Studio Ghibli enthusiasts are in for a treat as the acclaimed film The Boy and the Heron is set to arrive on Netflix soon. The streaming giant will make the movie available globally, with the exception of the US and Japan, from 7 October.
The creation of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron will be accessible to Netflix subscribers months after its initial release for purchase or rental. First unveiled in Japan in 2023, the film is an enchanting adaptation of Genzaburo Yoshino's 1937 classic novel How Do You Live?
The narrative follows the poignant journey of Mahito Maki, a young boy who loses his mother in a tragic hospital fire during World War II. As he grapples with his father's remarriage to his aunt, Mahito finds solace and companionship in a talking grey heron, leading to a series of extraordinary adventures.
The Boy and the Heron has not only been a box office hit but also a critical darling, boasting an impressive 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Amidst the film's triumph, there was widespread speculation that Hayao Miyazaki might retire. However, Toshio Suzuki, Miyazaki's producing partner, has dismissed such rumours, reports the Mirror.
In an October 2023 interview with Liberation, Suzuki shared insights into Miyazaki's relentless creative spirit: "He's constantly thinking about his next project. I can't stop him. In fact, I've given up," Suzuki said. He recounted a recent conversation with Miyazaki, revealing the director's whimsical nature: "We were talking again just now, and he said something incredible to me. He said: 'By the way, what was my last film about? I can't remember'."
He elaborated: "And then he started talking about a new project, so I'm not stopping him. As long as he's working, I won't be able to retire. He's 82, and I think he'll go on until he's 90. And I'm going with him."
Hayao Miyazaki originally announced his retirement in 2013 but couldn't resist returning to the animation desk for Boro the Caterpillar, which debuted in 2018. The acclaimed director has seen tremendous success since co-founding Studio Ghibli in 1985.
Miyazaki-san has received widespread recognition for iconic films like Porco Rosso, The Wind Rises, Ponyo, and Howl's Moving Castle. His works also include Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service.
His seminal work, Spirited Away, released in 2001, broke records to become Japan's top-grossing film and subsequently snapped up an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature cementing its place as one of the most celebrated animated movies of this century.
