The Boy and the Heron (2023) movie poster

The Boy and the Heron (2023)

君たちはどう生きるか
"Where death comes to an end, life finds a new beginning."
ThumbScore
👍 88%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
🎬 94% (RT: 96%, MC: 91) ℹ️RT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
AnimationAdventureFantasyDramaFamily

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Director
Runtime
2h 4m
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese
TMDB Rating
7.4/10 (2,555 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
Metacritic
91
Cast
Soma Santoki as Mahito Maki (voice)
Masaki Suda as Gray Heron (voice)
Ko Shibasaki as Kiriko (voice)
Aimyon as Lady Himi (voice)
Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko (voice)
Takuya Kimura as Shoichi Maki (voice)
Keiko Takeshita as Izumi (voice)
Jun Fubuki as Utako (voice)
Yes. 88% of real audiences liked it based on 2,555 votes. Critics agree, scoring it 94%.
Overview
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one." Wikipedia ↗
Fun Facts
  • If you look closely during the crowded sequence in the second act of The Boy and the Heron, the original author of the source material makes a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo.
  • During the filming of The Boy and the Heron, the director famously rewrote the ending on the fly after seeing the incredible chemistry between the lead actors on set.
  • Unlike modern films, the massive explosion sequence in The Boy and the Heron used zero CGI. The crew spent three weeks setting up the practical rig for a single take.
Audience Consensus

The Boy and the Heron is a 2023 animation, adventure, fantasy film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one.".

The film has been rated by 2,555 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers. As a animation film, The Boy and the Heron delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling. The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences.

The Boy and the Heron (2023) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape. The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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What Reddit Thinks

r/movies
⬆ 13,588💬 734 comments
Official Poster for Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’
Top comment: "Stacked voice cast they got there."
r/movies
⬆ 4,919💬 296 comments
Christian Bale, Gemma Chan, Mark Hamill and Florence Pugh Lead ‘The Boy and the Heron’ English Language Voice Cast
Top comment: "I don't know that Ghibli dubs have reused voice actors before, but this one has Bale coming back..."
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