In a dazzling turn of events, the New York Film Critics Circle unveiled The Boy and the Heron as the Best Animated Film. Hayao Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece triumphed over big competitors like ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ and ‘Suzume’.
Despite stiff competition at the 89th annual awards, the anime prevailed globally, which marks a noteworthy achievement. The anime is both written and directed by Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli. The director is acclaimed for his directorial and scriptwriting prowess. The film introduces an original narrative featuring Mahito Maki and a grey heron who can talk.
The Boy and the Heron: Everything you need to know
This cinematic marvel stands as a testament to the enduring brilliance of Studio Ghibli on the global canvas. The musical genius Joe Hisaishi composed the enchanting score. Additionally, Kenshi Yonezu lent his talents to its theme song, titled “Chikyūgi”. The film, breaking new ground, is the first Studio Ghibli creation to receive a simultaneous IMAX release.
Also, it is complemented by screenings in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Cinema, and DTS:X formats. Moreover, following its Japanese release, GKIDS secured distribution rights for North America. This implies that the film will be released in the region on December 8, 2023, following an exclusive preview on November 22.
The film made a resounding impact on a global scale as it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as an opening film, marking a historic occasion. As for the movie’s performance on the domestic scale, it captivated Japanese audiences upon its debut on July 14, 2023. It achieved phenomenal success in the first three days, computing 1.003 million ticket sales and earning about $13.2 million USD. As such, the film ranks as the 74th highest-grossing film in Japan’s cinematic history. It’s safe to say that the film’s impact has been exceptional ever since it hit screens.
