TheOscarsultimately snubbed anime at this year’s awards, but one of its top nominees was actually inspired byStudio Ghibli. 2024 was a massive year for animation. However, when it came time for nominees to be announced for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, many voiced concern not one anime,includingLook Back, was nominated. However, despite this major upset for anime fans, one of the animation frontrunners actually took a lot of inspiration from the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
Flowis a 2024 film by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis about a cat trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world taken over by water. It’s a gorgeous film that has received widespread acclaim for its visual storytelling,making it one of the biggest frontrunners for the coveted Best Animated Feature prize.Flowhas also been highly regarded asthe best animated film of 2024for its unique animation and use of color. However, what’s even more interesting is how the film was inspired by Studio Ghibli and iconic Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
Flow Takes Heavy Inspiration from What Makes Miyazaki’s Movies So Great
The Backgrounds and Slower Pace Allow the Story to Speak for Itself and Grow
Miyazaki’s massive filmography ultimately played a huge role in howFlowfound its voice. According toFandomWire, Zilbalodis explains that “how[Miyazaki]portrays nature and having these quiet moments between the action"was incredibly influential in his film.When it comes to how Miyazaki’s take on nature inspiredFlow, the movie ultimately speaks for itself. It’s gorgeously animated with massive environments lit just enough to showcase the beauty yet harshness of nature as the leading cat attempts to survive. It feels like something straight out ofPrincess MononokeorMy Neighbor Totoroas it allows nature to set the mood for each individual scene.
As for the pacing,Flowalso mirrors Miyazaki’s slower moments down to the smallest detail. There are times when the film will have brief moments of joy and relaxation for the characters. Whether this involves the cat swimming in the sea to hunt for fish or finding a sunny spot to sleep in before the flood, it allows the film to breathe and develop its characters through environmental storytelling. This is something that’s widely prevalent in Miyazaki’s films as they take breaks in the action to observe the quieter parts of life, such asthe mythological Susuwatari scene inSpirited Away.
Flow Proves that Anime is Far More Influential than People Think
Anime Isn’t as Niche as Some Have Been Led to Believe
There’s been a common misconception among the public that anime is a niche market outside of Japan. However, withFlowbeing a frontrunner for such a huge award, this proves that this belief couldn’t be further from the truth. Anime, just like other animated properties around the globe,is incredibly influential for countless filmmakers.The unique storytelling and animation have drawn in artists for decades because of how different it is from traditional Western storytelling. This has led to many properties over the years featuring various homages to classic anime,including the iconicAkiraslide.
Flowisn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last film to draw inspiration from Studio Ghibli, or anime in general. There’s such a wide variety of stories produced by Japan that continue to find audiences today. Plus, withMiyazaki earning his second Oscar just last yearforThe Boy and the Heron, it’s clear that anime is more popular than ever. The Oscars may not have nominated an anime this year, butFlowis showing just how important the medium is with its touching tribute toStudio Ghibliand filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
