The Boy and the Heron Release Date & Trailer Revealed

Legendary director Hayao Miyazaki’s mysterious film, “The Boy and the Heron,” has unveiled its first trailer for the international audience. The English release date for this enigmatic movie has also been announced.

While Studio Ghibli initially kept the film under wraps with only a poster to tease fans, a trailer is now available before its international release date. The movie was previously released in Japan on July 14th, but its global release date has remained a mystery until now.

The Boy and the Heron Release Date

After a significant period of silence from the movie’s creators, the trailer for “The Boy and the Heron” has not only provided insights into what Studio Ghibli fans can expect but also revealed the movie’s English release date of December 8th.

This trailer and release date is exciting news for fans left in the dark about the movie’s contents due to Ghibli’s minimal marketing efforts.

GKIDS Films, the American film distributor, has released the trailer for “The Boy and the Heron” on their YouTube channel. The trailer offers a glimpse into the main character, Mahito, and his unbelievable journey of coming to terms with the death of a loved one.

The movie’s art and animation style, reminiscent of famous Studio Ghibli works like “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” is on full display. This signature style is closely associated with Hayao Miyazaki, an entertainment industry icon.

This film is likely his last project, as he emerged from retirement after releasing his 2013 historical drama, “The Wind Rises.”

The Boy and the Heron Plot

“The Boy and the Heron” centers around a young man named Mahito, whose mother is believed to have died during World War II. While he grieves, a heron informs him that his mother is, in fact, not deceased.

The heron guides Mahito to an abandoned tower, where he enters another world, one where “death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning.” The trailer hints at the movie’s exploration of the world of the deceased. A mysterious dark-haired woman also appears though it’s unclear whether she is the spirit of Mahito’s deceased mother.

A special preview of “The Boy and the Heron” will occur at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, followed by screenings in various locations, including London and New York. The film will then hit American and Canadian cinemas on December 8.

Despite minimal marketing, the movie has performed exceptionally well in the Japanese box office, earning around $53 million. Studio Ghibli has a massive international following, with “Spirited Away” being the only non-English film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Hayao Miyazaki has personally connected to this movie, dedicating it to his grandson. Already, numerous positive reviews have fueled anticipation for the international release.

“The Boy and the Heron” may potentially be one of Miyazaki’s finest works and marks his contribution to Studio Ghibli, despite it being speculated as his last. English-speaking audiences can look forward to its release on December 8th.