The legendary Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Prize for Communication and Humanities. The jury praised its artisanal approach and ability to convey humanist values through film.
The studio, founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, is responsible for masterpieces such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke. The jury statement, led by Miguel Falomir, noted that Ghibli “has exceptionally transformed creativity into knowledge and communication” through stories that promote empathy, tolerance and respect for nature.
The award comes after a long list of international honors. Studio Ghibli won the Golden Bear in Berlin in 2002 for Spirited Away and two Academy Awards for best animated feature, the latest in 2024 for The Boy and the Heron. It also received the Honorary Palme d’Or in Cannes in 2024.
The jury especially valued the studio’s unique style, which combines realism in settings with imagination in its characters and celebrates “the beauty of the everyday” and “moments of silence and contemplation”. Miyazaki and his team have created a universe that transcends generations and borders.
