Studio Ghibli has just released another batch of free screenshots from the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron.
Released in July 2023, The Boy and the Heron is director Hayao Miyazaki's first animated film since the release of 2013's critically acclaimed The Wind Rises. On the main website Ghibli series, fans will notice some new additions to the Boy and Heron's collection of images. According to the website, these stills are allowed “within common sense.” The film's main character, Mahito Maki, is the central character of this collection, introducing many of the surreal situations and characters he encounters throughout the film.
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Story and metaphors in Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron
The Boy and the Heron is a fantasy television series inspired by the events of World War II. During the 1944 Tokyo bombing, 11-year-old Mahito Maki tragically lost his mother. In an effort to help his son, Mahito's father moved them both to the countryside with his new wife, who also happened to be pregnant with Mahito's half-sibling. Confused and distraught, Mahito fled into the forest. Here, he comes across a strange talking heron who taunts him that his mother is waiting for him in another world. After following the bird, Mahito finds himself trapped in a mysterious fantasy world filled with bizarre creatures.
As stated above, Mahito faces many macaws throughout his adventure. While many resemble the type found in Mahito's world, others have a semi-humanoid appearance. A later model is currently on display at the Ghibli theme park, located in the Nagakute region, Japan. The world of herons is also filled with small white spirits called “warawara,” somewhat reminiscent of Kodama in Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 film Princess Mononoke. One of the more striking images depicts Mahito confronting a woman engulfed in flames – a haunting reminder of the tragedy that served as the catalyst for Mahito's journey.
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Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron was a huge success with critics and fans
The Boy and the Heron made waves at the Japanese box office last year, grossing more than 8 billion yen ($55.60 million) in its initial theatrical release. The film also outstripped previous champions Ponyo and The Secret World of Arriiety at the US box office, grossing more than $23.4 million in its second weekend in theaters. This year, The Boy and the Heron won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, marking Hayao Miyazaki's first Oscar win since the release of his landmark film Spirited Away in 2001. According to Studio Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki, Miyazaki is still “obsessively” working on another animation project. However, neither Suzuki nor Miyazaki have revealed any specific details.
For North American audiences, The Boy and the Heron is now playing in theaters once again. Netflix has also confirmed that the film will eventually be added to its expanded animation catalog for viewers outside of Japan, and that other US Studio Ghibli films will be available to US streamers on Max.
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: Studio Ghibli official website