The Boy and The Heron trailer dropped for worldwide theatrical release last week, and it has managed to add another layer of mysterious discovery to this spectacular work of Hayao Miyazaki. It was released in Japan on July 14, 2023, and has created a widespread fascination regarding the plot. Although many people claim that this is not Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki’s best work so far, they believe that it stirs the heart more than anyone else and leaves an impact that is not only impossible to overcome but also difficult to explain.
The Boy and The Heron trailer – what is the suggested plot of the movie?
The Boy and The Heron trailer and teaser have revealed that it will be a story of life, death, and creation. It is a tribute to friendship and will follow the life of Mahito, a young boy trapped in a war-torn abandonment who yearns for his mother and ventures into the world of the living and the dead. The heartbreaking family tragedy forces him to move to the countryside with his father who works for a family making planes for the Japanese military.
The catch here is Miyazaki’s own father was a worker making planes for the Japanese military. Mahito’s exploration is filled with mysterious landscapes and the constant presence of a grey heron throughout the narrative. It is when he enters an abandoned tower and the narrative dives into a phantasmagorical tale of life and death, of dreams and reality, and of fantasy and truth.
The Boy and The Heron trailer breakdown – a critical look into the plot
The Boy and the Heron trailer begins with a shot of the Second World War, a war-torn Japanese town, and the main character Mahito running through the memories of dead men and women to find his mother. The scene shifts to a house in the countryside and Mahito being overlooked by a Heron, from where the adventure begins. He enters a dreamy landscape that loses its ability to distinguish between the real and the imaginary.
The Ghibli animation, the character designs, and the element of the Heron’s presence have been crafted with a sense of emotional overtone. It also seems like a mixture of several Miyazaki movies condensed into one.
- The references include Howl’s Moving Castle (Calcifer’s reference at 50 seconds of the trailer).
- Spirited Away (the tunnel and the building scene at 34 seconds of the trailer).
- The dreamy world with those animals becomes a reminder of Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, and Spirited Away.
Moreover, it has been revealed that Miyazaki’s creation of The Boy and The Heron is not meant for public appeal or viewership, but instead acts as a dedication to his grandson. This makes the trailer much more emotional than it was meant to be, as a dreamy world of colors often contrasts the various dark scenes of war, and Miyazaki takes us into a reality of imagination.
The Boy and The Heron trailer is a treat of Miyazaki’s final act
- Hayao Miyazaki will finally be retiring from the industry after delivering the fantasy epic The Boy and The Heron to the world.
- The legendary filmmaker’s final project comes with a theatrical release worldwide on December 8, 2023.
After its initial release in Japan, the film is set to be released worldwide and it has also stirred waves of excitement and anticipation. Miyazaki’s final act will be a thing of wonderment and it will be a revisit to the dreamscape he has managed to create with the Ghibli tradition.
Conclusion
 The Boy and the Heron movie was released in Japan without any promotion in July, but it did not appear to impair its box office performance, as it set a new record on its opening weekend. Studio Ghibli fans have been awestruck by the trailer for their highly awaited film, “The Boy and the Heron,”. The film will debut in theatres in the United States on December 8. It is surely going to be a magical experience to indulge in Miyazaki’s last film while reminiscing all of his Studio Ghibli movies.