Legendary anime director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has been awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia's Nobel Prize, for his significant contributions to animation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised Miyazaki's ability to make complex issues accessible to children and highlighted his notable works 'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Kiki's Delivery Service'. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation lauded Miyazaki for addressing themes like environmental protection and peace through his art. Other 2024 award recipients include Vietnamese doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong for her research on the effects of Agent Orange, a group of Thai doctors improving rural healthcare, an Indonesian environmental defender, and a Bhutanese academician promoting cultural heritage. The award ceremony will take place in Manila in November, coinciding with the 117th birth anniversary of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.