First Images Released for New Studio Ghibli Film The Boy and the Heron

The film will have its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival

by Jonas Reichel on August 15, 2023

Finally: The first images of Hayao Miyazaki's last movie have been released, giving us breathtaking insights into Studio Ghibli's new masterpiece.

The final project from cult director Hayao Miyazaki was long considered a secret. Apart from a poster, no information was made public, although the film celebrated its debut in Japan at the start of this summer. Now, all fans outside of Japan can enjoy the first images of "The Boy and the Heron", which were released together with a book published in Japan.

The images introduce us to the possible main characters of the film surrounded by vast landscapes and fantastic scenery. Thus, we see a boy and a girl lovingly embracing each other in front of a lake. We also see the boy together with an old man watching a large and mysterious object - perhaps made of wood or stone - rising into the sky. Moreover, we get first impressions of some herons, which are expected to play an important role in the film. One of them seems to be a strange hybrid creature that is getting ready to attack.

The fanciful style, which is typical of the famous Studio Ghibli, should once again delight fans and make for a great cinematic experience.

The movie continues to insist on its unusual marketing campaign, which is characterized by the fact that it is more or less non-existent. Accordingly, these first images should come as a surprise to fans and further increase anticipation. A release date is still unknown, but "The Boy and the Heron" will celebrate its U.S. premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7.