Yahoo Movies First reviews for Studio Ghibli's mysterious new movie The Boy and the Heron
The first reviews for Studio Ghibli's anticipated but mysterious new movie How Do You Live?, now officially titled The Boy and the Heron internationally, have emerged online.
The newest entry from animation icon Hayao Miyazaki has sparked significant attention over the fact that it has (bar one poster of a bird-like creature) had no promotion whatsoever, including no trailers, stills or even a synopsis.
Released in Japan today (July 14), those who have managed to catch the first Miyazaki film since 2013's The Wind Rises have given their early verdicts – and they are decidedly mixed.
Related: When will Studio Ghibli's latest film be available to watch in the UK and US?
The BBC's Matt Schley notes that How Do You Live? is "full of Miyazaki's signature obsessions, quirks and thematic concerns".
"There are the usual visual treats, like cute yet eerie creatures, great-looking food and gravity-defying flights of fancy – primarily hand-drawn and moving with the fluidity and sense of weight that mark the master animator's work," he adds.
Comparing it thematically to previous classics such as Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away, he described it as "a coming-of-age tale in which a child must overcome his selfishness and learn to live for others".
It's in those themes that Anime News Network's Richard Eisenbeis says in his review that the movie excels, with a "powerful narrative" and "astounding" animation, while also praising composer Joe Hisaishi's score.
Related: The Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix actually worth your time
However, he also called the movie "exceedingly predictable", suggesting that it's "obvious from the start what the thematic shape of the film will be".
Yet the reviewer predicted that it could "become a classic in the decades to come", and while not "the absolute pinnacle of Miyazaki's films, it's still a great one – and certainly not a bad one for Miyazaki to go out on".
Full Frontal's Matteo Watzky similarly had praise for the "technically stunning" animation, though suggested that "narratively, the film is difficult to assess".
"Treading both old and new ground, it illustrates how the director’s creativity is a deep well that never seems to dry up," he added. "It might be absurd, but at this point I just want to wish for another film in that vein, that would build upon its strengths, continue to tread the new roads it opened, and correct some of its faults.
Related: Studio Ghibli's My Neighbour Totoro returns to London – how to get tickets
"It is a difficult work, and as written, I do not think that it will work for everyone – I’m not even sure it worked for me. But this difficulty and ambiguity might be its best quality, Miyazaki’s ultimate showcase of talent, nuance and imagination."
Unseen Japan's Noah Oskow described How Do You Live? as "Miyazaki's personal film through and through", though added: "It seems to have no desire to be a breakout hit or have mass appeal.
"What it does have, however, is a deeper message for an unknown world, and the young people who will have to live within it.
"If this is indeed Miyazaki’s final film, then I can only thank him for that message – and for his many decades of creating some of the best animated fare in the world."
How Do You Live? is out now in Japan, with US and UK releases yet to be confirmed. Nearly all of Studio Ghibli's movies are available to stream now on Netflix.
You Might Also Like
