The new movie from Studio Ghibli has become a masterpiece again. At least that’s what MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth thinks. He explains how he came to his spoiler-free opinion in his review.
“The Boy and the Heron”. That is the new film by Hayao Miyazaki. Even those who do not know the name of the legendary director have probably seen at least some of his films. These include animation gems like “Spirited Away”, “Princess Mononoke”, or “My Neighbor Totoro”.
Actually, Miyazaki wanted to retire long ago (reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung). “The Wind Rises” from 2013 was supposed to be his last film. But obviously, the anime master cannot find peace due to his own creativity.
The new film is called “The Boy and the Heron”. In the original Japanese, it is titled “Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka”, which translates to: “How do you live?”. With this, Miyazaki’s film takes its title from the novel of the same name by the Japanese writer Genzaburo Yoshino. However, the actual story of the film comes from the director himself. As has been so often, a child is at the center of the narrative. Without giving too much away: It is about grief and how to deal with it.
Here you can see the trailer for the film:
The Return to the Fantastic
“The Wind Rises” told the story of a Japanese engineer from the 1920s, and was correspondingly realistic. In “The Boy and the Heron”, the fantasy elements take up more space again. So much so that I felt reminded of past films from Studio Ghibli time and again. Key word: parallel worlds.
The fact that the magical is once again part of it was already hinted at in the trailers. Still, I was overwhelmed in the cinema by the creativity and the many creative ideas that the film has to offer. Colorful as ever, it enchants with wonderful backgrounds and absurd creature designs (slightly disturbing: The heron).
The film is, in the best sense, a surprise bag. Once opened and looked into, you can’t pull your head out again. You want to see and experience everything. Moreover, everything looks great again.
Animation Art at the Highest Level
Yes, the images. Yes, these animations. Ghibli proves once again that the studio belongs to the best that the world of animated films has to offer. With great attention to detail, characters and scenery are animated. Even small, seemingly unimportant things like awkwardly slipping into a shoe are given space.
It is these details that make Miyazaki’s films masterful for me. Because these details give his characters something human, making me almost forget that they are drawn characters.
Hand-drawn, it must be emphasized. Most of the scenes at Ghibli are still hand-drawn. And you can see that. It may be a matter of taste, but in my eyes, modern 3D animation can never match traditional hand-drawn art. Every single frame in this film could be printed and hung on the wall. These are not simply individual frames of an anime, but countless paintings that are worth being viewed on as large a canvas as possible.
That’s why I urge you all: Make sure to see this film in the cinema. It is worth it.
In addition, this way you will also enjoy optimal sound quality. The sounds that bring the fantastic world of the film to life sound wonderfully crisp, and the music by Ghibli’s regular composer Joe Hisaishi underscores the events on the screen in a minimalist yet atmospheric way.
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The film might not appeal to everyone
One thing I absolutely have to say. “The Boy and the Heron” is, in my opinion, by far the most difficult and complicated film by Hayao Miyazaki. This is mainly due to the way the filmmaker tells his story.
Much is only hinted at or clothed in abstract images. The course of the plot can confuse, and will leave parts of the audience irritated. I too sat at the end of the screening with a furrowed brow. However, since I love such things, I dove into my own wild theories on the way home. How it could be meant, how this can be understood …
Thus, the film offers plenty of room for personal interpretation. As The Hollywood Reporter reported, Miyazaki had the following message read at a preview screening in February 2023:
Perhaps you didn’t understand it. I myself don’t understand it.
via The Hollywood Reporter
This shows that even the creative mind behind the film cannot find a clear solution.
As I said: I enjoy such things. But I also know many who just want to enjoy a film. Who want to say goodbye for two hours to another world and let themselves be entertained. Who do not want to have to piece together parts of the plot in the end. For all those, the film could be a little disappointing.
Of course, one can ignore all of that and simply enjoy the audiovisual masterpiece that the film is for me. But after I satisfactorily deciphered the riddle behind it, I was even more enthusiastic about it. You should try it too.
For me, the film belongs to the best of Studio Ghibli
When it comes to my personal Ghibli ranking, “The Boy and the Heron” already plays in the top league. This means in my case: It is on par with “Spirited Away”, “Princess Mononoke”, and “The Wind Rises”. The reason for this is simple: The film combines the best of these three other anime.
It has the seriousness and tragedy of “Princess Mononoke”, the inventiveness and absurd humor of “Spirited Away”, and the masterful interpersonal relationships of “The Wind Rises”.
Once again, Hayao Miyazaki proves that he is among the best in his field. Everyone who has even the slightest interest in anime and animated films in general should see this film. Believe me, you will see things that you have never experienced in a cinema before. You will marvel with childlike eyes, rejoice, feel fear, and experience relief. You will begin to ponder, and carry the story and the characters home with you. And you will not forget them quickly.
Until the next film by Miyazaki. According to the vice president of Studio Ghibli (via cba.ca), the master is already working on his next project despite his old age (82!). I am already looking forward to it.
“The Boy and the Heron” will be shown in German cinemas from January 4, 2024.
