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Wind Rises, Madoka, Lupin vs. Conan, Harlock, Kaguya Earn Japan Academy Prize Nods

The Japan Academy Prize Association for excellence in film announced the nominees for the 37th annual awards on Thursday. The five movies that have been nominated for Animation of the Year are:

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

The Wind Rises

Captain Harlock

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The academy honored composer Joe Hisaishi for the soundtracks of no less than three films: The Tale of Princess Kaguya, The Wind Rises, and Tokyo Family. Director Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Band of Ninja) and actor Isao Natsuyagi are among the five individuals who will receive posthumous Chairperson's Special Awards for lifetime achievement. Actor Ken Takakura (live-action Golgo 13) will receive an Association's Special Award for lifetime achievement as well.

The Nippon Academy-Sho Association, a Japanese group roughly comparable to America's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Oscars fame, presents the Japan Academy Prizes every year. The nominees all receive "Awards of Excellence," but the actual top award in each category will be presented in a ceremony on March 7 at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo.

Movies are eligible if they opened in Japan between December 16, 2012, and December 14, 2013.

The Animation of the Year category was only created seven years ago. Last year, Mamoru Hosoda's Wolf Children won the award. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Tekkonkinkreet, Ponyo, Summer Wars, The Secret World of Arrietty, and From Up On Poppy Hill were the previous winners. Before that, Studio Ghibli won the overall Picture of the Year Award for Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.

Source: animeanime.jp