By: Nelson Kramer
News Editor
The Boy and the Heron, a movie long awaited by Studio Ghibli fans worldwide, debuted in US theaters on Dec 8. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the animated film was nominated for numerous awards and won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. The story follows the protagonist, Mahito Maki, an eleven-year-old boy who is emotionally and physically displaced after the death of his mother.
The film, set in Japan during World War II, opens with Mahito and his father Shoichi moving to the countryside to escape the harsh reality of living in Tokyo. Miyazaki depicts Mahito as still carrying emotional baggage surrounding the death of his mother, and moving to the countryside doesn’t help. The pair moves in with Shoichi’s new wife and Mahito’s aunt Natsuko, who lives in an old mansion staffed by elderly caretakers. After an incident with some school kids, Mahito has to spend some time at home to recover from a head injury. He soon discovers the mystical castle across the pond, and when found exploring inside, the caretakers warn him that he should stay away from the unstable structure. Curiosity gets the better of Mahito as he follows a mysterious heron back into the castle, only to find himself in a completely different world.
This movie highlights Miyazaki’s talent when it comes to world-building, creating a sense of euphoric wonder as Mahito steps into a transcendent landscape shrouded in mystery and magical creatures. Mahito’s journey leads him to make a tough decision about his fate, paralleling Miyazaki’s decision to retire officially. The film references his past movies and characters as a final homage to his life’s work.
Many fans feel the movie is one of the most personal works, referencing many points in Miyazaki’s life. One of the founders of Studio Ghibli, he is well known for creating magical worlds with his movies through beautiful artistry. Most of Miyazaki’s works are accompanied by breathtaking animated depictions of nature and, more specifically, rural landscapes. His films can be traced back to many aspects of his childhood, like the theme of World War II, but also the joy of being a kid and being constantly surrounded by nature in the countryside of Japan.
The Boy and the Heron, critically acclaimed, serves as a poetic conclusion to the artist’s work with Studio Ghibli. It envelopes its audience in two different worlds and connects them to the film’s characters, but the biggest takeaway from Miyazaki’s final work is the profound self-reflection he takes in making this movie. Truly a legend in the animated cinematic world, It will be hard to say goodbye to great, Hayao Miyazaki.
(Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, New York Times)