The Boy and the Heron

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1:55

The Boy and the Heron

PG-13,

2023,

2h 4m,

Fantasy/

Adventure/

Anime

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The Boy and the Heron: Featurette - Toshio Suzuki on Hayao Miyazaki & the Future of Animation

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Watchlist

96%

276 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

276 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) comes a new critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family's estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito's new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself.

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Critics Consensus

Soulfully exploring thought-provoking themes through a beautifully animated lens, The Boy and the Heron is another Miyazaki masterpiece.

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Audience Says

Boasting incredible animation and a satisfying story, The Boy and the Heron delivers more of the excellence that Hayao Miyazaki has trained audiences to expect.

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Peter Travers

ABC News

Feb 23, 2024

Japanese manga master Hayao Miyazaki, 83, came out of retirement for this hand-drawn beauty about his own life growing up in wartime. The Oscar for best animated feature belongs right here since Miyazaki’s unparalleled artistry shines out of every frame.

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Simran Hans

Monocle

Jan 5, 2024

I just found it utterly transporting.

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Tim Robey

Monocle

Jan 5, 2024

Visually, it's about as sumptuous as any of [Studio Ghibli's] films have ever been.

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Silvi Vann-Wall

ScreenHub

Oct 6, 2026

5/5

This is perhaps Miyazaki’s way of grappling with some of his inner frustrations, but mostly it is about affirming that animation is what he has always been destined to do, whether he likes it or not.

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Anthony Carew

The Saturday Paper

Sep 3, 2026

The Boy and the Heron’s coming-of-age tale effectively repudiates those who retreat too far into imaginary worlds, withdrawing from the horrors of reality rather than facing them.

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Louis Skye (Ronita Roy Mohan)

Women Write About Comics

Aug 20, 2025

I was completely captivated by the world of The Boy and the Heron and its incredible visuals. I’ve always been taken by the detailed art of Studio Ghibli films and... I often had to remind myself that I was watching animation and not live action.

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Monserrat

Jan 8, 2024

Ipsa animi qui perferendis incidunt mollitia adipisci omnis sit.

Michael

Jan 8, 2024

Eius aut blanditiis iure deleniti veniam ullam dolore.

Freddy

Jan 8, 2024

Ut consequatur fugit.

Imelda

Jan 1, 2024

Et id beatae dolorem nihil exercitationem qui.

Jeanette

Jan 1, 2024

Sit veritatis consequuntur mollitia impedit ullam praesentium.

Jade

Jan 1, 2024

Dolore dolorem qui debitis eveniet.

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The Boy and the Heron: Featurette - Toshio Suzuki on Hayao Miyazaki & the Future of Animation

4:35

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The Boy and the Heron: Final Teaser Trailer

1:19

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The Boy and the Heron: Trailer 1

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The Boy and the Heron: Teaser Trailer

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The Boy and the Heron: Teaser

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Synopsis

From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) comes a new critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family's estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito's new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki
Distributor: GKIDS
Production Co: Studio Ghibli, Toho Company, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Nippon Television Network
Rating: PG-13 (Smoking|Bloody Images|Some Violent Content)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 2023, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 25, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.2M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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