“The Boy and the Heron” tells the story of Mahito, a young boy who ventures into a world ruled by animals in hopes of reuniting with his mother. Let’s quickly review the content of this extremely HOT anime series and side information with Ghibli Merch Store.
The Boy and the Heron Reviews
The work directed by Hayao Miyazaki, inspired by the novel “How Do You Live?” (1937) by Genzaburo Yoshino, portrays the story of Mahito, a 12-year-old orphan (voiced by Santoki Soma), who loses his mother in a fire in Tokyo. Mahito and his father move to the countryside, where they live with Natsuko (voiced by Kimura Yoshino), Mahito’s mother’s younger sister.
After returning to the countryside, Mahito becomes increasingly withdrawn and quiet. He is haunted by memories of the incident that led to his mother’s death and struggles to accept the changes happening around him. One day, Natsuko suddenly disappears after entering a mysterious castle. Determined to find her and unravel the mystery of his mother’s death, Mahito sets out on a journey. His companion on this journey is a talking blue heron (voiced by Masaki Suda).
Set in post-war Japan, the film opens up a journey of exploration into the half-real, half-imaginary world of the young boy Mahito. According to The Guardian, the movie addresses themes of loss and sadness, yet it carries a gentle, colorful atmosphere. Initially, Mahito faces many challenges in adapting to his new life. His encounter with the blue heron acts as an invitation, drawing Mahito into the strange world.
While looking for Natsuko, Mahito encounters Kiriko (voiced by Ko Shibasaki), the younger version of the elderly woman who helped his family. Kiriko leads Mahito to a fishing village where they encounter the peculiar creatures known as Warawara. These beings are the souls of unborn humans. When the Warawara grow up, they fly into the sky to become humans. Additionally, the appearance of Himi (voiced by Aimyon), who has the ability to control fire, triggers memories of Mahito’s deceased mother. These characters contribute to creating a vibrant, colorful world.
Throughout the anime, Mahito undergoes a journey of maturation. The loss of his mother leaves him with an enduring emotional scar. Upon arriving in a new land and meeting his great-grandfather, Mahito is faced with two choices: to stay and inherit the legacy to perpetuate a perfect, pain-free world, or to return to the place that caused him pain. Ultimately, Mahito refuses, believing that suffering is necessary for life, and he rejects the falsehood that everything is perfect.
Through his adventures with his friends, Mahito gradually accepts the conflicts within himself and discovers the true meaning of life. The director metaphorically portrays pain as the beginning of life, conveying the message that humans need to confront death with strength and resilience. Despite all the suffering, the key is to look towards the future and create beautiful values for life.
The Boy and the Heron music
The music, composed by the renowned Joe Hisaishi, brings classical and profound melodies, expressing empathy for the main character’s pain. In grand scenes, Hisaishi utilizes orchestral arrangements to convey the majestic beauty of nature to the audience. In poignant moments, the artist employs the piano or cello to evoke the emotions of the characters.
Film color in The Boy and The Heron
Similar to previous works by Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron features hand-drawn frames by artists. According to Film Comment, although the drawings are converted into digital format for widescreen projection, the texture, nuances, and movements of the characters still maintain a natural, multicolored style reminiscent of Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001).
Cast of The Boy and The Heron
GKIDS, the North American distributor for Studio Ghibli, announced that the English voice cast will include:
– Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki
– Dave Bautista as The Parakeet King
– Gemma Chan as Natsuko
– Willem Dafoe as Noble Pelican
– Karen Fukuhara as Lady Himi
– Mark Hamill as Granduncle
– Robert Pattinson as The Gray Heron
– Florence Pugh as Kiriko.
Additionally, Luca Padovan will voice the main character Mahito Maki, while Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolri, and Dan Stevens will provide the voices for the Parakeet birds.
Some expert reviews about The Boy and The Heron.
In an article in Variety magazine, critic Peter Debruge called the film “a wondrous journey into Miyazaki’s Eastern-infused take on Greek mythology“.
The work has received positive reviews from critics. The Guardian wrote: “The Boy and the Heron showcases Miyazaki’s ‘cinematic magic’. Inspired by the director’s childhood experiences, the anime pays tribute to the past.” ScreenRant’s Joshua Fox commented: “The anime balances every detail, with many moments both humorous and touching. Altogether, it creates a story that’s nearly perfect.”
However, the anime also has some shortcomings. According to ScreenRant, many of the supporting characters lack psychological development, which interrupts the flow of the story. The pacing of the second act is quite fast, with less convincing execution. The principles of the new world’s operation, Mahito’s acceptance of Natsuko, and the reasons why Mahito’s Great-grandfather believes in the mysterious world are not clearly explained.
The film’s storyline has many details similar to the life of director Hayao Miyazaki.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the anime shares many details with the life of the 82-year-old filmmaker. Many Japanese critics believe that Miyazaki’s family escaped the bombing in Tokyo to settle in rural Japan. Miyazaki’s father, Katsuji, had a previous wife. Katsuji married Hayao’s mother after his first wife passed away due to illness.
Katsuji was the director of the Miyazaki Airplanes company, which specialized in manufacturing aircraft for Japan during World War II. The Miyazaki family frequently moved homes due to Allied air raids. These events are reflected in the film through the imagery of Mahito’s father, Shoichi Maki (played by Takuya Kimura), marrying Aunt Natsuko, and the Mahito family moving to the countryside at the beginning of the movie.
In several interviews, Miyazaki has often talked about his close relationship with his mother. This has influenced his personality and filmmaking philosophy, while also inspiring the female characters in his projects.
Before its release, the producers only released one movie poster without revealing any trailers, voice actors, or promotional campaigns. In a television interview in 2017, Toshio Suzuki, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and considered Miyazaki’s “right-hand man,” revealed that Miyazaki dedicated this work to his grandson, saying, “He will soon go to the other world, but he will leave this work behind.”
On December 11, 2023, the anime received two nominations for the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score (for Joe Hisaishi). “The Boy and the Heron” also garnered seven film awards and 21 nominations, according to IMDb statistics.
