Danica Davidson
March 14, 2024 
Two Japanese movies were honored at the 2024 Academy Awards: The Boy and the Heron and Godzilla Minus One. Godzilla Minus One got the award for best visual effects, and upon getting back to Japan, the movie’s crew set up a press conference to talk about it.
“The Oscar was heavier than I had imagined,” remarked writer and director Takashi Yamazaki about the statuette he can now claim as his own. “I was happy realizing that I was really holding it.”
Kiyoko Shibuya, a visual effects artist from Shirogumi Inc., noted, “We had received favorable feedback, so we thought the odds were 50:50 (that we would win). Though we did keep saying that we’d win, the moment our names were called I was surprised and delighted.”
“The visual effects award is a holy grail given to the best works among many well-crafted titles with massive budgets,” Yamazaki continued. This is worth noting, because Godzilla Minus One won despite not having the type of budget a Hollywood movie can get. “With a Japanese film becoming commercially successful in North America and winning an award, this will lead to the possibility of change in how movies are made from now on.”
He said he wants to create works that will appeal to people around the world.
“I was told that our movie reminded them of early VFX days when we struggled to come up with ideas,” commented Shibuya. “I think the Academy watched us over warmly.”
Minami Hamabe, an actress in the film, stated that watching the Academy Awards ceremony made her emotional.
The official Godzilla Minus One English website gave this description for the movie:
In postwar Japan, a new terror rises; Godzilla.
In theatres nationwide December 1, 2023.
Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back?
Source: The Mainichi Shimbun
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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