The 96th Academy Awards brought joy and heartbreak in equal measure, particularly for animated features. Studio Ghibli’s “The Boy and The Heron” clinched the Best Animated Feature award, marking their second triumph at the Oscars.
Distributor GKIDS also celebrated its first win after 13 nominations. However, not everyone shared the enthusiasm.
Shameik Moore, the voice behind Miles Morales in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” took to social media expressing a sense of being “robbed” at losing to “The Boy and The Heron.”
*robbed
— Shameik Moore (@shameikmoore) March 11, 2024
Despite the disappointment, Moore acknowledged the winners, saying, “Respect to the winners. It’s true, I’m definitely a sore loser, but we didn’t lose.” He emphasized the lasting impact of “Spiderverse” on countless lives and teased the future with a cryptic statement:
“Spiderverse has impacted A LOT of lives, we may not have been acknowledged tonight, but life goes on, and BEYOND… yea get ready.”
The Boy and The Heron’s victory marked a significant moment for Studio Ghibli, securing legendary creator Hayao Miyazaki’s second win after “Spirited Away.” Toshio Suzuki, the producer of the winning film, expressed gratitude to the Academy and everyone involved in the production and distribution.
Suzuki reflected on the challenges faced during the seven-year production, stating, “This film was truly difficult to bring to completion.” He acknowledged the changes in the film industry over the past decade and expressed appreciation for the global recognition received by the challenging work.
Suzuki’s remarks highlighted the perseverance required in completing the film, with both Miyazaki and himself aging considerably during the process.
The producer expressed gratitude for the honor, viewing it as a message to continue their work. He pledged to redouble efforts in the future, inspired by the recognition received at this stage in his career.
As the Oscars unfolded with both triumphs and disappointments, Shameik Moore’s candid expression of disappointment added a human touch to the glitz and glamour of the prestigious event.
Fans now eagerly await the promised continuation of the Spider-Verse saga with “Beyond the Spider-Verse.”
