Hayao Miyazaki stubbornly hand draws his way to a third Oscar

Animator also relies on his sharp observations and outlandish imagination

Hayao Miyazaki says he can only make movies when he is sitting at his desk, which is only partially true as his films are filled with the kind of details that can only come from sharp observations of the world around us. (Source photo by Nozomu Ogawa and 2023 Studio Ghibli)

NORIKO SEKIHARA, Nikkei staff writer

March 11, 2024 15:48 JST

TOKYO -- Hayao Miyazaki's third Oscar -- which came Sunday night in Los Angeles as "The Boy and the Heron" was named Best Animated Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards -- marked another triumph for a filmmaker who hand draws his movies with pencils and paper while the rest of the industry goes digital.

The 83-year-old had previously won the Best Animated Feature Oscar for 'Spirited Away' in 2003 and an honorary award in 2014.