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In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we’re swept into another Studio Ghibli fantasy so imaginative that it brought Japan’s Walt Disney, Hayao Miyazaki, out of retirement for at least the fourth time with our review of The Boy and the Heron.
Become Spirited Away With These Special Guest Reviewers for The Boy and the Heron
To help show Laron Chapman the way of the anime, host Caleb Masters is joined by first-time guest Soonercon Director of Marketing Amber Hanneken and returning guest Harold Storey from the TunesToons podcast.
Left to right: Laron Chapman, Harold Storey, Amber Hanneken (joining virtually), and Caleb Masters
What Is Our Favorite Studio Ghibli Film?
Studio Ghibli has long been the premiere studio for animation from Japan with classics like Princess Mononoke, Grave of Fireflies, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbors the Yamadas released since its founding in 1985. We share our favorites from the esteemed studio to kick off the discussion.
Watching Anime Subtitled Vs Dubbed
One of the more hotly discussed topics among anime audiences is whether to watch the anime as recorded in Japan with English subtitles or watch the English dubs featuring Western voiceovers. The conversation gets even more complex when you look at Studio Ghibli’s regularly casting some of the best working actors of our day in their dubbs. How did our panel watch the movie?
New Hayao Miyazaki-directed movies Are a Big Deal
Guillermo del Toro introduced The Boy and the Heron at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, its first screening outside of Japan, and said this.
“We are living in a time when Mozart is composing symphonies. Van Gogh is painting paintings. Because Miyazaki-san is a master of that stature,” he continued. “He has made his films as full of problems and questions as he is. These are not easy films, but they are films that portray him so intimately that you feel that you are having a conversation with him. They are paradoxical because he understands that beauty cannot exist without horror and that delicacy cannot exist without brutality. He makes elegance of these things, and shows life on the screen in a beautiful way.”
While it’s easy to poke fun at how often the Japanese auteur has come out of retirement, he’s among the few directors to be near the peak of his game at over 80 years old. Whether or not the film is his best, he brings a unique voice and vision to animation and continues to have the clout to execute.
What Did We Think of The Boy and the Heron?
After discussing our preferences and history with the anime form/genre and Studio Ghibli, we dive into our spoiler-free review of The Boy and the Heron, where we discuss:
- Our overall thoughts on Miyazaki’s latest and likely final film
- How does it compare to previous works from the famed director?
- What are its chances at the 2024 Oscars?
- Our letter-grade verdicts
- Alternate media recommendations for listeners interested in The Boy and the Heron
Saying Farewell to Miyazaki’s Kingdom of Madness
The spoilers discussion drills down into the original Japanese title, “How Do You Live?” to examine the core question the director is posing for the audience through Mahito’s journey through grief and self-discovery. We unpack the film in spoiler-filled detail when we discuss:
- How the film ponders and reflects on themes related to legacy
- The ways The Boy and the Heron pays homage to previous works from Hayao Miyazaki
- How the hand-drawn animation elevates the entire form
Has Miyazaki provided audiences with a fitting and memorable send-off, or is he just getting started?
Listen to this in-depth discussion to find out!
Special Guests
Amber Hanneken
Soonercon Director of Marketing
Follow Soonercon on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (X)
Harold Storey
Host of the TunesToons Podcast
Listen to Tunes/Toons on Spotify or wherever your podcasts are found
Follow Harold on Instagram or on Twitter(X)
About The Boy and the Heron
According to IMDB, The Boy and the Heron is described as:
A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
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