Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning film, “The Boy and the Heron,” will be available for streaming in the U.S. on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max starting on September 6th. This animated movie, which Miyazaki both wrote and directed, is a hand-drawn semi-autobiographical film. It will be part of Max’s exclusive multiyear deal extension with Studio Ghibli.
For viewers outside of the U.S. and Japan, “The Boy and the Heron” will be available on Netflix, as part of a renewal deal for the entire Studio Ghibli film catalog. However, Netflix has not announced a premiere date for the film yet.
The English-language version of “The Boy and the Heron” features a star-studded cast including Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. The film, produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, has a musical score by Joe Hisaishi. It has been a box-office success, grossing $46.8 million domestically and becoming the highest-grossing film for international distributor GKids.
The film follows the story of young Mahito, who moves to his family’s countryside estate after losing his mother during the war. Mysterious events lead him to an ancient tower inhabited by a gray heron. When his new stepmother disappears, Mahito follows the heron into the tower and discovers a magical world shared by the living and the dead. Guided by the heron, Mahito embarks on an epic journey to uncover secrets about himself and the world he has entered.
“The Boy and the Heron” has already won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, making it Miyazaki’s second Oscar win after “Spirited Away.” Miyazaki, a legendary filmmaker, also received an honorary Academy Award in 2014 for his exceptional contributions to cinema.
Since 2020, Max has been the U.S. home to Studio Ghibli’s catalog, offering films like “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “Ponyo,” “Spirited Away,” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” This deal extension with GKids will ensure that these beloved films remain exclusively available on Max in the U.S. for the next several years.
Excited viewers can watch the trailer for “The Boy and the Heron” to get a glimpse of this enchanting and captivating film before its streaming release on Max.