Studio Ghibli is known for its beautiful films with deep meanings and lovable characters. “The Boy and the Heron” follows that same recipe and delivers another tale that can capture any audience member, even if this is their first Ghibli film.
First released on July 14, 2023 in Japan, followed by its international release on Dec. 8, 2023, “The Boy and the Heron” had no promotion — including casting, plot or trailers — before its theater release.
Despite this, the film grossed $13.2 million on its opening weekend in Japan and $12.8 million on its opening weekend in the United States. It also made new records, like becoming the first original anime title to reach #1 at the U.S. box office.
For good reason, too. The film has been praised by critics and audiences alike, and overall has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and an 88% audience score.
I personally really enjoyed watching this film. I’ve always been a Studio Ghibli fan, so I had high hopes when I watched “The Boy and the Heron” and was not disappointed. I ended up watching the movie twice in theaters — the first time with English subtitles and the second with the English dubbed version.
The film is well put together, and the story starts off simple with the audience following the main character, Mahito, around as he navigates life with his father and his new stepmom — his late mother’s sister — all while Japan is in the middle of the Pacific War. The film was also semi-autobiographical.
“Miyazaki’s never done a film where he himself is the protagonist, so he felt that he needed to do that while he’s alive,” producer and Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki said in an interview with Deadline.
Gradually, the film becomes more fantastical with the introduction of the heron. The heron tells Mahito that his mother is alive and that Mahito has to save her. The two then venture into the forest where Mahito’s stepmom disappeared, and the adventure begins there.
Each character has a level of complexity that tags the audience along for the ride. Mahito, for example, is full of conflicting emotions that move the plot forward at a great pace and that keep the audience engaged.
Similarly, the heron is an annoying character at first, but eventually becomes a friend to Mahito and a likable guide to him.
The English dubbed version of the film has a stacked cast list. Some cast members include Robert Pattinson, Karen Fukuhara, Gemma Chan, Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, Mark Hamill and many other big names.
Each landscape and new setting was beautifully crafted and detailed, but I would expect nothing less from a Ghibli film.
“The Boy and the Heron” has been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards ceremony this year.
I hope this isn’t the end of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, and I wonder what he’ll do next if anything. Only time will tell, but even if this was his last, he has such an impressive resume that he’ll be remembered for his groundbreaking work in animation for years to come.
“Well he’s been saying he’s not going to make any more films since Princess Mononoke, so I wasn’t really surprised and I didn’t feel that pressure that this might be the last film,” film composer Joe Hisaishi said in an interview with Paste Magazine.
I will be watching the Oscars and will greatly anticipate seeing where this nomination will go for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
