From Hayao Miyazaki, the man behind classic Studio Ghibli films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke comes a brand new dark fantasy for the studio with The Boy And The Heron.
Watch the trailer now…
The movie follows a young boy named Mahito who is yearning for his mother and ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning.
Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film ‘Spinning Globe‘ was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.
The movie has been described by Studio Ghibli as a ‘semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship’ and though it was supposed to be Hayao Miyazaki’s last movie, recent reports seem to suggest that may not be the case after all.
During the Toronto International Film Festival (where the movie has its international premier), Studio Ghibli executive Junichi Nishioka told CBC’s Eli Glasner that Miyazaki is currently working on something new
“Other people say that this might be his last film, but he doesn’t feel that way at all,” said Nishioka through a translator. “He is currently working on ideas for a new film. He comes into his office every day and does that.
“This time, he’s not going to announce his retirement at all. He’s continuing working just as he has always done.”
The Boy And The Heron is written and directed by Miyazaki and stars Soma Santoki (Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story), Masaki Suda (Misuteri to iunakare) and Takuya Kimura (The Swam).