The Boy and the Heron

I think this will be a controversial movie. The story is about grief and can only be understood if you take it as an allegory. If you try to understand it at face value, you will be confused and disappointed, like some of the commenters here. By the way, this is kind of storytelling is not that far fetched from Ghibli movies, but this is certainly not as easy to consume as Totoro, for example. As someone who lost two parents a year ago, this was highly emotional for me and it made a lot of sense.

There are ratings before the release? Damn the time travelers are busy.

Masterpiece anime film which teaches you about life and humanity. ✨

It was so much crazier than I thought going in. Very Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe mixed with Spirited away and Tales from Earthsea thrown in for good measure. I love this film, but I love every Ghibli film, and everything Miyazaki has ever done. I recommend "Conan: The Future Boy" as an early Directing job by Miyazaki pre Ghibli, it is so good and you'll see many of the Miyazaki character archetypes in their early development. The longer form will capture your heart and quickly become a favorite.

We'll see if he does indeed retire, but this is the capstone film Miyazaki's career deserves (and needs). For all its joy and majesty, The Wind Rises has a lot of narrative issues that The Boy and The Heron does not. Creativity and magical worlds (like Miyazaki creates) are celebrated, but there are also cautionary notes sounded about embracing escapism too much, as well as the darkness we can bring to our own fantasies.

You can't give enough superlatives for the visuals, either. Whether it's a heron and a still pond, a breezy hillside by the sea, or a long line of ships in the horizon that evoke mortality or death, Miyazaki and Ghibli once again show how to create potent images and compositions.

Joe Hisaishi's work here might be his best as well, by turns thoughtful and introspective, bombastic, or almost holy as Mohito explores his new home and the magical world he discovers.

I've seen some wonder if this film takes too long to get to its fantasy world (comparing it to Spirited Away, which gets there quite promptly), but every step of that first hour is key in understanding Mohito's journey, as well as the film's stance on escapism. This story isn't just about another world, it's about how Mohito (and the viewer) will relate to their world once the film and its story are finished.

Sub or dub? Honestly, both are great and have their stronger or weaker areas. Robert Pattinson is unrecognizable as the Gray Heron and matches the character perfectly (and once again making me almost feel bad for mocking him in Twilight). Then you've got Willem Dafoe and Mark Hamill doing their usual excellent work, and it's hard to say the dub suffers. Dave Bautista is fairly recognizable, but he's also perfect for a blustering king that's supposed to make you think of a fascist demagogue.

Not much to say really. This is a original Miyazaki movie. Allegedly he came back from retirement to make this movie.

It is exactly what you would expect. Weird, funny, visually amazing and really, really good.

Another Studio Ghibli masterpiece that blew me away with the incredible world building, beautiful artistry, and deeply loveable (and comical) characters. In this film we follow our protagonist through his journey of healing, self-discovery, and adventure when he moves to the countryside, after his mother is killed in WWII, and meets an eccentric Heron that tricks him into a magical castle that holds entire worlds within its walls. Every frame of this film was a work of art and it is hands down one of the best Ghibli films to date.

Please don't judge me but this was the first Studio Ghibli movie that I've seen. I know that's bad.

Simply Amazing and considering it my first, I instantly understand the prestigious nature of Hayao Miyazaki's work from the beautiful animation and especially the storytelling. I loved the animation, the pacing was spot on and the music was gorgeous. The reasoning as to why it's not a perfect movie for me is that, during the second act I felt slightly confused as to where and what was going on so it was a little bit vague. I watched the dubbed (English) version and what a great voice cast they had, I recognized all of them throughout the movie.

Amazing but honestly definitely isn't the best animated movie of 2023.

Anime from studio **Ghibli** is definitely worth watching.

**The Boy and the Heron** has impressive and colorful visuals that accompany us throughout the film.

**The Boy and the Heron** has a complex plot, so it is advisable to watch carefully so as not to get confused (not guaranteed though, hahaha...). With a heavy theme, this film can present a warm, fun and emotional side.

The supporting characters are also present with the right portion and without feeling forced.

Another great produce from Miyazaki. It sure felt a little “back to the roots” with its dystopian beginning in the middle of the war. There were other scenes in the film too, that reminded more of Elden Ring than a Miyazaki film.
Beautiful story. About how to deal with death, and the responsibilities of creating.