Embark on a mesmerizing journey with ‘The Boy and the Heron’

The Boy and the Heron, the latest film from Studio Ghibli and its masterful director Hayao Miyazaki, will open in Philippine cinemas on January 8.

The film, the beloved animator’s first in 10 years, not only earned critical acclaim during its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival but was also recently awarded Best Animated Film by the New York Film Critics Circle.

It currently holds a 96% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with most critics lauding the film’s thought-provoking themes and beautiful visuals.

Miyazaki’s newest movie follows the journey of young Mahito, who faces the challenges of adapting to a new life in the countryside after his mother’s passing in 1940s Tokyo. As he attempts to deal with his grief, the boy encounters a talking heron that reveals his mother is still alive and directs him to an abandoned tower. As Mahito enters the tower, he is transported to a fantastical world inhabited by evil parakeets and charming creatures called Warawara. The film unfolds as Mahito navigates this fantastical realm in search of his mother.

The Boy and the Heron opened at No. 1 with a record-breaking $12.8 million at the North American box office, the first original anime title to top the box-office chart.  The film also earned Miyazaki his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Motion Picture and is also nominated for Best Original Score (Joe Hisaishi).  

The anime film also opened at No. 1 in Japan, which marked the biggest opening weekend for a Miyazaki film in the country. It also led the box office after its opening in South Korea, Taiwan and France. The film’s voice cast includes Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, J-pop star Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura, and Takuya Kimura of former J-pop boy band SMAP. 

The Boy and the Heron, from Encore Films and to be distributed by Warner Bros., opens in Philippine cinemas January 8.