Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio | | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 1.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
The Boy and the Beast Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 14, 2016
If there’s a leading candidate (hey, it’s election season) to replace the inimitable Hayao Miyazaki, the mastermind behind Studio Ghibli and
such masterpieces as Nausicaä of the
Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and
Howl's Moving Castle, it may well be Mamoru Hosoda. Fans of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki and indeed Hosoda himself will probably
know that Hosoda was the original director assigned to Howl’s Moving Castle, but was removed from the project for what is
euphemistically described as “creative differences”. Hosoda rebounded relatively well, however, offering a number of really interesting films
like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
, Summer Wars and Wolf Children. While there are manifest differences between Miyazaki and
Hosoda and their respective filmographies, Hosoda’s latest entry The Boy and the Beast is in some ways arguably the most Ghibli-
esque film the writer-director has presented yet. Taking place in a kind of magical realist environment where quasi-mythological Beasts live in
a world separated from humans, but with a traumatized human becoming an interloper into that world, The Boy and the Beast traffics
in some of the same kind of emotional territory that has informed some of the most redolent Miyazaki pieces.
A brief prelude of sorts details the efforts of Beasts to become Gods, and the announced “retirement” of Soshi, the leader of the Beasts, in
order to
incarnate as a deity, therefore creating an opening for a new leader. Two prospective candidates (see, it’s unavoidable) are announced,
Iozen,
the early favorite, and Kumatetsu, a dark horse, or perhaps more appropriately, dark
bear, at least if one takes his appearance into
things. With that setup now quickly proffered, the film switches to the human realm, where a seemingly confused little boy named Ren is
wandering the streets of a bustling Tokyo, getting picked up on any number of closed circuit security cameras.
Ren escapes the clutches of some police wondering why he’s out without any parental units, and finds shelter in a secluded alleyway, where
a
rather Ghibli-esque little creature becomes his sidekick (some online sources describe this little mini-beast as a mouse, but I don’t think so).
The Beast lord has told Kumatetsu that one of Kumatetsu’s biggest stumbling blocks to assuming the leadership position is the fact that he
doesn’t have any acolytes. In an elision that isn’t overly explained, Kumatetsu and a sidekick of his own named Tatara end up in Tokyo and
bump into Ren. Tatara suggests that providence has plopped an appropriate student right down in front of them, and of course after a few
machinations, Ren ends up following Kumatetsu and Tatara back to the Beast world.
In one of the film’s more formulaic aspects, the apparently combative Kumatetsu and Ren, now rechristened Kyuta, slowly come to
understand each other and bond, with Ren figuring out a way to actually
learn from the less than touchy feely Kumatetsu. Also
playing into the plot mechanics is a sidebar involving Iozen and his followers, which include his children. The film is filled with shape shifting
beasts who seem mostly to be aligned with Iozen, but there’s really not much suspense as to where this story is going or who indeed is
going to end up being appointed to fill Soshi’s place.
Where
The Boy and the Beast excels is in its depiction of the interrelationships between these fanciful characters, as well as the
rather realistic ambience that attends Ren’s arc especially. The film is also a visual delight, with the supernatural environment of the Beast
realm lovingly detailed in a number of really beautifully animated sequences. Those who have been jonesin’ for a new Hayao Miyazaki film
after
The Wind Rises may well want to take a little
journey to the Beast realm, for a lot of the same kind of magic which infuses many Studio Ghibli films is alive and kicking there.
The Boy and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The Boy and the Beast is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This
is a really beautifully animated piece, one filled with a kind of amber palette in several key sequences, but one which offers a gorgeously
variegated palette that emphasizes both bold primaries and some rather subtle intermediary tones. The character designs are rather whimsical,
and there are some patently cool moments where Iozen and Kumatetsu morph into their (even more) beastly forms. Ren is a bit more standard
looking, as befits his human form. Line detail is sharp and well detailed throughout the presentation, and the palette pops exceedingly well.
There are no issues with image instability and banding is virtually negligible as well.
The Boy and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
FUNimation continues its somewhat baffling way of authoring its discs in a kind of ping ponging fashion with regard to audio options and
subtitles. In this particular case, The Boy and the Beast has Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mixes in both Japanese and English, though the subtitles
are forced on the Japanese track, and it's only possible to change audio options by going through the setup menu. One way or the other, both
tracks offer stellar support for all sonic elements and also feature consistent surround activity, especially in the fun fight sequences. Takagi
Masakatsu's evocative score is also well rendered and spills through the surrounds quite winningly. Fidelity is top notch and dynamic range very
wide on these problem free tracks.
The Boy and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Original Teaser (1080p; 00:32)
- Japanese Trailer #1 (1080p; 1:28)
- Japanese Trailer #2 (1080p; 1:32)
- U.S. Trailer #1 (1080p; 1:39)
The Boy and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
There's a certain predictability to some of the plot proceedings in The Boy and the Beast, and the film's emotional content is a little
contrived at times, but it ultimately doesn't matter all that much since the main characters (and even several of the supporting ones) are so
lovable (even when they're a little on the irascible side). What really elevates this film is Hosoda's beautiful visual sense, and the film is filled to
the brim with several really magical sequences. Technical merits are first rate, and even without much in the way of supplements The Boy and
the Beast comes Highly recommended.
