Waves of joy were interrupted by a brief struggle with the English language as the euphoric group behind Japan’s Godzilla Minus One accepted the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
As soon as the film’s name was announced as the winner, a large flock of representatives from it jumped in the air from several rows in the back of the Dolby Theatre orchestra, many of them waving miniature monsters in the air in celebration.
Reading carefully from a piece of paper, Takashi Yamazaki spoke for the group after they took a while to organize themselves onstage.
He recalled the “shock” of seeing the first Star Wars film more than 40 years ago and how it started him on his professional path. “The possibility of standing on this stage seemed out of reach,” he said. “But here we stand!” As Yamazaki’s halting speech segued into specific thanks of collaborators by name, the Dolby Theater orchestra began playing him off, but fellow winner Kiyoko Shibuya’s voice rose above the swelling strings to sound a final note of triumph. “Arigato!” she cried.
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