantasy film by Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki, titled The Boy and the Heron, has won best animated film at this year's Golden Globe Awards.

The Boy and the Heron marks the first time a Japanese film has come out on top in this category. Additionally, it marks the first Golden Globe win for a non-English animated feature.

Recognized as a precursor to the Oscars, the Golden Globe Awards hold significant importance in the realm of the US film industry.

The award show took place during a ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday. Despite 83-year-old Miyazaki's absence at the ceremony, his return from retirement to dedicate seven years to the production of this film proved to be a triumphant endeavor.

The movie, for which Miyazaki crafted the original story and screenplay, revolves around a boy coping with the loss of his mother during World War II, leading him into a captivating fantasy realm.

The film has garnered international acclaim. In North America, it claimed the top spot on the box office charts during its debut weekend in December, swiftly becoming Studio Ghibli’s highest-grossing film in the region.