Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron (in Japan, How Do You Live?) will find a new streaming channel on Netflix as part of a landmark deal.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix will not only add Miyazaki's latest film to its lineup but also add 22 more Studio Ghibli films. However, the deal is only for distribution outside the US and Japan, as Max has secured streaming rights for The Boy and the Heron as well as all other Ghibli films in the US.
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Studio Ghibli has been making its mark with Miyazaki's films since 1979
Over the past three decades, Studio Ghibli's Miyazaki has been at the forefront of cinematic animation. Since his directorial debut with The Castle of Cagliostro in 1979, Miyazaki has established himself as one of Japan's and the world's most exceptional filmmakers. In the mid-1980s, he co-founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. Ghibli has developed, produced and animated 22 films, all of which feature the studio's signature expressive animation style. Miyazaki's films are characterized by breathtaking animation, complex emotional and moral tapestry, and profound attention to sound design and music.
The Boy and the Heron is his most recent work and notably won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as well as marking a return to hand-drawn animation. However, this is only the latest of Miyazaki's very successful works. In 1986, Studio Ghibli released My Neighbor Totoro, which received multiple award nominations and scored 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Then there's Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke, and while significantly different in story and style, both showcase Miyazaki's vast emotional and artistic range. In 2001, Studio Ghibli released its highest-rated film until The Boy and the Heron, Spirited Away. The film was loved worldwide and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Other notable works in Miyazaki/Ghibli's oeuvre include Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, and The Wind Rises.
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Netflix's new Studio Ghibli is similar to Disney's
In the mid-1990s, Studio Ghibli made a similar deal with Disney for the international distribution of their films, allowing the studio's films to reach a global audience. An important caveat in Ghibli's deal is that Disney will assist with distribution but is not allowed to change a single frame in any film. This maintains the artistry of this painstaking handiwork, as Studio Ghibli did not use computer animation until 1999. However, the Mouse House provided some important help in attracting talent. voice acting for characters in the English dub — notably Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Christian Bale and Kirsten Dunst.
Netflix's deal secures distribution of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's films in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa. The streamer will announce a release date for The Boy and the Heron later this year.
The boy and the heron
A young boy named Mahito longs for his mother to venture into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death ends and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
Release date December 8, 2023
Cast Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Takuya Kimura, Aimyon
Running time 2 hours 4 minutes
Production company Studio Ghibli, Toho Company
Source: The Hollywood Reporter