Movie Review: The Boy and the Heron
One-liner: This anime fantasy mystery adventure transcends the medium with its amusing, enchanting, imaginative and spellbinding mix of the familiar.
Studio Ghibli has an excellent reputation when it comes to animated films, having gone with the quality over quantity principle, delivering 24 films over their time as a production studio. Hayao Miyazaki’s quest for transcendent film experiences through the medium of hand-drawn animation remains steadfast, sticking to the traditional format, which launched the studio with continuous improvements rather than a complete reinvention. Often referred to as the Japanese Disney, it’s curious to see how they haven’t completely moved over to 3D or more modern animation styles. The Boy and the Heron fits neatly into the arena of Ghibli’s anime films, taking on many of the trademark qualities of Miyazaki’s critically-acclaimed studio.
Taking a page from Grave of the Fireflies and another from Spirited Away, this animated fantasy adventure is self-referential in its unfurling, a film that harnesses the trauma of war with the escapist feel of a interdimensional wonderland. The Boy and the Heron isn’t as emotionally resonant as some of Miyazaki’s other anime films, led by a defiant character whose anger compels him on a down-the-rabbit-hole quest. Following his mother’s death and father’s remarriage, Mahito searches for his mother in a surreal world where the living and dead co-exist.
The film does tend towards Alice in Wonderland as things go from authentic and realistic to inventive and imaginative. While the Japanese title Kimitachi wa dô ikiru ka means How Do You Live?, the Oscar-winning animated feature’s new title speaks to the pivotal relationship between the boy and a heron, which develops from magical into nightmarish as he becomes more acquainted with his new environment, taking on a Mulholland Drive-style descent. There’s a curious logic to the lucid daydreaming state as aspects from his real world find their way into his dream and vice-versa.
As expected, the visuals are spellbinding, on par with the best of Ghibli whilst employing newer animation techniques and effects. While there are some notable influences, The Boy and the Heron has its own flavour, often coming across like a greatest hits compilation of Ghibli, able to tap into a spiritual dimension and transcend the medium itself at times. It’s no wonder this exquisite film garnered a well-deserved Oscar even in the face of stiff competition from fellow nominees: Elemental, Nimona, Robot Dreams and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse.
“Bird… yeah?”
The Japanese version with subtitles is voiced by Soma Santoki, Kô Shibasaki, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura and Masaki Suda, which is a must for purists. While the English “Hollywood” version features a stellar ensemble of voice talents in Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Willem Dafoe, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson and Florence Pugh.
The Boy and the Heron isn’t quite as charming as other films within the Ghibli stable but is a compelling, eye-popping and otherworldly experience that’s satisfying for die-hard fans and an excellent gateway for those who haven’t been fully immersed in Miyazaki’s world. While a spectacular affair, the filmmakers are always concerned with entertainment value, ensuring there’s never a dull moment when it comes to eye candy giving the audience enough comic relief to counterbalance the darker moments. From absurdist comedy to character complexity, The Boy and the Heron is amusing, well-balanced and full of surprises.
It’s unusual for animated films to have such freedom, only limited by the style of animation, keeping viewers off balance with its unpredictable and world-bending nature. Fans of Studio Ghibli will be delighted by this latest mystery fantasy adventure, checking many of the boxes that spell a strong Ghibli film with enough of a spin to ensure it doesn’t feel stale or a complete mishmash. A roller-coaster of an animated movie, it remains in a state of metamorphosis and while not as heartfelt as other films within the Ghibli canon, is spectacular and amusing enough to make up for it.
The bottom line: Mesmerising
