Name: The Boy and the Heron
Released: 2023-07-14
Duration: 2 h 4 min
Rating: 88

What to know

The final movie from the legendary animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki

The Boy and the Heron is a Japanese animated movie directed and written by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. The film is inspired by the novel of the same name written by Genzaburo Yoshino, though it is not a direct adaptation. The Boy and the Heron is produced by Studio Ghibli and Toshio Suzuki. This movie marks the twelfth directorial effort of the legendary and acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. He is known for films such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro. Miyazaki is joined by Takeshi Honda as the animation director and composer Joe Hisaishi handles the score. The Boy and the Heron was released in theaters on December 8, 2023.

Production News

Production: Timeline, news & updates

October 28, 2017
- Hayao Miyazaki announces that his final film will be called ‘How Do You Live?’. (Source: Anime News Network)
November 29, 2017
- The movie is described as an ‘action-adventure-fantasy’ film. (Source: Anime News Network)
August 6, 2018
- It is suggested that the movie is another three to four years away from completion. (Source: Anime News Network)
December 17, 2019
- After three years of production, the movie was confirmed to be 15% done. (Source: Anime News Network)
March 8, 2021
- In an interview, Toshio Suzuki, a producer at Studio Ghibli confirmed that the animation for the movie was halfway finished. (Source: Anime News Network)
December 13, 2022
- Studio Ghibli confirmed that How Do You Live? will be released in Japan on July 14, 2023. The first visual from the film was released. (Source: Anime News Network)
June 6, 2023
- It is announced that in the lead-up to the movie that there will be almost no promotional materials released. That includes no trailer, no plot details or even a full poster.(Source: Variety)
July 10, 2023
- It is announced that the movie will have an IMAX screening in Japan. (Source: Deadline)
July 14, 2023
- The movie is given a new title in English and is confirmed to be releasing in the US in late 2023. No longer called 'How Do You Live?', the movie is renamed The Boy and the Heron. (Source: Variety)
July 28, 2023
- The Boy and the Heron is confirmed to be opening the Toronto International Film Festival. (Source: Variety)
August 15, 2023
- The first images from The Boy and the Heron are officially revealed teasing the fantastical world of the movie. (Source: Collider)
August 17, 2023
- The Boy and the Heron is confirmed to be featured at the New York Film Festival where it will its US premiere. (Source: IndieWire)
September 4, 2023
- A new teaser for the movie gives the first major plot points. It offers the following statement about the film, "A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead". (Source: Collider)
September 11, 2023
- A short trailer for the movie is released. It teases an epic, creature-filled adventure with beautiful symbology. (Source: YouTube)
October 20, 2023
- The English dub voice cast is announced. It features Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh, Mark Hamill, Karen Fukuhara, Gemma Chan, Dave Bautista and Willem Dafoe. (Source: Playlist)
November 2, 2023
- The first English-language trailer for the movie is released showing the incredible voice acting cast. (Source: YouTube)
December 8, 2023
- The Boy and the Heron was released in theaters. (Source: Collider)

The Boy and the Heron

Original Title: 君たちはどう生きるか

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