There’s going out with a bang, and then there’s letting the silence do the work. Miyazaki Hayao is opting for the latter approach with his final movie, The Boy and The Heron, as he continues to keep further details and marketing materials under wraps.
The highly-anticipated work debuted in Japanese theatres earlier last week as Kimitachi wa do Ikiruka, which translates directly to “How Do You Live” in English. Because no other information about the film was announced prior to the Japanese outing, it was referred to as How Do You Live informally throughout its production phase.
According to U.S-based distributor Gkids, The Boy and The Heron will feature an original story written and directed by Miyazaki, making it his first film in 10 years. This goes against previous reports in Japan that highlighted how the movie is based on Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel “Kimitachi wa Do Ikiruka,” which tells the story of a 15-year-old boy as he goes on a journey to discovery spiritual growth. Gkids has since denied the association between the animated feature and its literary counterpart.
The hand-drawn movie will hit theatres in the U.S. “later this year”, with details on other international releases currently pending. Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli co-founder Suzuki Toshio served as producer, while Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisashi worked on the score.
Prior to the release of Miyazaki’s swansong, Studio Ghibli opened a theme park in Japan based on the animation auteur’s past works, featuring rides and attractions inspired by My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and more.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
