A few days before Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and The Heron’s international release at the Toronto International Film Festival, GKID Films, a film distributor that works with Studio Ghibli for the feature’s theatrical run abroad, drops a new teaser trailer for the movie. However, fans should manage their expectations as this preview is far different from the trailers they used to see. Instead, it features the film’s synopsis, revealing no footage from the movie itself.
The Boy and The Heron serves as the final film of Miyazaki for Studio Ghibli. But despite its importance in the renowned Japanese animator’s accomplished filmmaking career, no promotions were made before it hit the Japanese theaters in July. However, the film still saw massive success, proving Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have successfully maintained their fame in making quality animated films.
Instead of featuring scenes from the picture, the mysterious trailer tells more about The Boy and The Heron’s synopsis. It talks about a young boy named Mahito, who’s yearning for his mother and ends up going into a world shared by “the living and the dead.”
“There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning,” it reads. It then reveals the film will be a “semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation,” giving tribute to friendship from the mind of Miyazaki himself.
As it flashes the feature’s official title, it teases a first-look teaser unveiling on September 6. You can see the trailer below:
When will The Boy and The Heron be released internationally?
The Boy and The Heron was first released in Japan on July 14 with the Japanese title How Do You Live. It will then see its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which will be held from September 7 to 17.
The film will also be part of the 71st San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, from September 22 to 30, and the 61st New York Film Festival in the US, from September 29 to October 15. Though Studio Ghibli has yet to reveal when it will be released in North America, GKIDS said it would happen before the year ends.
As The Boy and The Heron is already dubbed a masterpiece in Japan, many worldwide are now looking forward to seeing this movie. And as this will be the last feature film from Miyazaki, no one will want to miss it.
