The film The Boy and The Heron (2023) marked Hayao Miyzaki’s grand return to moviemaking after announcing his plans to retire in 2013. A restless and brilliant storyteller, the octogenarian jumped back in the director’s chair for a brand new Studio Ghibli film that has captivated audiences around the world. To celebrate the film’s success, the studio has released a brand new set of stills from the movie that fans are free to use.
The Boy and The Heron tells the story of a boy named Mahito. After losing his mother during the war, he heads to a rural estate with his father and new stepmother. There, Mahito meets a peculiar grey heron, who lures the boy into a fantasy world. The story has some autobiographic themes, hinting at Miyazaki’s own childhood. The film has been described as a coming-of-age tale that sees the protagonist grapple with inner conflicts and insecurities while coming to terms with loss.
The movie has been met with overall acclaim. It recently won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making it Miyazaki’s second Oscar after his 2003 win for Spirited Away. It has made over $170 millon worldwide and boasts a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “utterly transporting” and “as sumptuous as any of [Studio Ghibli’s] films have ever been.”
Studio Ghibli marked the release of the film with 19 stills that introduced viewers to some characters and elements of the movie, like Mahito, the adorable wara wara, and the cheerful maids at the family’s home. Now that it’s been out in the wild for almost nine months, the company felt it was a good time to put out an extra seven images that give away a little more about the plot. The only condition is to use them “within the bound of common sense.”
You can browse all the images on Studio Ghibli’s official site.
To celebrate the success of The Boy and The Heron, Studio Ghibli has released a brand new set of stills from the movie that fans are free to use.
The Boy and The Heron tells the story of a boy named Mahito.
After losing his mother during the war, he heads to a rural estate with his father and new stepmother, where he meets a mysterious grey heron.
The movie recently won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
After initially offering 19 film stills, the company felt it was a good time to put out an extra seven images that give away a little more about the plot.
Studio Ghibli: Website | Instagram
All images via Studio Ghibli.
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