The Boy and the Heron viewers have many questions about the film, in particular the ending. Here is the ending explained with spoilers.
What happens at the end of The Boy and the Heron?
At the end of The Boy and the Heron, Mahito refuses to take the responsibility of managing the magical world from his great-uncle. This leads to Parakeet King trying to claim the role of managing the magical world, only for the world to start collapsing due to his malice and impatience. The tower that served as a gateway between the real and magical worlds also collapses and the Parakeet birds are transformed into regular birds.
Mahito, Natsuko, and Kiriko along with the Grey Heron then escape the magical realm to return to the real world. The Grey Heron then informs Mahito that he would not remember the events that occurred in the magical world.
The epilogue then happens two years later and sees Mahito and his family move back to Tokyo, with his father having married Natsuko.
Who dies in The Boy and the Heron?
The Boy and the Heron does not seem to feature any deaths, but the ending is ambiguous.
It is possible that Mahito’s great-uncle could have died after the magical world collapsed. But there is also a chance that he could have ended up surviving as the Grey Heron states early in the movie that no one is really dead unless a body is found and Mahito’s great uncle’s body was never seen.
Why did Mahito’s great-uncle summon him to the magical world?
Mahito’s great-uncle summoned him to the magical world as he wanted him to take on the role of the world’s protector and overseer.
However, Mahito rejected the task as he claimed he was not free enough from malice to do so.
Is there a connection between the film and the novel How Do You Live?
There is no definite connection between The Boy and the Heron and the novel How Do You Live.
However, the novel does appear in the film in one scene where it serves as Mahito’s gift from his late mother.
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