The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
[Rated PG-13] 2hr 4min
★★★★★
The Boy and the Heron is the latest award-winning Studio Ghibli film by Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the story of a boy dealing with the recent loss of his mother during World War II. He eventually encounters a talking heron that offers him an enticing promise, which sets him off on a fantastical journey.
This film is another Studio Ghibli masterpiece. It showcases an expansive story with aspects that everyone can relate to while also keeping it deeply personal to the characters and to Miyazaki himself. The film achieves this by synthesizing a variety of themes and ideas in relation to its protagonist. This allows the narrative to touch upon many meaningful topics while still maintaining a strong emotional core. The beautiful animation enhances the film’s emotional elements, as its 2D hand-drawn style provides expressive visuals in every frame. The phenomenal score further adds to each scene with music that reinforces and intensifies the emotions within the narrative. Through its perfect blending of story and style, this film presents a compelling thematic journey that reflects on many aspects about life and its personal challenges.
The Boy and the Heron is an excellent film that anyone can enjoy. Whether watching it in its original Japanese language or the English dub, both versions are fantastic, which makes it easily accessible to everyone. This film has won many awards including the 2024 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
The Boy and the Heron is re-releasing in theaters on March 22nd in both Japanese and English. It will also be available to stream on Max at a later date. Click here to watch the Official English Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper