Teenage boy Mahito moves with his father to a rural estate far from bustling Tokyo. In his new home, he meets a peculiar talking heron who lures him into exploring a mysterious abandoned tower. Inside, Mahito discovers a magical world ruled by an enigmatic old man. On his journey of discovery, he encounters the brave girl Himi, an army of parakeets, and the adorable creatures known as Warawara.

Animation master Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke) once again ventures beyond the boundaries of fantasy and dreams in his latest film, bringing us the most anticipated animated film of recent years.

The Boy and the Heron has autobiographical elements. For instance, the main character, Mahito Maki, is modeled on Miyazaki's own childhood. Miyazaki's father, like Mahito's, worked for a company that manufactured components for fighter planes. And Miyazaki's family had to evacuate from the city to the countryside during the war.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki
Cinematography: Atsushi Okui
Music: Joe Hisaishi
Theme song: Kenshi Yonezu
Editing: Takeshi Seyama
Production design: Yoji Takeshige
Country of origin: Japan
Year of production: 2023
Runtime: 125 min.