The Boy and the Heron, the latest (and perhaps not the last) feature film from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki and the animation gurus at Studio Ghibli, comes stateside this week after debuting in Japan earlier this year. IGN's The Boy and the Heron review awarded it a 9 out of 10, calling it "Studio Ghibli's most visually complex film to date" and the "most emotionally raw Miyazaki has ever gotten."
If you're wondering how and where to watch The Boy and the Heron this week, take a look at the info below.
Where to Watch The Boy and the Heron – Showtimes and Streaming
The Boy and the Heron will be in theaters beginning December 6 with a wider release scheduled for December 8. To find when and where you can watch the movie near you, check the local showtime listings at the main theater sites below:
The Boy and the Heron Streaming Release Date
The Boy and the Heron is not currently available to stream, and there's been no word on when or where it will eventually be released, though it's worth noting all but one of Studio Ghibli's previous films (Grave of the Fireflies) are streaming on Max. We'll update this with new information as it becomes available.
What Is The Boy and the Heron About?
The Boy and the Heron is acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in 10 years. Here's the official plot "introduction" from Studio Ghibli:
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 about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
How to Watch Previous Studio Ghibli Movies
Every Studio Ghibli movie, excluding Grave of the Fireflies, is available to stream on Max. Grave of the Fireflies can be rented or bought on Apple TV:
Studio Ghibli Channel
- Max (Stream)
Grave of the Fireflies
- Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
The Boy and the Heron Voice Cast
The Boy and the Heron was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It stars the following actors:
English Voice Cast
- Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki
- Dave Bautista as The Parakeet King
- Gemma Chan as Natsuko
- Willem Dafoe as Noble Pelican
- Karen Fukuhara as Lady Himi
- Mark Hamill as Granduncle
- Robert Pattinson as Gray Heron
- Florence Pugh as Kiriko
Japanese Voice Cast
- Takuya Kimura as Shoichi Maki
- Jun Kunimura as The Parakeet King
- Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko
- Kaoru Kobayashi as Noble Pelican
- AIMYON as Lady Himi
- Shohei Hino as Granduncle
- Masaki Suda as Gray Heron
- Ko Shibasaki as Kiriko
The Boy and the Heron Rating and Runtime
The Boy and the Heron is Rated PG-13 for some violent content/bloody images and smoking. The film runs for a total of 2 hours and 4 minutes including credits.
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.
