The Boy and the Heron (2023)

‘The Boy and the Heron’ sees legendary animation Master Hayao Miyazaki back on fantastical form. The new animated movie from Studio Ghibli is about a young boy dealing with grief and change.When you see the names Studio Ghibli and especially company boss/master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki attached to a film, it tends to be a stamp of quality that you can trust.

Together they’ve put out some much-loved animated movies including ‘Spirited Away’, ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ and ‘My Neighbor Totoro’. But while not every title is a winner –– even Miyazaki’s most recent film, one he made after announcing his retirement (‘The Wind Rises’) wasn’t seen as in the top tier of the company’s productions.

Still, it’s good to be able to report that ‘The Boy and the Heron’ is one of the most entertaining (and moving) films that Miyazaki has made in years.