Now The Boy and the Heron has a 98% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that critics are highly praising Miyazaki's new work.
Miyazaki doesn't copy reality, but creates completely new worlds where magical elements are part of the story.
The story of Mahito is personal to the director, as he was born in the early years of the war.
Everyone is looking forward to The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka). The new film from Studio Ghibli will be released on December 8, 2023. This is the 12th movie by the outstanding director, who continues to surprise with his boundless imagination and fascinating stories. Currently, The Boy and the Heron has a 98% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that critics are highly praising Miyazaki's new work. Perhaps it could even compete with Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) and Howl's Moving Castle (Howl no Ugoku Shiro) and become the director's new best film.
Why do we love Miyazaki?
There are many fans of the artistic style of the Japanese director. Over the years, he has developed his own recognizable style, which attracts viewers from all over the world. First of all, it is worth mentioning Miyazaki's fantasy worlds. He doesn't copy reality, but creates completely new worlds where magical elements are not perceived as something foreign, they are part of these stories. That's why in Kiki's Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyuubin) the inhabitants of a port town are not surprised by the appearance of a witch on a broomstick, who is easily incorporated into the everyday life of the town. Nor is anyone confused when a pig-faced pilot walks among the ordinary people in Porco Rosso (Kurenai no Buta).
In every Miyazaki movie, there are moments of pure enjoyment of nature. The admiration of beauty is often devoid of any plot necessity. Thus, Kiki gazes admiringly at the sea, and Sophie, coming out of Howl's castle, is mesmerized when she sees a blooming meadow of unspeakable beauty. And nature in his stories is always alive, it feels, suffers and generally reflects the emotions of the characters. The adoration of nature is felt in all of his films, most notably in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä), where trees sacrifice themselves to clean the world of poisonous substances produced by humans.
The director writes his universes in a very detailed manner. Carefully designed mass scenes are considered to be his trademark style. Miyazaki not only makes the main characters beautiful and alive, but leaves the rest of the picture gray and motionless. Sometimes the background is drawn down to the smallest crack on the wall. The unremarkable details, unrelated to the main plot, create the very unique atmosphere that distinguishes Miyazaki's films.
Miyazaki's main characters are often little girls who, despite their age, sometimes face very adult problems and show resilience and even heroism. It cannot be said that the supporting characters are lost among the main ones. This is another feature of the director's careful approach. They influence the plot just as much as the main characters and are, of course, seriously developed.
The Boy and the Heron may become the director's best movie
The plot of The Boy and the Heron is set in 1943 during World War II. It is the story of a 12 year old boy, Mahito, who loses his mother in an air raid and cannot forgive himself for not getting to the hospital where she was lying. The boy's father is the owner of a large factory, shortly after the death of his wife he takes her sister as his new wife, but the boy finds it very difficult to accept the change. The family moves to another province, but Mahito cannot get along with them, so he spends most of his time in his room. One day he finds a book that his mother wanted to give him when he grows up. At the same time, he notices that a mysterious bird has taken an interest in him. It tells the boy that his mother is alive and can be saved, but to do so he must go to another world.
Once again, Miyazaki surprises with his unusual idea. There is no doubt that in The Boy and the Heron we will once again be able to see the fantastic creatures from Miyazaki's marvelous worlds. However, this time (not for the first time) the director ventures into the territory of a very complex subject that is filled with angst and dark moments. Already from the available details and trailers we can understand that the movie is not inferior to other works of Miyazaki in the quality of animation and elaboration of elements. The difference, perhaps, is that the protagonist here is a boy instead of a girl, which is also not the first time. The fact that the film received rave reviews from critics clearly speaks in favor of the audience getting another masterpiece that will be remembered for years.
The story of Mahito is probably very personal to the director, as he was born in the early years of the war, and his mother was ill for a long time, so he had to spend a lot of time in hospitals. Moreover, Miyazaki has said many times that he wants to retire and perhaps this movie could be a reflection on his work, as it was in The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu), when the director told a very personal story about his life.
Another masterpiece!
Summary:
Now The Boy and the Heron has a 98% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that critics are highly praising Miyazaki's new work.
Miyazaki doesn't copy reality, but creates completely new worlds where magical elements are part of the story.
The story of Mahito is personal to the director, as he was born in the early years of the war.
Everyone is looking forward to The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka). The new film from Studio Ghibli will be released on December 8, 2023. This is the 12th movie by the outstanding director, who continues to surprise with his boundless imagination and fascinating stories. Currently, The Boy and the Heron has a 98% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that critics are highly praising Miyazaki's new work. Perhaps it could even compete with Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) and Howl's Moving Castle (Howl no Ugoku Shiro) and become the director's new best film.
Why do we love Miyazaki?
There are many fans of the artistic style of the Japanese director. Over the years, he has developed his own recognizable style, which attracts viewers from all over the world. First of all, it is worth mentioning Miyazaki's fantasy worlds. He doesn't copy reality, but creates completely new worlds where magical elements are not perceived as something foreign, they are part of these stories. That's why in Kiki's Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyuubin) the inhabitants of a port town are not surprised by the appearance of a witch on a broomstick, who is easily incorporated into the everyday life of the town. Nor is anyone confused when a pig-faced pilot walks among the ordinary people in Porco Rosso (Kurenai no Buta).
In every Miyazaki movie, there are moments of pure enjoyment of nature. The admiration of beauty is often devoid of any plot necessity. Thus, Kiki gazes admiringly at the sea, and Sophie, coming out of Howl's castle, is mesmerized when she sees a blooming meadow of unspeakable beauty. And nature in his stories is always alive, it feels, suffers and generally reflects the emotions of the characters. The adoration of nature is felt in all of his films, most notably in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä), where trees sacrifice themselves to clean the world of poisonous substances produced by humans.
The director writes his universes in a very detailed manner. Carefully designed mass scenes are considered to be his trademark style. Miyazaki not only makes the main characters beautiful and alive, but leaves the rest of the picture gray and motionless. Sometimes the background is drawn down to the smallest crack on the wall. The unremarkable details, unrelated to the main plot, create the very unique atmosphere that distinguishes Miyazaki's films.
Miyazaki's main characters are often little girls who, despite their age, sometimes face very adult problems and show resilience and even heroism. It cannot be said that the supporting characters are lost among the main ones. This is another feature of the director's careful approach. They influence the plot just as much as the main characters and are, of course, seriously developed.
The Boy and the Heron may become the director's best movie
The plot of The Boy and the Heron is set in 1943 during World War II. It is the story of a 12 year old boy, Mahito, who loses his mother in an air raid and cannot forgive himself for not getting to the hospital where she was lying. The boy's father is the owner of a large factory, shortly after the death of his wife he takes her sister as his new wife, but the boy finds it very difficult to accept the change. The family moves to another province, but Mahito cannot get along with them, so he spends most of his time in his room. One day he finds a book that his mother wanted to give him when he grows up. At the same time, he notices that a mysterious bird has taken an interest in him. It tells the boy that his mother is alive and can be saved, but to do so he must go to another world.
Once again, Miyazaki surprises with his unusual idea. There is no doubt that in The Boy and the Heron we will once again be able to see the fantastic creatures from Miyazaki's marvelous worlds. However, this time (not for the first time) the director ventures into the territory of a very complex subject that is filled with angst and dark moments. Already from the available details and trailers we can understand that the movie is not inferior to other works of Miyazaki in the quality of animation and elaboration of elements. The difference, perhaps, is that the protagonist here is a boy instead of a girl, which is also not the first time. The fact that the film received rave reviews from critics clearly speaks in favor of the audience getting another masterpiece that will be remembered for years.
The story of Mahito is probably very personal to the director, as he was born in the early years of the war, and his mother was ill for a long time, so he had to spend a lot of time in hospitals. Moreover, Miyazaki has said many times that he wants to retire and perhaps this movie could be a reflection on his work, as it was in The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu), when the director told a very personal story about his life.
