Hayao Miyazaki’s final film for Studio Ghibli, with the Japanese title How Do You Live, was bound to secrecy before it hit the theaters in Japan. But now, as the animated movie will be released in North America with a new title, The Boy and The Heron, the studio has dropped several new images. And by the looks of it, the legendary filmmaker hasn’t lost his touch even a bit.
The film’s Japanese title references the 1937 novel of the same name by Genzaburo Yoshino. However, The Boy and the Heron features an original story without a connection to the novel.
The official website of Studio Ghibli has dropped 14 preview stills from the film. Of course, it shows the lead characters, Mahito Maki and The Gray Heron. And suppose you’ve seen Miyazaki’s other renowned animated movies before. These images will give you a nostalgic feel, combining the familiar settings and character designs from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. You can see the previews below:
Who is in the cast of The Boy and The Heron?
Studio Ghibli has also officially unveiled the character names in The Boy and The Heron, along with their voice cast members. You will even find a familiar voice as Takuya Kimura, who voiced Howl in the 2004 Howl’s Moving Castle, joins the movie. You can check the list below:
Soma Santoki as Mahito
Masaki Suda as The Grey Heron
Ko Shibazaki as Kiriko
Aimyon as Himi
Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko
Takuya Kimura as Shoichi
Shinobu Otake as Aiko
Keiko Takeshita as Izumi
Jun Fubuki as Utako
Sawako Agawa as Eriko
Karen Takizawa as Warawara
Jun Kunimura as The Parakeet King
Kaoru Kobayashi as Old Pelican
Shohei Hino as Great Uncle
What is The Boy and The Heron about?
The Boy and The Heron follows the story of the young boy Mahito, who has been having a difficult relationship with his father and stepmother. Throughout this rough experience, he has been regularly visited by a supernatural heron. You can read the movie’s synopsis below:
Through encounters with his friends and uncle, follows a teenage boy's psychological development. He enters a magical world with a talking grey heron after finding an abandoned tower in his new town.
When is The Boy and The Heron’s international release?
The Boy and The Heron was first released in Japanese theaters on July 14. It will see its international release at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7. The film will then be screened at the 71st San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain from September 22 to 30 and the 61st New York Film Festival in the US on September 29 to October 15.
Studio Ghibli has yet to announce when it will officially hit North American theaters. However, GKIDS, the company working with Ghibli for its international theatrical run, confirmed it would be released before the end of the year.
With the success of Miyazaki’s previous animated films, which have left incredible marks in the minds of many, fans are looking forward to seeing The Boy and The Heron. Considering this is the iconic director’s first movie in 10 years, there are so many expectations surrounding it, and it looks like it has successfully lived with them all.
