'The Boy and the Heron' review: Hayao Miyazaki's gorgeous return
MANILA, Philippines — The name of Studio Ghibli is synonymous to one of the greatest animators and filmmakers ever in Hayao Miyazaki, who emerged from retirement to bring "The Boy and the Heron."
Miyazaki's latest endeavor follows 12-year-old Mahito who is mourning the death of his mother Hisako from a hospital fire during wartime Japan when he moves to the countryside as his father, who works in air munitions, has married Hisako's sister Natsuko.
Mahito struggles adjusting to his new life until he finds himself entering a mysterious, fantastical world in the company of a talking grey heron.
In some ways this is Miyazaki's most personal film yet; his father worked for a fighter plane manufacturer, his family evacuated the city during the war, and his mother died when the director was still young.
The film even shares the title of "Genzabur? Yoshino's 1937," which heavily inspired Miyazaki. The book appears in the movie but has no direct connection to the overall story, which was crafted by Miyazaki's imaginative mind.
What makes Miyazaki a great storyteller is his ability to convey emotions through animation, trusting that his audiences will understand the the greater scheme of things without the filmmaker forcing his hand.
"The Boy and the Heron" does take a while to get going, but once it does it is nonstop gorgeous images, heart-tugging realizations, and themes that transcend both reality and fantasy.
Related: Original 'The Boy and the Heron' premiering in the Philippines alongside English dub
One of these themes is coping or adjusting to loss and how one can manage to still find the beauty in a damaged world — leave it to Miyazaki to be able to present a solution in such a visually breathtaking way.
From the sweeping landscapes of the Japanese countryside, the rushing waters of a world beneath a tower, and beautifully animated flames that mean more as they burn, Miyazaki has poured his heart and soul into these sketches.
Children may get lost in the storytelling but no doubt they will come away still amazed by the film's conclusion. Plus they will absolutely adore the Warawara and Parakeets, ballooned cuteness in typical Ghibli fashion.
The movie would not have been complete without the terrific score of Miyazaki's longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi, which begins as a teasing wonder and ends as a thundering consummation. Piano keys have never felt as magical in so long.
No doubt Ghibli and anime devotees will ask viewers see the Japanese original, but the English dub cast is as superb with the likes of Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan, Karen Fukuhara, Christian Bale, and Mark Hamill.
At this point after directing for over 40 years, Miyazaki's career might be incomplete without having done "The Boy and the Heron," perhaps the last piece of the puzzle in the filmmaker is trying to show the world how much there is to appreciate in life.
Miyazaki has said he would retire for good many times before, but if he ever decides to turn back on that decision again, every world be a much better place knowing he still has something to offer.
"The Boy and the Heron," both Japanese original and English dub, premieres in Philippine cinemas on January 8.
RELATED: WATCH: Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale in 'The Boy and the Heron' English dub
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