Studio Ghibli make dreams come alive almost like magic. From such classics like Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, the essence of their films are whimsical, childlike but also dark and foreboding. British animation goes more towards comedy, with American animation aiming for light entertainment, but this Japanese based animation studio prefers to create deep, meaningful pieces of cinema and each one appears to be just as iconic and memorable as the last.
Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is a very talented man, and his legacy has left an everlasting impact on the cinematic landscape. Despite his numerous attempts to retire it appears he cannot stop doing what he loves and what he loves doing is bringing more wonderful stories to life, which led him to making The Boy and the Heron. The Boy and the Heron has some connotations with a Japanese novel called “How do you live?”, but apart from sharing it’s Japanese title with the novel there are many elements that Miyazaki has drawn from his own imagination. The Boy and the Heron features a lot of prevalent themes from Miyazaki’s previous works, such as grief, death of a parent, and an odyssey to a supernatural plane of existence.
There is so much story, so more depth and a lot of narrative and character development in The Boy and the Heron that it can be a little bit overwhelming. It appears the team at Studio Ghibli have attempted to create something truly unique, but the end result feels a little misguided and muddled. That isn’t to say that this film is a bad film, in fact it is truly unique, wonderful and masterful. There are certain characters and motivations that remain unexplored and unexplained, but it is the journey you go that makes the film worthwhile.
The centre of the story is a young boy, Mahito, who loses his mother during a hospital fire at the start of the film. He stays at his Aunt’s house in the country, whom his Dad intends to marry, and this is where Mahito’s journey truly begins. He meets a Heron who speaks to him and lures him to a mysterious tower. He is soon transported to a plane of existence between life and death, with a lot of bird-like creatures and other supernatural forces at work. The journey mirrors the one in Spirited Away somewhat, especially in terms of magical realism as well as entities stopping Mahito on his journey to find his Grand Uncle in this otherworldly place.
The story shifts and unravels in a very mythical and dream-like way with the characters and story transforming around each other. You start to question what you are watching, and maybe after a few re-watches the bulk of the story could make a lot more sense. You’re just sat there and transported to this world that Studio Ghibli has crafted. It may seem and feel a little familiar, but everything you want from the Studio is here within the film.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
The heart and soul of The Boy and the Heron is there. The themes and characters all collide in interesting and fascinating ways that make you re-think what you may already know about life after death. Mahito is a charming young boy and the Heron is a mysterious being, both of whom do not get along entirely but the film forces you to accept their roles in the story. You are taken on an odyssey into this beautiful world full of an assortment of birds, fire witches and vast oceans of imagination.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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