Quick Links
After six decades and numerous acclaimed projects to his name,Hayao Miyazakiis all set for another directorial venture,The Boy and the Heron(previously titledHow Do You Live?), releasing later this year. In production for nearly a decade, the upcoming Japanese animated film is unarguably the most anticipated project from the celebrated filmmaker and artist and had its debut showing this summer. Written and directed by Miyazaki, the film is said to be a “grand fantasy” and is inspired by the eponymous 1937 novel byGenzaburo Yoshino, but it is not a direct adaptation. The film tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy, as he explores his emotional and philosophical development following the death of a loved one, in an original concept.
Titled in Japanese asKimitachi wa DÅ Ikiru ka,The Boy and the Heronmarks Miyazaki’s 11th feature film and 10th film withStudio Ghibli, the film’s production banner. The film has been in production since 2016 after the Japanese filmmaker announced his retirement for the second time in 2013 but decided to showcase his prolific artistry once more with this film. Almost a decade of work and several artists later, the film is finally inching toward completion, with its release right around the corner. So get ready to be tugged at your heartstrings as you set out on yet another fantastical journey with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. If you are new to his works, you canexplore the magical world of Ghibli movies at the ongoing Studio Ghibli Fest 2023. Meanwhile, read on for our complete guide on all the details of the film, including the plot details, release date, and everything else that we know so far aboutThe Boy and the Heron.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on December 5.
The Boy and the Heron
A young boy named Mahito, yearning for his mother, ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
When Is ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Coming Out?
The Boy and the Heronwas released in theaters in Japan by Toho onJuly 14, 2023. The film is making its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, becoming the first animated film to open TIFF. The film is also set to be screened as part of theAnimation is Film (AIF) festival at the TLC Chinese Theater on October 18.The Boy and the Heronwill get its wide release in North American cinemas on June 27, 2025. It’s also been announced thatThe Boy and the Heronwill be released in theaters in the UK and Ireland a few weeks later, onDecember 26.
What’s the Background of ‘The Boy and the Heron’?
Theanime filmThe Boy and the Heronwas originally said to be derived from the 1937 novelHow Do You Live?byGenzaburÅ Yoshino, which was originally started byYÅ«zÅ Yamamotoas a serial publication. However, it has since been revealed thatThe Boy and the Heronisnotbased on the book and is instead asemi-autobiographical story that takes inspiration from Miyazaki’s life.
Is There a ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Trailer?
Unlike the standard norm for all films,The Boy and the Heronsteered clear of traditional marketing campaigns bynot releasing any trailer or promotional materialsbefore the original premiere in Japan. In aninterview, Studio Ghibli’s lead producer and Miyazaki’s longtime collaboratorToshio Suzukiannounced that the studio will not reveal anything about the film before it hits the theaters, saying, “Deep down, I think this is what moviegoers latently desire.” The idea is perhaps to let fans go and watch the film without any preconceived notions and be left in awe. The first promotional video we got forThe Boy and the Heronwas a pre-teaser released by GKIDS, the movie’s North American distributor, which reveals the premise of the movie. You can see that video in the player above. On June 16, 2025, we finally got thefirst official teaser forThe Boy and the Herongiving us our first look at the film in action.
Now, while it’s not a trailer, we also have someimages from the moviethat were released via the official Fandango X (Twitter) page. The hand-drawn artwork is enough to reveal that you are in for a visual treat, like with other Studio Ghibli films, with Miyazaki hand-animating every frame. See the images below:
The latest trailer for The Boy and the Heron features the outstanding English dub voice cast. Check out the trailer below.
Who’s In the Voice Cast of ‘The Boy and the Heron’
Like with the film’s promos, the voice cast and other production details aboutThe Boy and the Heronwere also kept under wraps until the film’s release in Japan. The Japanese voice cast of the filmreportedlyincludesSoma Santokias the main character Masato, as well asMasaki Suda,Ko Shibasaki,Aimyon,Yoshino Kimura,Keiko Takeshita,Jun Fubuki,Sawako Agawa,Shinobu Otake,Karen Takizawa,Jun Kunimura,Kaoru Kobayashi,Shohei Hino, andTakuya Kimura.
The English voice cast was recently revealedand starsChristian Bale(Howl’s Moving Castle) as Shoichi Maki,Robert Pattinsonas The Gray Heron,Florence Pughas Kiriko,Dave Bautistaas The Parakeet King,Willem Dafoeas Noble Pelican,Karen Fukuharaas Lady Himi,Mark Hamill(Castle in the Sky,Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind) as Granduncle, andGemma Chanas Natsuko. Additionally, the English version features the voices ofLuca Padovanas Mahito Maki, andDan Stevens,Tony Revolori, andMamoudou Athieas the Parakeets.
‘The Boy and the Heron’ Review: Hayao Miyazaki’s Latest Isn’t His Swan Song, But It Sure Feels Like It
Miyazaki’s newest film is a testament to the overwhelming creativity and ambitious storytelling that makes him one of the greatest directors ever.
Who’s Making ‘The Boy and the Heron’?
The Boy and the Heronis the brainchild of legendary Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki, who writes and directs the film. In his career spanning six decades (and counting), Miyazaki has attained international acclaim and recognition for his unique, hand-drawn animation style and masterful storytelling, using touching narratives and endearing characters. Regarded as “one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation”, Miyazaki is best known for timeless classics likeKiki’s Delivery Service,My Neighbor Totoro,Howl’s Moving Castle, andPrincess Mononoke. But it wasSpirited Away, released in 2001, that expanded his fan following across the globe after winning the 75th Academy Award for Best Animation Feature. The film is also ranked as one of the greatest films of the 2000s.
Miyazaki is also the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio that is producingThe Boy and the Heron, with Toshio Suzuki serving as the producer. Co-founder and former president of Studio Ghibli, Suzuki is known to be a long-time collaborator of Miyazaki’s and one of Japan’s most successful producers, with massive box-office success to his credit. Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki have collaborated on more than 10 films, each of which remains iconic in the anime genre. Japanese entertainment companyToho, known for being attached to famous filmmakers likeIshiro HondaandAkira Kurosawa, is the distributor of most Studio Ghibli films and will be distributingThe Boy and the Heronin Japan as well. We await further information on the worldwide distribution of the film.
What Is the Plot of The Boy and the Heron About?
The premise ofThe Boy and the Heron(as revealed in the pre-teaser) is as follows:
“A young boy named Mahito, yearning for his mother, ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning.”
The film has also been officially described as a “semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship.” With that premise in mind,The Boy and the Heronpromises to be a fantastical, magical realist story with a beating human heart; and that’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki. The actual plot of the story is set in 1943, with World War II in full swing. The novelHow Do You Live?, which was originally believed to be the source material for the film, plays a pivotal role in the story, which follows a young boy who has lost his mother. His grief leads this young boy to enter another world, where great things are bound to happen. That’s all we’re going to say for now; you’ll just have to watch the movie for the rest.
