Studio Ghibli of Japan will be awarded an Honorary Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the festival organisers announced on Wednesday.

This is the first instance in the French film festival’s history that an entire studio will receive the honour.

“Studio Ghibli, embodied by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, won over its audiences with works imbued with poetry and with humanistic and environmental commitments. It joins an eclectic pantheon of those who have inspired cinematography, whom the Festival de Cannes, honors, celebrates and thanks for existing,” the official handle of the festival wrote on social media.

Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki issued a statement expressing gratitude for the honourary accolade. “Forty years ago, Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and I established Studio Ghibli with the desire to bring high-level, high-quality animation to children and adults of all ages. Today, our films are watched by people all over the world, and many visitors come to the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park to experience the world of our films for themselves,” he said.

“Although Miyazaki and I have aged considerably, I am sure that Studio Ghibli will continue to take on new challenges, led by the staff who will carry on the spirit of the company. It would be my greatest pleasure if you look forward to what’s next,” he added.

Established in 1985, Studio Ghibli has produced celebrated animated films like Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Princess Mononoke (1997) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988). The studio is also renowned for its Oscar-winning productions Spirited Away (2001) and The Boy and the Heron (2023).

The 77th Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 14 to May 25.