One day, the character encounters a mysterious gray heron and his amazing adventure begins.
Visuals are thought out down to the smallest detail.
The development of the main character is very unclear.
The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka) has been released! Hayao Miyazaki's long-awaited film has already won the hearts of critics and audiences alike. Now it is one of the main favorites for the Oscar (in the Best Animated Feature). This is the anime master's first movie in the last ten years. The previous feature film, The Wind Rises, was released in 2013. However, not all viewers were enthusiastic about Hayao Miyazaki's new movie. Here are some reasons why.
What is the film about?
The main character is a 12-year-old boy named Mahito. During one of the air raids on Tokyo (the action takes place in the middle of World War II), his mother dies. Very soon, Mahito's father remarries and the family moves to the countryside. His relationship with stepmother is strained, and it is difficult for Mahito to find a common language with his classmates. One day, the character encounters a mysterious gray heron that annoys him. Thus begins the boy's amazing adventure in the other world.
What's great about it?
It is said that Studio Ghibli made The Boy and the Heron at the rate of one minute a month. Such meticulousness in animation is very noticeable. Hayao Miyazaki's new movie is highly detailed. The characters' movements are extremely smooth, and the visuals are thought out down to the smallest detail. Sometimes it's almost more interesting to look at the background than to follow the action. The plot, on the other hand, is not very complex. This is another Miyazaki story about children growing up. But it seems that the director's magic lies exactly in such stories.
What's wrong with this movie?
Miyazaki has been threatening to retire for a long time, so his movie is seen as a farewell to cinema. From this point of view, The Boy and the Heron just doesn't work. It is a very slow movie and there is not much action. It is important to keep in mind that the film is more than two hours long. Also, many fans complain that the characters are hard to relate to emotionally. Until the end of the movie, their motivations and experiences remain mysterious to the viewer. Not to mention the fact that the development of the main character is very unclear.
For some viewers, the stakes of the movie also remained unclear. What is the climax? Who is the antagonist in the movie? What is his purpose? Is there even a villain? And what is the role of the heron, since it is included in the title of the movie? So many questions... The drama in The Boy and the Heron is quite unconventional, so it's not surprising that some might find it boring or too slow. However, this is what makes the movie unique. It's best to see it for yourself and make up your own mind.
Welcome (again) to Hayao Miyazaki’s universe.
Summary:
One day, the character encounters a mysterious gray heron and his amazing adventure begins.
Visuals are thought out down to the smallest detail.
The development of the main character is very unclear.
The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka) has been released! Hayao Miyazaki's long-awaited film has already won the hearts of critics and audiences alike. Now it is one of the main favorites for the Oscar (in the Best Animated Feature). This is the anime master's first movie in the last ten years. The previous feature film, The Wind Rises, was released in 2013. However, not all viewers were enthusiastic about Hayao Miyazaki's new movie. Here are some reasons why.
What is the film about?
The main character is a 12-year-old boy named Mahito. During one of the air raids on Tokyo (the action takes place in the middle of World War II), his mother dies. Very soon, Mahito's father remarries and the family moves to the countryside. His relationship with stepmother is strained, and it is difficult for Mahito to find a common language with his classmates. One day, the character encounters a mysterious gray heron that annoys him. Thus begins the boy's amazing adventure in the other world.
What's great about it?
It is said that Studio Ghibli made The Boy and the Heron at the rate of one minute a month. Such meticulousness in animation is very noticeable. Hayao Miyazaki's new movie is highly detailed. The characters' movements are extremely smooth, and the visuals are thought out down to the smallest detail. Sometimes it's almost more interesting to look at the background than to follow the action. The plot, on the other hand, is not very complex. This is another Miyazaki story about children growing up. But it seems that the director's magic lies exactly in such stories.
What's wrong with this movie?
Miyazaki has been threatening to retire for a long time, so his movie is seen as a farewell to cinema. From this point of view, The Boy and the Heron just doesn't work. It is a very slow movie and there is not much action. It is important to keep in mind that the film is more than two hours long. Also, many fans complain that the characters are hard to relate to emotionally. Until the end of the movie, their motivations and experiences remain mysterious to the viewer. Not to mention the fact that the development of the main character is very unclear.
For some viewers, the stakes of the movie also remained unclear. What is the climax? Who is the antagonist in the movie? What is his purpose? Is there even a villain? And what is the role of the heron, since it is included in the title of the movie? So many questions... The drama in The Boy and the Heron is quite unconventional, so it's not surprising that some might find it boring or too slow. However, this is what makes the movie unique. It's best to see it for yourself and make up your own mind.
