Hayao Miyazaki will not be present at Cannes this year. However, a representative from Studio Ghibli will be accepting the Honorary Palme d’or on behalf of the renowned studio. Additionally, exclusive screenings will be included in their presentation.
Hayao’s son and fellow Studio Ghibli director, Gorō Miyazaki, will be representing the anime film production company at the annual film festival. On Monday, May 20 at 3:30pm CET, Gorō will participate in a ceremony at Cannes to accept the prestigious Palme d’Or award on behalf of Ghibli.
The event will feature four shorts, including three that have never been shown outside of Japan. These films, Mei and the Baby Cat Bus, House Hunting, Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess, and Boro the Caterpillar, were all created and screened exclusively at the Ghibli museum in Mitaka, making this event a rare opportunity to see them.
During his visit to the United States to promote Spirited Away in 2002, Hayao showed employees at Pixar a follow-up to My Neighbor Totoro called Mei and the Baby Cat Bus. Up until now, only those fortunate enough to work at Pixar had the chance to see the production outside of Ghibli’s private screening rooms.
In addition, there are more Ghibli rarities being shown at Cannes. A behind-the-scenes documentary, titled Hayao and the Heron, which follows his experience directing The Boy and the Heron, is scheduled for screening on Sunday, May 19, at 9:30pm CET.
Currently, Hayao and the Heron is only included as an additional feature on the Japanese version of The Boy and the Heron’s home media release. Thankfully, it is anticipated that the subtitled version that was screened at Cannes will be included in the Blu-ray and 4K versions released in the US and Britain.
At the moment, those attending Cannes are fortunate enough to have access. We will soon release an anime guide featuring shows and films that you will be able to watch in the near future.
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