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The Boy and the Heron

Original title: Kimitachi wa dô ikiru ka
  • 2023
  • PG-13
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
96K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
929
72
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
Play trailer1:21
6 Videos
99+ Photos
AnimeFantasy EpicHand-Drawn AnimationIsekaiAdventureAnimationDramaFantasy

In the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy ventures into a dreamlike world shared by the living and the dead in search of his missing stepmother.In the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy ventures into a dreamlike world shared by the living and the dead in search of his missing stepmother.In the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy ventures into a dreamlike world shared by the living and the dead in search of his missing stepmother.

  • Director
    • Hayao Miyazaki
  • Writer
    • Hayao Miyazaki
  • Stars
    • Soma Santoki
    • Masaki Suda
    • Kô Shibasaki
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    96K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    929
    72
    • Director
      • Hayao Miyazaki
    • Writer
      • Hayao Miyazaki
    • Stars
      • Soma Santoki
      • Masaki Suda
      • Kô Shibasaki
    • 411User reviews
    • 223Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 36 wins & 91 nominations total

    Videos6

    The Final Teaser
    Trailer 1:21
    The Final Teaser
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:56
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:56
    Official Trailer
    Official Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:12
    Official Teaser Trailer
    The Boy and the Heron
    Trailer 1:12
    The Boy and the Heron
    The Boy And The Heron: Toshio Suzuki On Hayao Miyazaki & The Future Of Animation
    Featurette 4:37
    The Boy And The Heron: Toshio Suzuki On Hayao Miyazaki & The Future Of Animation
    Promo
    Promo 0:33
    Promo

    Photos210

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 206
    View Poster

    Top cast48

    Edit
    Soma Santoki
    • Mahito Maki
    • (voice)
    Masaki Suda
    Masaki Suda
    • The Grey Heron
    • (voice)
    Kô Shibasaki
    Kô Shibasaki
    • Kiriko
    • (voice)
    • (as Kou Shibasaki)
    Aimyon
    • Himi
    • (voice)
    Yoshino Kimura
    Yoshino Kimura
    • Natsuko
    • (voice)
    Takuya Kimura
    Takuya Kimura
    • Shoichi Maki
    • (voice)
    Keiko Takeshita
    • Maid #1
    • (voice)
    Jun Fubuki
    • Maid #2
    • (voice)
    Sawako Agawa
    • Maid #3
    • (voice)
    Karen Takizawa
    • Wara Wara
    • (voice)
    Shinobu Ôtake
    • Maid #4
    • (voice)
    Jun Kunimura
    Jun Kunimura
    • The Parakeet King
    • (voice)
    Kaoru Kobayashi
    Kaoru Kobayashi
    • Old Pelican
    • (voice)
    Shôhei Hino
    • Great-Uncle
    • (voice)
    Nami Uehara
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Kiyoko Nishimura
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Ryûnosuke Watanuki
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    Takuya Yagyu
    • Additional Voice
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Hayao Miyazaki
    • Writer
      • Hayao Miyazaki
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In December 2019, the film was announced to be 15% complete after three-and-a-half years of work. Producer Toshio Suzuki explained that Hayao Miyazaki, in the past, would be able to direct seven to ten minutes of animation per month, and they had scheduled five minutes of animation per month or about one hour per year on the film. However, Miyazaki was directing only about one minute of animation per month.
    • Goofs
      When a knife is being honed on a steel the knife blade is facing up, it should be facing down. Whilst you can hone in either direction, up the steel away from you, or down the steel towards you, the blade should be facing towards the handle of the steel.
    • Quotes

      The Grey Heron: I'll be your guide.

    • Connections
      Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: End of the Year Embarrassments (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Chikyûgi (Spinning Globe)
      Performed by Kenshi Yonezu

      Courtesy of Sony Music Labels Inc

    User reviews411

    Featured review
    8/10

    Visual pleasing, Imaginative world, Very complex story.

    If you have never watched a Hayao Miyazaki film, I wouldn't recommend starting with The Boy and the Heron.

    For an introduction I'd recommend to start with Spirited Away (2001) and Princess Mononoke (1997).

    If you become amused and the films resonate with you. Then you will enjoy The Boy and Heron. It isn't the strongest of Hayao Miyazaki and Ghibli films but a very good addition to their filmography.

    The film begins with a slow pace of mostly visually defining the world, characters and their dilemmas. As the movie progresses you see touches of another realm. Before you know it, it becomes a full-blown feverish dream of Hayao Miyazaki imagination and story telling. It eventually comes all together back on its feet at the end.

    Was it fun and visually pleasing? Yes.

    Was I confused at times And had a lot of unanswered question? Also yes.
    • sterlingrobson
    • Sep 9, 2023
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Boy and the Heron?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 8, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Toho Site
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • El niño y la garza
    • Production companies
      • Studio Ghibli
      • Toho
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $46,832,867
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,011,722
      • Dec 10, 2023
    • Gross worldwide
      • $282,422,186
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • IMAX 6-Track
      • Dolby Atmos
      • DTS:X
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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