The Boy and the Heron is the first Studio Ghibli film I was able to see in movie theaters during its initial release. A guy I was seeing took me on a date to the Chinese Theatre because he knew I was a fan of Miyazaki’s. It was a magical film, and it was a wonderful experience. 

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, as his final film, The Boy and the Heron, is based on the 1937 novel of the same name, the film is not an adaptation. 

Mahito Maki is an 11-year-old boy who moves to the countryside after his mother’s death and discovers an abandoned tower nearby. A year after his mother’s death, his father, Shoichi, an air munitions factory owner, marries his late wife’s sister, Natsuko, and soon finds themselves expecting a new baby. 

Though Natsuko loves and tries to befriend her nephew, Mahito is less than receptive. He finds solace in exploring an abandoned tower near the estate, where a strange grey heron lives. Entering the tower, Mahito finds himself in a magical world of fascinating creatures. In a very Alice in Wonderland meets The Wizard of Oz sort of adventure, Mahito goes from a little boy in mourning to a young man ready to take on the world and the role of “big brother.” 

After months of waiting, the film has finally been released on home media, including a beautiful steel book through GKids/ SHOUT! FACTORY

The home media release of The Boy and the Heron is a treat for film enthusiasts. With an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film, running at about 124 minutes, is presented in both HD and STUNNING 4K. The set includes audio in the original Japanese, English, and Spanish, each with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and subtitles for all three languages (and French). The extras are a cherry on top, including

  • Interview with Composer Joe Hisaishi
  • Interview with Producer Toship Suzuki
  • Interview with Animation Supervisor Takeshi Honda
  • Drawing with Takeshi Honda
  • Storyboard Reel
  • Spinning Globe Music Video
  • Teasers & Trailers

You can also order the film from Amazon.

there will be more anime/film/Ghibli reviews soon so…

Stay tuned!