Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Boy and the Heron 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

The Boy and the Heron is a masterpiece of animation and an essential gem for fans of animation studio Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke). Fans of Japanese anime have come to appreciate master artist Hayao Miyazaki as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The Boy and the Heron features more delightful animation production by Studio Ghibli and any cineastes of hand-drawn animation will want to see this gorgeous production. Produced by Toshio Suzuki, The Boy and the Heron (alternate title: How Do You Live?) is a creative vision and one with sweeping animation and majestic qualities that puts the film up there will the greatest art.

Executive produced by Goro Miyazaki, Kiyofumi Nakajima, and Koji Hoshino, The Boy and the Heron is impressive in spades. The producing team assembled for the feature brought both enthusiasm and gusto to the production. The Boy and the Heron features a delicate and moving closing theme performed by Kenshi Yonezu.

Featuring an all-star voice cast, the English language dub for The Boy and the Heron features impressive voice performances by Luca Padovan, Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan, Karen Fukuhara, Robert Pattinson, Mark Hamill, Dan Stevens, and Willem Dafoe. The Japanese language cast includes outstanding voice performances by Soma Santoki, Aimyon, Kou Shibasaki, Masaki Suda, Takuya Kimura, and Yoshino Kimura. The Boy and the Heron is an incredible showcase for the voice-actors in both language versions.

Mahito Maki (Luca Padovan) has to face significant struggles following the loss of his beloved mother during a period of wartime. Young Mahito moves away from his old home to a country-home estate in the countryside. Mahito has a lot on his mind as he contemplates the passing of his mother and his ever-changing life.

Mahito finds a mysterious tower in the outdoors and meets a unique gray heron. Unexpectedly, Mahito’s stepmother vanishes and now Mahito decides to set forth into the mysterious tower along with the heron. The tower brings Mahito to a world that unites both the dead and the living.

The epic and strange world that surrounds young Mahito is unlike anything else he has ever encountered before in the normal realm of the world – and perhaps this strange new land could somehow help him to learn more about himself, his future, and the journey of what it means to be alive. How Do You Live? That is the question. 

The performances are incredible and the voice-casts both add something extraordinary to both versions of The Boy and the Heron. The English language dub is an incredible dub achievement with some fantastic voice-performances. Luca Padovan is excellent as Mahito. The supporting cast of actors includes superb work by Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, Robert Pattinson, Mark Hamill, Willem Dafoe, and others. The Japanese cast is equally fantastic. It is such a joy to watch both versions and there are so many wonderful elements on display with the performances.  

The character designs by Takeshi Honda (Millennium Actress, Blue Submarine No.6) are incredible and a sight to behold. Honda is an outstanding character designer and the artistry of the designs brings so much beauty to the production. The artistry of these designs is something that brings another layer to the story.

The animation is breathtaking in The Boy and the Heron. The Boy and the Heron features art direction by Yōji Takeshige (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) and animation direction by Takeshi Honda (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Millennium Actress). The cinematography by Atsushi Okui (Spirited Away, The Wind Rises) is also a testament to the visual flourishes of the filmmaking. There is so much wondrous art in the production. Every subtle detail in the artwork is as majestic and moving as a work of art one could see in a museum – the artistry of the greatest artists of all time.

The score composed by Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Ponyo) is one of the most essential ingredients of the filmmaking. Joe Hisaishi is one of the greatest living composers. Hisaishi is a legend and his music provides a majestic spell. Hisaishi approached the score with a different stylistic approach from some of his previous collaborations with Miyazaki. The style of the score feels unique and classical in way that is profound. The music adds elegance and a sense of whimsical wonder that is deeply felt throughout the film.

Written, storyboarded, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki (The Wind Rises, Howl’s Moving Castle), The Boy and the Heron is one of the filmmakers greatest achievements. There is so much to love and cherish in Miyazaki’s artistry. Miyazaki always puts his mind, body, and soul into everything he makes. There is tremendous skill in every facet of the filmmaking.

One thing not everyone might be aware of is that Miyazaki never writes traditional screenplays or drafts before production on his films. There are always screenplay credits on every production due to these being the stories of Miyazaki but the filmmaker storyboards every frame and writes the dialogue separately without ever creating a traditional film screenplay.

Perhaps this is a secret hidden talent of the genius of Miyazaki – he sees the films in his genius mind in a way than almost no one on the planet could ever hope to achieve. Few filmmakers are capable of such capacity. A capacity to see the entire scope and scale of the film on every facet and layer.

Animation is a vibrant way to explore these facets of filmmaking. Live-action filmmaking might be storyboarded too, but changes can often occur during filming preventing the kind of idiosyncratic perfectionism that Miyazaki exudes. The confidence and genius of Hayao Miyazaki is profound. No filmmaker has had a bigger impact on my life than Hayao Miyazaki. The Boy and the Heron is a must-see instant classic and the type of masterpiece one will want to see over and over again. I went and saw The Boy and the Heron four or five times during its theatrical run (in both English and Japanese) and am enormously pleased to own a permanent copy for my collection with the 4K UHD.

The Boy and the Heron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on 4K UHD by GKids and Shout Factory, The Boy and the Heron is presented in HEVC / H.265 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The 4K UHD presentation is upscaled from 2K. The presentation is stunning. The presentation has vibrant animation and the high-dynamic-range (HDR) is beautifully rendered with incredible depth and detail. Every element of the animation comes to life on the release. Colors pop with fantastic vibrancy and the artistry shines through with quality encoding. The action and spectacle of the film is well preserved by the quality of the Shout Factory encoding and this is a superb release that checks every box.

The Boy and the Heron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release includes a selection of lossless audio selections: English Dolby Atmos and Japanese Dolby Atmos (with English subtitles). The release features superb sound direction by Koji Kasamatsu (When Marnie Was There, The Wind Rises). Both the English audio dub and Japanese language are provided with superb clarity and detail with the lossless audio encoding. The vocals are crystal clear throughout. The score by composer Joe Hisaishi is magnificently reproduced on the release. The subtle intricacies of the presentation add so much to the Atmos audio experience. The spatial audio of Dolby Atmos enhances the soundstage with a wider and more enthralling audio experience. A well- balanced presentation, too.  

The Boy and the Heron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 4K UHD limited edition steelbook edition features stunning key artwork and looks great alongside the other steelbooks in the Studio Ghibli collection. The collectable steelbook looks beautiful and feels great in hand. The collectable steelbook adds to the value of the package. A collectable poster for The Boy and the Heron is also included in the package.

The release comes a printed booklet. The booklet is included inside of the package and fits nice and snug in the case. A nice addition to the Studio Ghibli booklets produced by GKids.

On disc supplements:

Feature-Length Storyboards (HD, 2:03:53) provides the complete storyboard experience.

Interview with Composer Joe Hisaishi (HD, 10:21) is a must-see interview with the composer. Hisaishi explores the way in which he collaborates with Miyazaki. The process is discussed and magnified. An insightful piece for any fan of the composer.

Interview with Producer Toshio Suzuki (HD, 4:43) offers some wonderful words by the legendary Studio Ghibli producer.

Interview with Supervising Animator Takeshi Honda (HD, 19:40) is a joy to watch. Honda is so passionate and his thoughts are so enlightening. One can't help but enjoy listening to the words of Honda as he discusses his collaborations with Hayao Miyazaki and his profound appreciation for the filmmaker's works.

Drawing with Takeshi Honda (HD, 27:16) is a must-watch. The entire featurette is beautifully filmed and photographed. The attention to detail and love for illustration by Honda is magnificent. There is a clear passion for art as he draws some characters from The Boy and the Heron. This is a beautiful piece and one fans of the film will cherish. I was profoundly moved.

"Spinning Globe" Music Video (HD, 5:13)

Teasers & Trailers (HD, 8:37)

The Boy and the Heron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Boy and the Heron is a masterpiece. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service) is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Miyazaki has such a profound understanding of filmmaking that he transcends the artistry of almost any other director in world history. Most directors are lucky to produce one or two masterpieces. Miyazaki has spent a lifetime creating them – one classic masterpiece after another – bringing joy to the entire world.

The 4K UHD release provides an excellent 2160p presentation (upscaled from 2K) and provides lossless Dolby Atmos audio. The release also comes with an absorbing supplemental package. The extras are engaging, entertaining, and well-rounded. The interviews are well-worth watching and the special featurette "Drawing with Takeshi Honda" is a must-see. The Boy and the Heron belongs in the collection of every anime fan and anyone with a passion for cinema.