Hayao Miyazaki is back in theaters with “The Boy and the Heron.” Let’s look at what we know about this famous director’s new movie.
Miyazaki started his career at Toei Animation and A-Pro. In 1979, he directed his first big movie, “The Castle of Cagliostro.” After that, he helped create Studio Ghibli.
With Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki made many famous movies and became known as one of the best animators ever.
His movie “Spirited Away” was the most successful film in Japan and won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “The Wind Rises” also got Oscar nominations. Miyazaki said he would stop making movies in 2013, but he came back to direct “The Boy and the Heron,” his 12th movie.
The Boy and the Heron Release Date
The Boy and the Heron premiered at the London Film Festival in October and was released in Japan on July 14. However, it won’t arrive in the United States until December 8 and in the United Kingdom on December 26.
The release of Ghibli’s newest film just before March’s Oscars couldn’t be better timed. Even though 2023 was a competitive year for animated movies thanks to blockbusters like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Super Mario Bros., the world-famous artist’s work is guaranteed to generate buzz.
THE BOY AND THE HERON will release in UK cinemas on December 26th.
The film will also screen at #LFF pic.twitter.com/J2EGePb5BV
— FILMHOUNDS Magazine (@filmhoundsmag) October 3, 2023
This hasn’t been formally announced yet, but it looks like the UK release date for The Boy and the Heron might be 26th December! pic.twitter.com/pAYJdTIFuI
— Ghibliotheque (@ghibliotheque) October 3, 2023
The Boy and the Heron Trailer
The first trailer was released on September 6 by GKIDS Films. The teaser trailer for “The Boy and the Heron” doesn’t reveal everything just yet. Spooky music plays while we get quick glimpses of various scenes.
Korean trailer of “The Boy and the Heron” (Hayao Miyazaki / Studio Ghibli).
It also reveals new footage from the film.pic.twitter.com/rjJSG5YAyl https://t.co/C6PzLVTwz0
— Catsuka (@catsuka) October 2, 2023
We spot a heron and watch the main character explore another strange, enchanted world like those in Miyazaki’s movies. There’s also a cute new creature from Studio Ghibli that will definitely charm us.
On November 2, the first trailer for the film with English subtitles was unveiled. Get the full scoop down below:
The Boy and the Heron Plot
According to the official GKIDS website, “A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.” This is the plot of Miyazaki’s film. There, the cycle of death is completed, and the cycle of life begins again.
A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creativity, and a tribute to friendship also describes the film.
Check out these other Japanese chapter release dates:
The Boy and The Heron Cast
The following actors are featured in the film’s Japanese dub:
- Soma Santoki as Mahito Maki
- Masaki Suda as The Grey Heron
- Karen Takizawa as Mother #4
- Takuya Kimura as Shoichi Maki
- Shohei Hino as Great-Uncle
- Kaoru Kobayashi as Dying Pelican
- Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko
- Ko Shibasaki as Kiriko
- Shinobu Otake as Mother #5
- Keiko Takeshita as Mother #1
- Sawako Agawa as Mother #3
- Jun Kunimura as The Parakeet King
- Jun Fubuki as Mother #2
- Aimyon as Himi
The voice actors for the dubbed English version include, but are not limited to:
- Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki
- Willem Dafoe as Noble Pelican
- Karen Fukuhara as Lady Himi
- Mark Hamill as Granduncle
- Luca Padovan as Mahito Maki
- Mamoudou Athie as Parakeet
- Tony Revolori as Parakeet
- Robert Pattinson as The Grey Heron
- Florence Pugh as Kiriko
- Gemma Chan as Natsuko
- Dan Stevens as Parakeet
- Dave Bautista as The Parakeet King
