HOW DO YOU LIVE? It will be distributed in the United States by Gkids under the title THE BOY AND THE HERON

Studio Ghibli recently released Hayao Miyazaki’S How do you live? in Japan, and the reviews started pouring in. The reviews so far are mixed, but one thing everyone agrees on is that the animation is absolutely stunning.

Gkids has acquired the North American rights to the film and will be released in the US under the title The boy and the heron. Studio Ghibli did no marketing for the film because it believes it doesn’t need to. They think the marketing of the film will actually hurt it at the box office. I don’t really care about the new title, they should have just kept it How do you live?.

Gkids will follow this strategy and says it won’t be releasing any further details or marketing materials for the film at this time. While the synopsis has now been officially released, we have details on the story thanks to the reviews that have been released. I’ve included the details of the story below for those interested.

Gkids has indicated that it has been released The boy and the heron in the United States “later this year”. The film is also expected to appear at various fall film festivals.

David Jesteadt, president of Gkids, said in a statement: “Miyazaki is a living legend in cinema, as evidenced by his Oscar win for ‘Spirited Away’ and his two Oscar nominations for ‘Howl’s Moving Castle.’ and ‘The wind rises’. It has been ten years since the world has seen a new film from Miyazaki-san, and Gkids is so proud and honored to unveil his latest, highly anticipated masterpiece in North America.”

As for the story, the BBC shared the following:

The film is set in Japan during World War II and revolves around a boy named Mahito whose mother is killed in a fire.

Shortly thereafter, his father, who works in a factory that produces fighter planes, marries his late wife’s younger sister, Natsuko, and moves the family to his large ancestral home in the countryside.

Mahito, resentful of Natsuko for taking his mother’s place, begins to explore the area around the house and discovers a mysterious tower which he is told not to enter.

He also meets a gray heron who can talk (as seen on the movie poster) who claims that Mahito’s mother is actually alive and in the tower waiting to be rescued. Mahito dismisses this claim, but when his new stepmother goes missing in the tower he decides to save her.

Once inside, he is transported to an alternate world filled with magic where his quest brings him into contact with new friends and enemies.

Can’t wait to see the animation! After hearing how beautiful it is, I need to see that art in motion!