Finally, the long-awaited animated film ‘The Boy and the Heron‘ is coming to VOD platforms.
In this Academy Award-winning film from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, a young boy ventures to a fantastical realm to find his missing stepmother.
When Will ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Be Available On Digital HD Platforms?
‘The Boy and the Heron’ will be available for purchase or rental on digital HD platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Vudu, and Google Play Movies & TV on June 25, 2024.
Netflix has officially announced their acquisition of the streaming rights for ‘The Boy and the Heron’ from GKIDS. While they have confirmed the film will premiere on their platforms soon, the exact date has not yet been revealed.
Miyazaki directs the film, produced by Studio Ghibli. While the Japanese title refers to Genzaburō Yoshino’s 1937 novel, it’s not an adaptation. (Watch the trailer)
What is ‘The Boy and the Heron’ About?
After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family’s estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito’s new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world and the truth about himself.
In the English version, Mahito Maki is voiced by Luca Padovan, The Grey Heron by Robert Pattinson, Lady Himi by Karen Fukuhara, Natsuko by Gemma Chan, Shoichi Maki by Christian Bale, Granduncle by Mark Hamill, Kiriko by Florence Pugh, Noble Pelican by Willem Dafoe, The Parakeet King by Dave Bautista, Izumi (Maid #1) by Denise Pickering, Utako (Maid #2) by Barbara Rosenblat, Eriko (Maid #3) by Melora Harte, Aiko (Maid #4) by Barbara Goodson, and Warawara by Leah Lewis.
‘The Boy and the Heron’ has made $294.2 million globally, making it Japan’s fifth highest-grossing film. It also won major awards like the BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
