The Boy and the Heron

After watching this I suggest going to YouTube and watching a video explanation.I feel like this was a great last film for studio ghibli and gives the fans closure since it represents Miyazaki and the ending of his career. Very cute and magical movie with lots of meaning

I feel like you have to know a lot about Hayao Miyazaki before watching this. But also it’s up to you how you interpret the message of the movie. I absolutely loved it and would love to see it again. I would say it’s one of my top Ghibli movies!

It's not the best studio ghibli movie that's out there but I do like the small references from some of the previous films.

However, time to time I thought that the storyline was a bit of and it didn't have a particular message. Other than that the movie was entertaining and…

I mean the plot was really not that bad mostly watched it for the animations

Rated: 8.5/10 ⭐️

I expected a whimsical Ghibli adventure, but this heavy, surreal exploration of grief completely blew me away.

What Worked:
Miyazaki nailed the visual blocking; the hand-drawn frames give the animation a tactile weight. Through my Methodist faith lens, Mahito rejecting a pristine fantasy to embrace his broken reality beautifully reminds me that true grace is about loving flawed people. Hisaishi’s piano score also perfectly anchors the dreamlike transitions.

The Cuts:
The middle part really dragged for me; the narrative flow gets tangled in surreal imagery. Keeping it spoiler-free, the world-building rules inside the tower are super vague, which left me feeling a little lost. Also, the physical threats (like the giant parakeets) felt goofy and half-baked rather than genuinely menacing.

Verdict:
A stunning, personal meditation on grief. A must-watch for gorgeous art and heavy themes, but skip if you need a straightforward plot.

Favorite Line: “How do you live?”

so confusing but good?