One of the most famous anime studios is Studio Ghibli. Their latest film is The Boy and the Heron, directed and written by anime legend Hayao Miyazaki. His son particularly identifies with a scene from the film that has a sad background.
Which scene is it? The protagonist Mahito Maki moves to the countryside in the film and discovers a tower in which he lands in a magical world. The tower was built by his great-great-uncle, who is also the creator of the magical world.
At the end of the film, he asks Mahito if he wants to continue his legacy and make the other world more peaceful. However, Mahito declines, stating that he does not have a pure heart either. He flees from the magical world and returns to Tokyo.
The following trailer summarizes the plot of the anime film:
Why can Goro Miyazaki identify with it so much? Goro Miyazaki, the son of Hayao Miyazaki, sees himself in this scene. He was offered to take on his father’s legacy and become the head of the studio himself. But he fears this:
Actually, I do not identify with a specific character, but with a specific moment in the film. That would be one of the last scenes in “The Boy and the Heron.” (That is when a character says) “Are you ready to continue and inherit my work and worldview?” and Mahito says “No.” In that moment, I really identify with this character. Mr. Susuki, the producer, actually asks me to succeed Studio Ghibli, and my fear is also finding ways to prevent myself from becoming the successor and heir of the studio.
Goro Miyazaki, via Jeux Video
He added that the future of the studio is “really unclear.” We can only hope that a successor for Miyazaki can be found. At least the latest film, “The Boy and the Heron,” connects to the studio’s great successes. It received both the Golden Globe and the Oscar in 2024. Additionally, the film has now been awarded the Golden Palm at Cannes.
What is Goro Miyazaki doing instead? Actually, Hayao Miyazaki’s son is already well integrated into the studio. He is the managing director of Ghibli and has directed three films. Additionally, he is involved in the management of Ghibli Park.
So he would be the perfect candidate to continue Hayao Miyazaki’s legacy. It remains to be seen whether Goro will change his mind in the future and how the future of Studio Ghibli will look. Current film, The Boy and the Heron, is highly recommended by MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth: The new Ghibli film is a mysterious masterpiece that no anime fan should miss
