The Boy and the Heron Movie Review

The Boy and the Heron or should I say How to Live the more literal and fitting tittle that comes from the Japanese translation is a movie filled with magic, wonder and subtle surrealism. Hayao Miyazaki the 5-star Michelin chef of the animated film world and the creator of Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro forces you to indulge in this timely banquet allowing you to digest this foreign and phantasmagorial animation.

The film is set in 1943 in wartime Japan and Mahito who is voiced by Luka Padovan in the English dub has just lost his mother in a hospital fire and has had to move the countryside to live on his family’s traditional estate that houses a tall mysterious tower and is surrounded by lush forest and is decked with a vibrant lake in true Miyazaki fashion. He now lives with his stepmother/auntie Natsuko who is voiced by Gemma Chan, his father Shoichi, who is voiced by Christian Bale, who also is part of the Howls Moving Castle cast and a bunch of old warty dwarf like grannies who help maintain the house. As Mahito struggles to adjust to his new surroundings and school a mischievous talking grey heron who is voiced by Robert Pattison infiltrates Mahitos life and sends him down a path to the enchanting tower that leads to an unearthly world. Here the past as present collides and Mahitos grief and longing for his old life manifest and it’s up to him to explore the melancholy of losing his mother and to accept his destiny. The movie follows the Isekai fantasy subgenre in which a character is transported to a new unknown world from their own.

To me the movie seemed to be the most on brand Miyazaki experience as we see all sorts of mysterious creatures that represent aspects and people in Mahitos life. The movie is from a child’s perspective and shows us in a gentle and bizarre way of how one should not cling to the past and how to live with the pain of loosing someone. I also feel like this movie is a distorted auto biography of Miyazaki in which this is supposably his last film. In the movie the granduncle voiced by Mark Hamill who is the supreme ruler of the mystical world in the tower is looking for a successor to take over the world and I feel this relates to Miyazaki finding a successor for Studio Ghibli in which his son Goro Miyazaki couldn’t take over “believing that it would be difficult to carry Ghibli alone”. The movie is also a gift to Miyazaki’s grandson as a way to say “Grandpa is moving on to the next world, but he’s leaving behind this film” says Toshio Suzuki co-founder of Studio Ghibli. By the end of the movie my mind was spinning with thoughts on life and mortality, and I’m left with that fluffy feeling in my stomach that these whimsical Ghibli movies often leave people feeling.

The film won the 2024 Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and emerges as a masterpiece within Hayao Miyazaki’s work signalling his Swan Song in the realm of animation. Miyazaki has a way of blending magical realism with philosophical themes however The Boy and the Heron takes a more introspective approach compared to his works like Spirited Away. Whilst both films explore themes of transformation, loss, and the interplay between reality and fantasy the vibrant and bustling world of Spirited Away doesn’t create a sombre backdrop for its protagonist’s journey of self-discovery like The Boy and The Heron does. Mahito's quest to come to terms with loss parallels Chihiro's journey in "Spirited Away," yet while Chihiro's story is driven by external challenges, Mahito's struggle is more internal, focusing on themes of grief and acceptance. Additionally, "The Boy and the Heron" delves deeper into the cyclical nature of life and the passage of time, offering a more contemplative viewing experience. The film has a slower pace compared to other Miyazaki works however the film's deliberate rhythm enhances its introspective quality, offering a profound cinematic experience that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

The Boy and the Heron represents the culmination of Hayao Miyazaki's unparalleled career, showcasing his mastery of storytelling. Through its blend of magical realism and intimate themes, the film leaves a lasting impact on audiences. Personally, I think this is my favourite Ghibli movie that has ever come out from the soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi to the intense themes, and I would rate this movie five out of five stars. As Miyazaki potentially concludes his journey with this film, he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. The Boy and the Heron serves as a poignant reminder of Miyazaki's ability to create cinematic magic, cherished by audiences worldwide.