On September 7, “The Boy and the Heron” made its world premiere during the 48th Toronto International Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala. The Deadline’s Valerie Complex called it “a stunning visual experience that revives the art of 2D animation in a time when digital animation dominates the industry.”
The film screened as the opening feature at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Europe after making its American premiere at the New York Film Festival. Afterward, it made its debut in the UK at the BFI London Film Festival.
On Wednesday, the film will be shown in IMAX at the Chinese Theater for the Animation Film Festival’s opening night.
The voice cast of “The Boy and the Heron” announced
The cast of English voice actors for the upcoming film “The Boy and the Heron,” which is helmed by Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, has been unveiled by the firm Gkids. The voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh can be heard in the English dubbing.
The actors who are lending their voices to these parts are listed below: Willem Dafoe as Noble Pelican, Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki, Dave Bautista as The Parakeet King, Gemma Chan as Natsuko, Karen Fukuhara as Lady Himi, Mark Hamill as Granduncle, Robert Pattinson as The Gray Heron, and Florence Pugh as Kiriko.
In addition, Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens will provide the voices of the Parakeets, with Luca Padovan as Mahito Maki. Below is the poster for the movie.
“The Boy and the Heron” Miyazaki’s first feature film in a long time
Renowned filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki returns after a ten-year break with his most recent picture, “The Boy and the Heron.” One of Studio Ghibli’s co-founders, Hayabusa Miyazaki, wrote and directed this entirely original narrative. Co-founder Toshio Suzuki, who is nominated for an Academy Award, produced it.
Joe Hisaishi, who has worked with Miyazaki for a long time, wrote the soundtrack. “Spinning Globe,” the theme song, was composed and sung by internationally recognized J-pop sensation Kenshi Yonezu.
On December 8, “The Boy and the Heron” will be released nationwide in theaters, giving viewers the option to see it in either the English- or Japanese-language original version. The Studio Ghibli film will have special preview screenings beginning on November 22 before going on general distribution on December 8 in theaters across the US and Canada.
More about “The Boy and the Heron”
The 2023 animated fantasy film “The Boy and the Heron” was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The 1937 novel by Genzaburō Yoshino of the same name, which is mentioned throughout the movie, is referenced in the Japanese title of the film. It’s crucial to remember that the movie tells a completely different story from the book and is not related in any way.
Referred to be a “grand, imaginative movie,” the narrative centers on Mahito Maki, a little child portrayed by Santoki, who discovers an abandoned tower in his new village. He is taken to a magical world upon entering the tower, where he meets a talking gray heron.
On July 14, 2023, “The Boy and the Heron” made its theatrical debut in Japan, thanks to Toho. It was presented in a number of settings, including regular theaters and more upscale venues like IMAX. The purposeful choice by Studio Ghibli to conceal all promotional materials contributed to the film’s remarkable premiere.
Aside from a single poster, they declined to provide any trailers, photos, plot points, or casting information prior to the Japanese premiere. Critics praised the film, which brought in over $56 million at the Japanese box office.
