Studio Ghibli Honored with Spain’s Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities
Award citation: “for having exceptionally transformed creativity into knowledge and communication.”
Why the award matters
- The Princess of Asturias Foundation recognized Studio Ghibli’s “highly imaginative artisanal process” and its “universal stories brimming with sensitivity and humanistic values” such as friendship, empathy, tolerance, and respect for people and nature.
- Ghibli’s films are praised for transcending generations and borders, serving as cultural references for a globalized society, championing environmental protection, celebrating everyday beauty, and offering moments of silence and contemplation.
Films and founders highlighted
The award specifically mentioned Ghibli’s landmark titles:
- Spirited Away
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Kiki’s Delivery Service
- Princess Mononoke
- The Boy and the Heron
It also honored the studio’s founders and key figures:
- Isao Takahata
- Toshio Suzuki
- Hayao Miyazaki
Context of the prize
- 48 candidates from 20 nationalities were considered for the Communication and Humanities category this year.
- The Princess of Asturias Awards celebrate outstanding scientific, technical, cultural, social, and humanitarian achievements worldwide. In its 46th year, the foundation presented eight awards, including categories for Arts, Technical and Scientific Research, International Cooperation, Social Sciences, Sports, Literature, and Concord.
- The ceremony will take place in October, presided over by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, with the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía in attendance.
Other Japanese laureates
- 2023 Literature award – author Haruki Murakami
- 2012 Communication and Humanities award – Nintendo’s game designer Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda)
Recent accolades for Ghibli
- 2024 Cannes International Film Festival – Honorary Palme d’Or
- 2024 Time Magazine – Director Hayao Miyazaki named one of the world’s 100 most influential people
Hayao Miyazaki’s career in brief
Miyazaki first gained fame in the 1970s with TV anime such as Lupin III, Future Boy Conan, and Sherlock Hound. He directed his first feature, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), and adapted his own manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind into a film (1984). After co‑founding Studio Ghibli, he helmed classics including Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and The Wind Rises. He also co‑produced Takahata’s works and directed experimental shorts such as On Your Mark and various Ghibli Museum pieces.
Source: Princess of Asturias Foundation (additional links available in the original article).
