Studio Ghibli's HOW DO YOU LIVE? Will Be Released in the U.S. 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 have started to come in. So far reviews are mixed, but one thing everyone is agreeing on is the animation is absolutely stunning.
Gkids has picked up the North American rights to the film and it will be released in the U.S. under the title The Boy and the Heron. Studio Ghibli has done no marketing for the film because they believe that it doesn’t need it. They think marketing the movie will actually hurt it at the box office. I don’t really care for the new title, they should’ve just kept How Do You Live?.
Gkids will follow that strategy and says it will not release any further details or marketing materials for the movie at the moment. While now synopsis has been officially released, we do have details on the story thanks to the reviews that have been released. I’ve included story details below for those that are interested.
Gkids indicated that it released The Boy and the Heron in the U.S. “later this year.” The picture is also expected to make appearances at various fall film festivals.
David Jesteadt, Gkids president, said in a statement: “Miyazaki is a living legend in filmmaking, as evidenced by his Academy Award win for ‘Spirited Away’ and his two Oscar nominations for ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ and ‘The Wind Rises’. It’s 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 far as the story goes, the BBC shared the following:
The film is set in Japan during World War Two and centres around a young boy named Mahito whose mother is killed in a fire.
Shortly thereafter his father, who works in a factory producing fighter planes, marries his late wife's younger sister Natsuko, and moves the family to her large ancestral home in the countryside.
Mahito, who is 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 encounters a grey heron that can speak (as seen on the film's poster) who claims Mahito's mother is in fact alive and in the tower waiting to be rescued. Mahito dismisses this claim, but when his new stepmother disappears into the tower he decides to rescue her.
Once he enters, he is transported into an alternate world full of magic where his quest brings him into contact with new friends and enemies alike.
I just can’t wait to see the animation! After hearing how beautiful it is, I need to see that art in motion!