Director: Hayao Miyazaki

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Writers: Hayao Miyazaki and Genzaburô Yoshino

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Stars: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Takuya Kimura

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Miyazaki is back out of his ten year retirement with his latest fantastical animated feature. The Boy and the Heron is a vibrant, energetic and at times emotionally charged tale about a grieving child who is struggling to come to terms with his new normal. 

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Told through the eyes of Mahito (voiced by Soma Santoki), who has recently lost his mother in a tragic accident and gets uprooted from his home, to live in a cottage with his fathers new wife with a new sibling on the way. Mahito finds himself being followed by a grey heron, who leads him to a magical land where he must face his demons and make incredibly difficult decisions which will have enormous effects on his future. 

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The animated adventure goes through an eclectic range of occasionally bonkers stages whilst keeping the core of the story at its heart. As Mahito goes on his journey he encounters new characters, vibrant lands and mystical creatures, all which might seem a bit too “out there” to an inexperienced Gibli viewer. The film does, at times, feel a bit like a check list of greatest hits from the studio, which can affect the pacing at times. However, the quirky comedic elements and the traditional animation style holds it all together and the plot has an emotional pay off by the end. 

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As expected, the animation is breathtakingly beautiful and sticks to the beloved style of previous Miyazaki films which embodies everything that makes Studio Gibli the fan favourite that it is. Most likely to be compared to the likes of Spirited Away and Howls Moving Castle as one of the more unconventional fairytales. Other works such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Ponyo have a much more linear storytelling technique which some viewers may prefer. In the case of The Boy and the Heron, it is more likely to be enjoyed if viewers are able to suspend their disbelief and consume each sequence for exactly what it is. Ultimately, it is a story of grief, and this is something that shines through from the emotional core of the main character right up to the adorable creatures that pop up throughout.

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Beautifully executed, original to its core and breathtakingly stunning to look at, The Boy and the Heron is an instant classic.