Legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron bagged the accolade for Best Animated Feature at the 96 Academy Awards. Presenters Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor Joy accepted the award on behalf of the makers. It is to be noted that Hayao Miyazaki has previously won an Oscar for his 2003 film Spirited Away. 

The Boy and the Heron was released in Japan as Kimitachi wa Di Ikiruka, which means How Do You Live? While Miyazaki has written the story, it is backed by Toshio Suzuki. Joe Hisaishi has scored the music. The Boy And The Heron marks Hayao Miyazaki's first film since The Wind Rises in 2013.

The Boy and the Heron's English version features the voice of Luca Padovan as the protagonist, Mahito Maki. The others in the cast include Christian Bale (Shoichi Maki), Dave Bautista (the Parakeet King), Gemma Chan (Natsuko), Willem Dafoe (Noble Pelican), Karen Fukuhara (Lady Himi), Mark Hamill (Grand Uncle), Robert Pattinson (The Grey Heron) and Florence Pugh (Kiriko). The English version will also feature the voices of Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori and Dan Stevens as the Parakeets.