The Boy and the Heron | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

What are the criticisms of The Boy and the Heron? ›

“The Boy and the Heron” has been criticized for its sometimes awkward pacing and the constant introduction of new and unresolved plot points, without much time and space for viewers to contemplate and understand them.

Miyazaki's films tend to be imbued with a deep, aching sense of nostalgia, but his protagonists are often forced to accept loss. Change is depicted as an unstoppable force; only fools try to resist the passing of time. The Boy and the Heron is about saying goodbye and moving into the future, scars and all.

PG-13

The Boy and the Heron / MPAA rating

In March 2024, The Boy and the Heron was announced to be released on Max in the US, and on Netflix in territories other than the US and Japan. The film was released in Japan on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 3, 2024, by Walt Disney Japan. It is the first 4K release for a Studio Ghibli film.

The movie highlights the dangers of creating fantasy without understanding its consequences and the importance of seeking balance in art and real life.

Having moved on from the death of his mother and accepting his new present, Mahito sees this and refuses to continue perpetuating his great-grand-uncle's failed dream. The message is clear: one has to be able to move on, otherwise those around them will suffer.

Mahito's family is reunited, with Mahito finally accepting Natsuko as his new “mother.” He still respects the grief he holds over his mother's death but won't be haunted with guilt over it. The film ends with Mahito and his family moving back to Tokyo after the war.

There, on an isolated estate, he encounters a “nosy grey heron” in Natsuko's words – which turns out not to be avian at all, but a goblin-like creature that can speak. This creature claims that his mother is alive, sending Mahito – whose name means “sincere one” – on a quest to find her.

There is no stinger after the credits of The Boy and the Heron. Special thanks to @SonnyTheMoney for the stinger submission!

The Boy and the Heron won the Oscar for the Best Animated Feature this year. Set in the Grave of the Fireflies timeline, with a Totoro-like Heron and magical elements reminiscent of Spirited Away, this is an absolute treat to Ghibli fans and a fitting farewell for the maestro Miyazaki himself.

Is it worth watching The Boy and the Heron? ›

Overall, I thought “The Boy and the Heron” was a beautiful movie that I was able to enjoy even without a plot. Through his adventure, Mahito can cope with the loss of his mother and accept his new life — two powerful themes presented through fantasy and adventure.

This was a truly beautiful, affecting, and breathtaking film. That said, parts are very intense and sometimes quite violent and rather grotesque. It's a lovely film in the tradition of Miyazaki, but as with certain other Miyazaki films (e.g., Princess Mononoke), it's better suited to more mature children and adults.

Mahito, a young 12-year-old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world.

The Boy and the Heron / Film synopsis

Although the English version of the film has been released as “The Boy and the Heron”, the Japanese release is best translated as “How Do You Live?,” — referencing a 1937 novel by Genzaburo Yoshino. The novel revolves around a 15-year-old boy named Koperu as he learns about growth, grief, and the human experience.

While not the annual chart-topping success of past “Hunger Games” films, the prequel is legging out very well with a domestic total of $135 million and $279 million worldwide against a $100 million budget.

The heron helps herself to the fisherman's bait. Whilst Joy is not happy about the theft of the worms she soon has a change of heart. Students are encouraged to discuss topics of kindness and empathy they view in the film and critically reflect on their importance in daily life.

Several Native American Tribes look at the heron as a symbol of patience and good luck. On the Northwest coast, people believe that if Native American fishermen spot a heron, it means good luck is with them, and they will have a successful fishing trip.

The Heron and the Fish is a situational fable constructed to illustrate the moral that one should not be over-fastidious in making choices since, as the ancient proverb proposes, 'He that will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay'.