Countries are now submitting their own films for consideration for the next Best International Feature Film Oscar award. And for the first time since 1998, Japan has submitted an animated feature film. That film is of course, Makoto Shinkai‘s Weathering With You.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has previously changed the category’s name from Best Foreign Language Film to Best International Feature Film. And the last animated feature film that Japan submitted for the category was Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki‘s Princess Mononoke.

Of course, with the introduction of the Best Animated Feature Film category, Miyazaki would later win his own Academy Award in 2003. This is for Spirited Away. Miyazaki would later win a second Oscar, this time the Special Award. Should Weathering With You win the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, he would do something good’ ol Hayao hasn’t done in his career, and that is win in the international category. Weathering With You can also submit itself for Best Animated Feature Film as well, and probably even win two Oscars.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter