The iconic anime director has gotten yet another major accolade as Hayao Miyazaki is one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
For this year’s list, Time split the people into multiple categories, with Miyazaki taking a spot in the Icons category alongside other well-known actors, directors, and other creatives.
Miyazaki’s selection shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, especially considering how 2023 was a big year for the director.
Hayao Miyazaki Is the Only Anime Representative in Time 100 2024
Time’s 100 Most Influential People is a yearly list selected by editors, and it includes people deemed to have an outsized impact on the world.
Thus, the annual list’s reveal has become a highly-anticipated event, with a selection being an honor for most.
Of course, that’s not to say that only those with a positive impact on the world are selected, as the list has long included controversial figures, including politicians and CEOs.
For this year’s list, Hayao Miyazaki was chosen thanks in large part to The Boy and the Heron, which was released last year to critical acclaim.
In a way, his latest work has caused many to look back on his renowned body of work.
While Miyazaki is the only one from the anime industry on the list, he is joined by three Japanese representatives, including two university professors and a sociologist.
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Guillermo del Toro Praises Miyazaki in Time 100 Entry
Fittingly, writing the Time Magazine entry for Miyazaki is Guillermo del Toro, the award-winning director who has long expressed his admiration for Miyazaki and his works.
In his written entry for Time, del Toro recounted how he already identified Miyazaki’s style and influence in Toei Animation shows such as The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots.
Del Toro also praised Miyazaki as the most influential director in the history of animation, and he also called Miyazaki one of his top 10 storytellers.
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Palme d’Or
Along with the Time 100 selection, Hayao Miyazaki will also be honored this May at the Cannes Film Festival. That’s because Studio Ghibli will be given the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 25.
While Miyazaki had no word for the selection, Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki thanked the festival for the recognition.
Which other animation industry creatives do you think deserve a spot on the Time 100 list? Let us know your picks in the comments.
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