Theatrical Releases
A new opportunity to immerse yourself back in to the magical world of Hayao Miyazaki creations. The latest instalment "The Boy and the Heron" or closer to the original translation "How Do You Live?" (君たちはどう生きるか). Japan marked the beginning of its theatrical journey on July 14, 2023, with an exclusive private screening held as early as February 2023.
The film went international with its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7. European audiences enjoyed a special screening at The San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 22nd. While a limited audience got the first glimpse, the global anticipation for public theatrical releases is building.
For North American fans, GKIDS, the esteemed American film distributor, secured the rights, presenting special previews on November 22, 2023, and a theatrical release on December 8, 2023.
In Europe, various companies, including Elysian Film Group (jointly with Anonymous Content and Bleecker Street) and Goodfellas, acquired rights to "The Boy and the Heron." Release dates, as reported by fans (not official), vary across countries, spanning from October 27, 2023, to January 11, 2024.
At the time of writing "The Boy and the Heron" screenings are concluding, and it's Oscar nomination time. The good news is that "The Boy and the Heron" has secured a nomination for the 2024 Academy Awards "Best Animated Feature" and won it!
In further exciting news for the movie, it has been awarded the Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, adding another prestigious accolade to Studio Ghibli's collection.
Theatrical Release Rerun
To celebrate its Oscars win for "Best Animated Feature," The Boy and the Heron will be returning to theaters on March 22nd. Rumor has it that the re-release will include bonus content and will be available with English subtitles and/or English dubbing.
DVD and Blu-ray releases
As "The Boy and the Heron" unfolds on cinema screens worldwide, we anticipate its transition to home entertainment. Drawing from the release pattern of a previous Studio Ghibli film, such as "Ponyo," we can attempt to estimate when "The Boy and the Heron" will be available on store shelves.
The "Ponyo" Japanese DVD and Blu-ray versions become available about six months after the U.S. theatrical release. Applying this timeline to "The Boy and the Heron," we can expect the Japanese editions to fill the shelves around April or May 2024. Subsequently, translated version of "Ponyo," handled by Walt Disney Studios was released two months after. That would be mean "The Boy and the Heron" translated DVD/Blu-ray might follow suit in June or July 2024. We will update the information as soon as the actual dates are announced.
"Unfortunately" due to the film's success at both the Oscars and Cannes festivals, it has received a theatrical re-run. This will likely delay its release on disc media beyond our initial estimate.
Despite winning multiple prestigious awards and revisiting the theaters the discs are finally up for pre-ordering! The languages seem to vary between different disc releases (and vendors...) and this release being focused for the Japanese audience the Japanese audio track seems to have a higher audio quality.
The Boy and the Heron movie Blu-ray - Studio Ghibli
Is This the Last Movie from Hayao Miyazaki?
Leading up to the release of "The Boy and the Heron," rumors circulated that this might mark Hayao Miyazaki's final work. These speculations were fueled by Miyazaki's return from retirement for this film, his first in a decade. However, interviews have since dispelled these rumors, as Miyazaki is actively gathering ideas for his next project.
While many can already enjoy the cinematic experience, the prospect of owning this cinematic masterpiece on DVD or Blu-ray will be a saver of fans who may not have the cinema option available. Stay tuned for updates as the Ghibli's latest creation "The Boy and the Heron" continues beyond theaters.
