Studio Ghibli: the Boy and the Heron is ready to compete with Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro

It is no secret that Studio Ghibli has had smashing success with mega movies such as “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” We would not be joking when we say that these films have gained a top spot in animation and culture, both in Japan and overseas! But this time, there’s a new kid on the block—“The Boy and the Heron,” and it is about to leave thousands of fans all over the globe at the edge of their seats.

The release of this movie comes with much anticipation, as iconic Hayao Miyazaki — the mastermind behind all these Japanese classics, said he was bowing out of the big screen game for good after premiering “The Wind Rises” in 2012. No wonder The Boy and the Heron is a huge deal!

Considering the statements our favorite movie maker made about a decade ago, it is no surprise The Boy and the Crane had a low-key debut in Japan. No interviews, no media tours, no trailers—just a silent drop. But here’s the real deal: this is Hayao Miyazaki’s epic comeback after saying he was out of the movie-making game for good!

Here are the facts: upon its release, the movie became the critics’ darling (as it should) with Rotten Tomatoes calling it a “masterpiece” and Metacritic bowing down to it, saying it has “universal acclaim.” But Hayao’s-Sensei movie was not only a hit among reviewers. After being dropped in Japan, this flick raked in about 2.140 billion yen—that’s a cool $15 million, making it one of Miyazaki’s most explosive openings yet.

Unfortunately for all of us folks in the West, this new Studio Ghibli film has not been released in America. But you should definitely keep those eyes peeled for the release date! For the US fans, mark your calendars for December 8th.

We hope you are as hyped as we are!