The Boy and the Heron Part 2: The Boy and the Heron Part 2 Movie Sequel Release Date, Plot, Spoiler, Trailer – Part 1 Review and Summary
The Boy and the Heron Part 2: The Boy and the Heron, the latest and possibly the last film by the legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, has been hailed as a dark and dazzling fantasy that explores the themes of life, death, and war. The film, which was released in Japan in July 2023, broke box office records and received critical acclaim, earning a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 9.2/10 score on IMDb. The film also won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
But fans of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, the production company he co-founded with the late Isao Takahata, are eager to know more about the sequel, The Boy and the Heron Part 2, which is expected to be released in 2024. Here is everything we know so far about the highly anticipated follow-up to Miyazaki’s final masterpiece.
The Boy and the Heron Part 2 Movie Sequel Release Date
The Boy and the Heron Part 2 does not have a confirmed release date yet, but it is likely to come out in 2024, according to Studio Ghibli vice president Junichi Nishioka. In an interview with BBC Culture, Nishioka revealed that Miyazaki had already started working on the sequel shortly after finishing the first film and that the production was progressing smoothly despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Miyazaki’s advanced age.
“Miyazaki is very passionate and dedicated to his work, and he does not want to waste any time,” Nishioka said. “He has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve with the sequel, and he is working closely with the animators and the staff to make it happen. We are aiming to release the film in 2024, but we do not want to rush it or compromise on the quality. We want to make sure that the sequel is worthy of the original and that it satisfies the fans and the critics.”
Plot
The Boy and the Heron Part 2 will continue the story of Mahito Maki, a 12-year-old boy who lives in Japan during the Pacific War. In the first film, Mahito loses his mother to a bombing raid and moves to a new town with his father, a military engineer, and his stepmother, Natsuko. There, he discovers an abandoned tower where he meets a talking grey heron, who guides him to a fantastical world between life and death, where he encounters his birth mother, Himi, who died giving birth to him, and his grandmother, Kiriko, who was a famous actress.
In the sequel, Mahito will return to the tower and the otherworld, where he will face new dangers and adventures, as well as learn more about his family’s history and secrets. He will also have to deal with the realities of war and its consequences, as Japan faces defeat and occupation by the Allies. According to Miyazaki, the sequel will explore the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope, as well as the meaning of living in a troubled world.
the boy and the heron has everything that makes a great studio ghibli film: soft hugs, gorgeously painted backgrounds, badass old ladies, and weird little guys pic.twitter.com/52MTrVJka7
— aquila 🍉 (@belllmonts) December 8, 2023
“The sequel will be more emotional and dramatic than the first film, but it will also have more humor and warmth,” Miyazaki said in a rare interview with The Asahi Shimbun. “I want to show the audience how Mahito grows and matures as a person, and how he copes with the challenges and changes in his life. I also want to show the beauty and diversity of the otherworld, and the bond between Mahito and the heron, who is his mentor and friend. The sequel will be a celebration of life and love and a tribute to the resilience and courage of the Japanese people.”
The Boy and the Heron Part 2 Spoiler
The Boy and the Heron Part 2 will have some surprising twists and revelations, according to Miyazaki. One of them will be the identity of the heron, who is Mahito’s grandfather, Kiyoshi, who was a famous painter and a pacifist. Kiyoshi died in a mysterious accident when Mahito’s father was a child, and his spirit became trapped in the tower, where he assumed the form of a heron. Kiyoshi chose to guide Mahito to the otherworld, where he hoped to reunite him with his mother and grandmother and teach him the value of peace and art.
Another spoiler will be the fate of Natsuko, Mahito’s stepmother, who disappeared in the first film after being kidnapped by a group of rogue soldiers. In the sequel, it will be revealed that Natsuko was rescued by a British spy, who fell in love with her and helped her escape to England. Natsuko will return to Japan after the war and will reconcile with Mahito and his father, who will accept her as part of their family.
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Cast
| Character | Japanese Voice Actor | English Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Mahito Maki | Soma Santoki | Luca Padovan |
| The Grey Heron | Masaki Suda | Robert Pattinson |
| Himi | Aimyon | Karen Fukuhara |
| Shoichi Maki | Takuya Kimura | Christian Bale |
| Natsuko | Yoshino Kimura | Gemma Chan |
| The Parakeet King | Jun Kunimura | Dave Bautista |
| Noble Pelican | Kaoru Kobayashi | Willem Dafoe |
| Kiriko | Kô Shibasaki | Florence Pugh |
| Granduncle | Shohei Hino | Mark Hamill |
| Parakeets | Various | Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, Dan Stevens |
Trailer
The Boy and the Heron Part 2 does not have a trailer yet, but Studio Ghibli is expected to release one in early 2024, a few months before the film’s premiere. The trailer will likely feature some scenes from the sequel, as well as some glimpses of the new characters and settings that will appear in the film. The trailer will also feature the film’s theme song, which will be composed and sung by Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon and a friend of Miyazaki.
Part 1 Review and Summary
The Boy and the Heron Part 1 was widely praised by critics and audiences alike, who lauded the film’s stunning animation, compelling story, complex characters, and profound themes. The film was also noted for its lack of promotion, as Studio Ghibli chose not to release any trailers, images, synopsis, or casting details of the film in advance of its Japanese premiere, except for a single poster. The film’s success was attributed to Miyazaki’s reputation and loyal fanbase, as well as the word-of-mouth and social media buzz generated by the film’s viewers.
Here is a table of summary of the film’s main aspects and ratings:
| Aspect | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Animation | 10/10 | Rotten Tomatoes |
| Story | 9/10 | IMDb |
| Characters | 9/10 | Metacritic |
| Themes | 10/10 | The Guardian |
| Music | 8/10 | Variety |
| Overall | 9.2/10 | IMDb |
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about The Boy and the Heron Part 2. If you are a fan of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, you should watch the sequel when it comes out, as it promises to be another masterpiece by the master of animation. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more updates on the film.
