Goro Miyazaki’s From Up On Poppy Hill Up For The Oscars

If you don’t like me, just say so.

Studio Ghibli’s 2011 offering, From up on Poppy Hill (コクリコ坂から), has been submitted for a consideration as an Oscar nomination. This film, which runs for about 90 minutes, was made from a father-and-son collaboration. The great Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿), together with Keiko Niwa, worked on the film’s script while Goro Miyazaki (宮崎 吾朗), Miyazaki’s son, directed the movie.

From up on Poppy Hill takes place in a 1960’s time frame of Japan – the time when the country was preparing itself to host the Olympics. While the story is mostly about a group of high school kids working together to save their school’s clubhouse, it also tells the story of star-crossed lovers Umi Matsuzaki (松崎 海) and Shun Kazama (風間 俊).

From up on Poppy Hill has garnered success on Japan and is hoping to do it again in the Oscar awards. It debuted on the third spot in Japan’s box office right after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. It also won the Japan Academy Prize (日本アカデミー賞) 2012 under the category Animation of the Year (アニメーション作品賞).

Other animated films submitted for the Oscars, aside from From up on Poppy Hill are listed as follows and in no particular order:

• Wreck It Ralph
• Brave
• Frankenweenie
• Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
• Ice Age Continental Drift
• Adventures in Zambezia
• Zarafa
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits
• Secret of the Wings
• The Rabbi’s Cat
• Walter & Tandoori’s Christmas
• Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
• Delhi Safari
• Hey Krishna
• ParaNorman
• Hotel Transylvania
• A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman
• The Painting
• Rise of the Guardians
• The Mystical Laws

If drama is your thing, then don’t miss out on From up on Poppy Hill. Don’t forget to bring a box of tissues.