Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' Explores Fantasy Versus Reality

The film, featuring a star-studded English dub cast, weaves elements from Miyazaki's previous works into a new narrative about a boy's journey with a heron.

Miyazaki's new animated film, 'The Boy and the Heron', explores the theme of fantasy versus reality, with the protagonist choosing reality over a fantastical alternate universe.
The film features a young boy, Mahito, who loses his mother and embarks on a journey with a heron that turns out to be a strange old man.
The film is noted for its blend of elements from Miyazaki's previous works, including 'Spirited Away', 'The Wind Rises', and 'Howl’s Moving Castle'.
The film's fantasy realm exists or ceases to exist based on Mahito's resolution of his family issues, allowing him to express emotions and exorcise his traumas.
The film is set to be dubbed in English with a star-studded cast including Robert Pattinson, Dave Bautista, and Florence Pugh.