The Boy & The Heron Teaser Soars With Miyazaki’s Imagination

Goosebumps!

The first few seconds of the teaser for Japanese animated fantasy “The Boy and The Heron” instantly took me back to the memory of watching “The Grave of the Fireflies”, one of my favorite Studio Ghibli movies of all time. And yes, it gave me literal goosebumps.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the 30 second teaser bears his stamp all over it and seems to be a thrilling blend of tragic realities combined with magical fantasies. The teaser is accompanied by haunting music, zero dialogues and a whole range of different characters and scenes that will leave viewers wondering what the story is about. The animation and character designs also bear resemblances to other classic Studio Ghibli movies like “The Wind Rises” and fan-favorite “Spirited Away”.

The creators claim it’s a semi-autobiographical fantasy which follows the adventure of a young boy called Mahito, who “ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning“. While the significance of the Heron might not be clear from the teaser, in Japanese culture, the slender white bird is supposed to represent good luck. It is also a symbol of beauty and purity.

“The Boy and The Heron” is expected to get a theatrical release on December 8. Watch the trailer online, it’s also embedded below.