Popular fashion brand Uniqlo recently revealed an upcoming product that is sure to please Studio Ghibli fans. Later this year, the company will release a special T-shirt honoring Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning film, The Boy and the Heron (2023).
According to PR Times, Uniqlo Japan will release a new line of T-shirts called “Japan Culture UT,” which will pay tribute to several major Japanese media franchises, including (but not limited to) Final Fantasy, Chainsaw Man, and Ultraman. The new collection marks Uniqlo’s second official collaboration with singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, who has performed theme songs for each of these iconic franchises. He also performed the opening theme of The Boy and the Heron, “Spinning Globe.” To honor this iconic feature, Uniqlo will release a T-shirt featuring a Miyazaki-designed illustration of the film’s hero, Mahito Maki. Notably, Ghibli has never used this design for any of its official apparel collections. According to details on X (formerly Twitter), the entire collection is scheduled to be released in mid-September.
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Uniqlo's New Hayao Miyazaki-Designed Edition Pays Homage to Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron
Originally released in Japan in July 2023, The Boy and the Heron is an emotional coming-of-age story about a boy growing up in the devastating aftermath of World War II. During the infamous 1945 Tokyo bombing, 11-year-old protagonist Mahito Maki tragically loses his mother. Soon after, Mahito, his father, and Mahito's aunt set out to start a new life in the countryside. However, the boy's life is further disrupted when he discovers that he has a half-sibling on the way. After seeking emotional refuge in a nearby forest, he encounters a strange talking heron, who taunts Mahito that his mother is waiting for him in another world. Mahito eventually follows the heron, leading him to an alternate fantasy world filled with danger, mystery, and wonder.
Uniqlo’s “Globe” T-shirt features a concept sketch Miyazaki created during Heron’s early production stages. The front depicts Mahito sitting at a desk by a window, while the back features a yellow silhouette of the heron character. While other Heron-themed items have been sold through Ghibli’s Donguri Sora online store, this T-shirt will be available exclusively through Uniqlo Japan and affiliated retailers. Including tax, the “Globe,” along with other products in Uniqlo’s new apparel collection, will cost around 1,990 yen ($13.56) each.
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The Boy and the Heron has become one of Studio Ghibli's most successful films of all time.
Since its release, The Boy and the Heron has quickly become one of Ghibli's most successful films of all time, earning over $300 million in cumulative domestic and international box office receipts. Earlier this year, the film also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 96th Annual Academy Awards. As a result, The Boy and the Heron has been re-released in theaters in North America, allowing even more fans to see Miyazaki's latest masterpiece on the big screen. Additionally, U.S. audiences will be able to stream the film on Max starting September 6, 2024.
Uniqlo’s “Japan Culture UT” apparel collection will go on sale in mid-September. The company has yet to announce when the shirts will be available outside of Japan. Depending on the viewer’s region, the Ghibli film library can be streamed on Netflix or Max.
The Boy and the Heron
A boy named Mahito, longing for his mother, ventures 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 Corporation
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Source: Uniqlo Japan via X (formerly Twitter) and PR Times
