As reported by Cartoon Brew on Monday, the latest animation masterpiece from the renowned
Hayao Miyazaki
, titled
The Boy and the Heron
(
Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka
, or in English,
How Do You Live?
) has successfully become the fourth top-grossing anime film in the United States, amassing an approximate
revenue
of US$39,703,394.

The 1998 anime production, Pokémon: The First Movie, boasts the top spot on the list of highest-grossing anime movies with an earning of US$85.7 million. This is followed by Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, released in the US in 2021, which made US$49.5 million. Pokémon the Movie 2000 takes the third spot with earnings of US$43.8 million.

In contrast, the submarine-themed movie, Godzilla Minus One, is closing in on an impressive US$50 million in US revenues, with its current earnings estimated at US$49,350,093.

In the maiden weekend of this year’s US box office revenue rankings, The Boy and the Heron and Godzilla Minus One secured the 12th and 13th spots respectively. The Boy and the Heron accumulated an estimated revenue of US$1,817,762, while Godzilla Minus One garnered US$1,742,769.

Through an agreement with GKIDS, The Boy and the Heron was licensed for film and debuted in North American theaters on December 8 following preview showings held on November 22. Both English-dubbed and original Japanese screenings with English subtitles were offered to the audience.

The film celebrated a monumental win of the Best Picture award at the Florida Film Critics Circle, marking the first time the accolade has been bestowed upon an animation feature. The film also clinched the Best Animated Film and Best Score awards.

In addition, The Boy and the Heron scooped up the Best Animation title at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. The Boston Society of Film Critics also awarded it the Animated Feature prize.

Recently, the film won the Best Animated Film Award at the Alliance of Women Film Journalists’ EDA Awards, and the Best Motion Picture – Animated category at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. The film also won the Best Animated Feature in Gold House and CAPE’s (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) fourth annual Gold List. Director Hayao Miyazaki received honorable mentions in the Best Director and Best Original Screenplay categories. He was also honored with the Astra Awards for Best International Filmmaker by the Hollywood Creative Alliance (previously known as Hollywood Critics Association).

The Godzilla Minus One production was awarded Best International Film by the Georgia Film Critics Association, with The Boy and the Heron coming in as runner-up in the Best Animated Film category.

Also, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) chose to include The Boy and the Heron in the longlist for its 2023 film awards for Best Animation and Film Not in the English Language. The BAFTA Film Awards will reveal the nominations shortlist on January 18. The Art Directors Guild nominated the film for the Animated Feature Film category.

Several other anime films that are linked with or related to Japanese creators or franchises — including Godzilla Minus One, Gran Turismo, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Suzume, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and YOSHIKI‘s Under the Sky — are eligible for nomination for Best Picture for the 2024 Oscar awards. Composer Joe Hisaishi is already shortlisted for the Music (Original Score) category for The Boy and the Heron.

Also, for the first time, a Japanese movie, Godzilla Minus One, has made it to the shortlist for the Visual Effects award at the Academy Awards. The academy will announce the final nominees on January 23, and the award ceremony is scheduled for March 10.

Sources: Cartoon Brew by Jamie Lang, Deadline by Jill Goldsmith