The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki, 2023)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=4, P=4 / Drooling

Scale O=4, Scale P=4, Scale Q=4, Scale R=4, Scale S=4

Animation, Coming of Age, Grief and Coping, Fantasy, Adventure

I had never managed to see a Miyazaki film in the theater when first released. And I never thought I would be able to until I heard that the master filmmaker's (likely) final film, The Boy and the Heron, was finally complete.

There is so much emotion in this film and I can feel the finality of this one--from the topic/storyline to the urgent pace, and the many meanings. Miyazaki is the sage imparting his final words of wisdom on us in each moment. This story is a swirling, twisting dream-like adventure that grapples with very real and difficult questions. How do you grieve and cope? Why is life full of pain? What is the purpose of living? And the broadest one, from the novel referenced in the story and the Japanese title, How do you live? This is not a light film. There are a few cheerful moments and some occasional light-hearted humor, but it is ultimately a serious story. I will need to watch this again and again to notice everything and to understand all that is going on. I don't think Miyazaki meant for this tale to be entirely comprehensible on the first or even second viewing. Like the philosophical questions the characters seek to answer, the film viewer (and the director, too) must search in lots of places and ways to find the answers. And that takes time. A whole lifetime, maybe.

A beautiful film that I will watch many times again, I'm sure.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

SPECIAL: Top 10 Studio Ghibli Animated Features

I had so much fun re-watching and rating my favorite Disney films, I decided to do the same for my favorite Studio Ghibli films. Like with the Disney films list, I started with only feature-length films. Here's the complete list in chronological order:

• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
• Castle in the Sky (1986)
• Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
• My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
• Only Yesterday (1991)
• Porco Rosso (1992)
• Pom Poko (1994)
• Whisper of the Heart (1995)
• Princess Mononoke (1997)
• My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
• Spirited Away (2001)
• The Cat Returns (2002)
• Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
• Tales from Earthsea (2006)
• Ponyo (2008)
• Arrietty (2010)
• From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
• The Wind Rises (2013)
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
• When Marnie Was There (2014)

It was difficult, but after going through the rating scale for each film here are my results--Elizabeth's Top 10 Studio Ghibli films:

#10 Pom Poko (1994)

While the story might feel drawn out and slow at times, Pom Poko is magical and hilarious. The ghost-parade sequence has always been one of my favorite sequences in all of animation. I love the folklore. This film is also unique in that it's the only one that I can think of that uses three different animation styles to depict the main characters (the tanuki; raccoon-dogs). Sometimes they are realistic animals, sometimes anthropomorphic animals (often clothed), and sometimes cartoon-like/manga. It's intriguing and it lends itself well with the story.

#9 Ponyo (2008)

The first time I watched Ponyo, I liked it OK but it didn't grab me. On each subsequent viewing it gets better and better, though. Beautiful sequences and vibrant colors, adorable cuteness of the main characters, and so much fun. It always reminds me of a combination of The Little Mermaid and Pinocchio stories. So joyful.

#8 Castle in the Sky (1986)

For an English major that studied Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Castle in the Sky definitely has to make my top 10 list for referencing the floating island-world of Laputa. The adventure story that surrounds it is wonderful, too, with steampunk flying machines and pirates. This film also includes one of my favorite kind of film moments: a cleaning/tidying up sequence. Not sure why, but most Studio Ghibli films that I love include one.

#7 Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

As we all know, I love Coming of Age movies, and the rest of this list fits that category. But Kiki's Delivery Service is perhaps the most archetypal. It has the perfect story arc and there are so many little moments that make the film classic, for me (shopping to establish your first place, scenes of the city, another cleaning sequence!).

#6 Arrietty (2010)

The Secret World of Arrietty is another great Coming of Age movie, but I like this one slightly more than Kiki's Delivery Service because Arrietty is based on one of my favorite childhood stories: The Borrowers. I love everything about the idea that little people could be living in your house and collect little bits of your household items. Again, the scenes are magical--all the miniature things suddenly become large. Arrietty's first view of the human's kitchen is marvelous (especially the sound!). Also, the backgrounds...just amazing.

#5 Princess Mononoke (1997)

Like Ponyo, Princess Mononoke did not grab me the first few times I watched. I loved the artistry and the story intrigued me, but it didn't have that special pull. I think this is partly because there are multiple plot lines and it is not nostalgic, cutesy, or joyful. But there is also a different feel in this one compared to all other Miyazaki films--it feels more mature, historical, and even political. The main character is also an adult male, not a young female like many of his others. Of course, it continues to get better and better each time I watch. I ranked it high for all those reasons, and also because the environmental/ecological message is so powerful. This is a true drama.

#4 Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

I believe that Howl's Moving Castle is the most quintessential Studio Ghibli film out there. The story gets abstract and meanders somewhat, the back-and-forth between realms/worlds is confusing at times, but it is absolutely full of everything I love about Miyazaki's work. The artistry is striking, especially the scenes that juxtapose the dark warships/planes above the bright majestic mountains. The characters are all quirky, imperfect, lovable. How can you not like that hilarious dog Hin? And Calcifer? And so much magic--several cleaning scenes! It is a beautiful tale of love, loyalty, acceptance, and determination.

#3 Spirited Away (2001)

Folklore and Coming of Age? Yes please. Spirited Away was my first Miyazaki film and I remember that first viewing fondly. I was taken aback, astonished, mesmerized that there were artists out there making films this beautiful. I was thrilled that the story slowly revealed itself and the pacing wasn't frenetic (like so many Hollywood animated films). Each scene had so much detail and felt entirely new. And the color! This is a perfect film and story--full of conflict, challenges, memorable characters and details. It has frightening moments, too (some remind me of Alice in Wonderland). This is a gateway film and one I would make all children watch--everyone, really.

#2 My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Pure joy and happiness. My Neighbor Totoro is the film I watch when I feel to feel better, when I want to become absorbed in memories of childhood, when I need to remind myself that life is miraculous. That being said, I consider this one of my Top 10 favorite movies. This is a day-in-the-life story that some might not like (slow pace, no big crux/conflict) but I love it for that reason. The story reflects summertime and being young. It feels like my daydreaming/imaginative play days. It is so heartwarming, it hurts.

#1 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

While it probably seems like My Neighbor Totoro should have been at the top of this list, I chose Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind because not only is the artistry gorgeous but the story/concept really is my favorite. Technically, the film isn't Studio Ghibli (there was no studio yet!) but arguably it was the first...and to many, the best. I love thinking about what the future may be like, and Nausicaa's world of giant insects, poisonous air, and humans going back to pre-industrial ways, feels plausible. The scenes of the fungal forest with dragonflies the size of airplanes is stunning. And Nausicaa is such an admirable character: she has a love of all living things, she is determined and brave to a fault, she takes every risk to save her people...a great heroine. All of Miyazaki's stories have an environmental focus and usually also anti-war themes but Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind focuses on those themes. Inspiring.

SPECIAL: Must-See Animation

There are thousands of "must-see" and "best-of" lists out there. In fact, one could say that my film studies began when I watched The American Film Institute's 100 Best Comedies program on television - I think I was 15. I was determined to watch all 100 films and began checking each one off a list I made on my computer. Within 5 years I'd seen 99. Obsessive? Probably.

I also watch the Oscars every year and make an effort to see as many nominees as possible in the theater, the rest at home. Foreign, Best Picture, and Best Animation always take precedence. It never fails to surprise me how bipolar the nominees for animation are. For example, last year Toy Story 3, How To Train Your Dragon, and The Illusionist were all nominated. In the same category. Now, I did like Toy Story 3 and perhaps it did deserve the win -after all, most trilogies get acknowledged through their last film- but after watching The Illusionist I have to say: how did this film not win? And, more importantly, how can a film of such powerful, unusual, and interesting quality be so unheard of in this country?

Of course, the answer to most of my rhetorical questions seems to be money. Oh, well. And likely for this reason Hollywood animation, in my opinion, has become boring and safe and ugly.

It never used to be that way. The early Disney animation (1920s-60s) was fantastic, peaking in the 1940s with the timeless and brilliant films Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Bambi. And the work the studio did before even starting feature-length films, the Silly Symphonies cartoons, is some of the best animation and illustration of all time.

To watch "Flowers and Trees" (1932) click here.

The majority of animation I had seen on television growing up in the 1990s never really grabbed my attention- the stuff that did was much older: early/classic Disney, Fleischer & Famous studios cartoons, and the work of Chuck Jones. Except for Asterix cartoons, I can hardly remember seeing any feature-length animation that wasn't Disney.

Until I saw Spirited Away (2001), that is. In my world where most new animated films now looked chunky, sounded cheesy and overly-celebrity, with plain dull stories, I had been awakened. The most beautiful, fluid, artistic, fascinating, and seductive illustrations and tales were still around... just in Japan. So I embarked on a journey to watch all of Hayao Miyazaki's films, of which I can't think of a single one that isn't simply gorgeous. Here's a short list:

My Neighbor Totoro (1988) -- my personal favorite. I dare you not to smile while watching this.

Spirited Away (2001)

Howl's Moving Castle (2004) -- Incredible plot and visual detail

Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

It wasn't long after watching Spirited Away that I started searching for other non-Hollywood/American animated films and soon discovered absolute gems. Here are some other favorites of mine:

A Town Called Panic (2009) -- Why am I not always watching this? Hysterical.

The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

The Illusionist (2010)

The Secret of Kells (2009) -- Brings me to tears

Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998)

Tales of Earthsea (2006)

I'd have an even longer list if I included all the animated shorts and cartoons I love. As mentioned above, I grew up on old, black-and-white cartoons. On one of my DVD shelves can be seen Charlie Brown, School House Rock, Donald Duck, and The Inspector, alongside my full-length favorites. There's no way I can possibly list all that I recommend. But I must take a moment to praise the work of Frederic Back.

Years ago, a friend of mine ordered me to watch the short The Man Who Planted Trees (1987). I did and was totally blown away. I watched Back's other pieces and was entranced. Each one made me feel all warm and snuggly.

If you have 15 mintues, click here to watch Crac (1982). This is a personal favorite.

There are also a few truly gripping animated films for older audiences. Heavy material and incredibly powerful:

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

Persepolis (2007)

If you haven't seen any of these films, I urge you to rent, stream, or borrow one of them today. Make a list, like I did, and start checking them off.