The anime master and co-founder of the famous Japanese Studio Ghibli – Hayao Miyazaki, returns with a new production after 10 years and with another chance at an Oscar. ” The Boy and the Heron ” is a visionary animation telling the peculiar fate of a teenager who, through a heron, begins to discover an enigmatic world where the past blends with the present. The film has already been successful in Japan and France. Polish viewers have been able to watch it since January 19, 2024.
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most important anime creators in the history of cinematography. He is called the Japanese Walt Disney. Along with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, he founded the iconic Studio Ghibli. He directed such hits as “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, “My Neighbor Totoro”, “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, “Princess Mononoke”, and “Spirited Away: In the Land of Gods”. For the latter film, he received an Oscar and a Golden Bear, among others. He also has a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement on his account.
After a 10-year hiatus, Miyazaki returns in great style with a new film. The world premiere of “The Boy and the Heron” took place at the Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, the production has already achieved many successes. In Japan, it was hailed as a masterpiece immediately after its premiere. The film has delighted critics worldwide. In France, it broke box office records – over 700,000 viewers in the first week in cinemas. It is also one of the most anticipated titles this fall in the USA. In Poland, the film premiered this autumn during the International Film Festival Young Horizons. It hit cinemas nationwide on January 19, 2024. The local audience will have the chance to watch it in the original language version with Polish subtitles.
“The Boy and the Heron” is a story not only about loss and passing but also a showcase of boundless imagination. After losing his mother, Mahito and his father leave Tokyo and move to the countryside. Distant to his new reality, the boy begins to explore the uncharted surroundings and home. One day, he accidentally meets a mysterious, human-voiced grey heron, who unexpectedly becomes his guide. The bird gradually helps him unravel the mystery of life, taking him to a magical world divided between the living and the dead. Where death ends, and life finds a new beginning.
Młode Horyzonty Distribution is responsible for its distribution in Polish cinemas.
Trailer for the film “The Boy and the Heron”
