The Boy and the Heron was released a decade after Hayao Miyazaki’s last film, The Wind Rises. In fact, I became aware of Ghibli movies in between this break, so when the director came out of his retirement to serve the audience with another masterpiece, I was one of the happiest people on Earth.

But as stunning and visually captivating as it is, the story felt a bit lacking and more desolate than Miyazaki’s other works. Despite its Oscar win, The Boy and the Heron could not be called Miyazaki’s best work when movies like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, or My Neighbor Totoro.

Did Hayao Miyazaki hint at his retirement plans via The Boy and the Heron? The tale of the old wizard mirrors that of Hayao Miyazaki | Credits: Ghibli

After watching The Boy and the Heron, the character of the great uncle might...