Zooming out a little on the Miyazaki movie’s poster makes a big difference.
Spoilers ahead for The Boy and the Heron.
Studio Ghibli has been very tight with details regarding The Boy and the Heron, the new anime from director Hayao Miyazaki. In Japan, there were no commercials or trailers for the movie, no story or cast details given, and only a single, extreme-close-up illustrated poster featuring what looks like a bird with eyes in its mouth.
But Ghibli know it can’t keep a lid on things forever. With a month now having passed since The Boy and the Heron’s debut in Japanese theaters, and an official collectible program booklet now on sale that contains a few visuals from the movie, Ghibli finally seems ready to let the curtain be peeled back just a little bit, and we’ve now got the first official screenshot from the movie being used for promotion, coming from the anime’s North American distributor, GKIDS Films.
THE BOY AND THE HERON is an Official Selection at #NYFF61! 🪽@TheNYFF marks the US Premiere of #TheBoyAndTheHeron. We are honored to present Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's newest masterpiece to American audiences for the first time! pic.twitter.com/tjBFpuiMiG
— GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) August 17, 2023
At the same time, the official Ghibli Twitter account posted a new piece of artwork that shifts the perspective of The Boy and the Heron’s poster back to give us a more complete view of what we’ve been looking at the face of.
▼ Clicking on the tweet shows even more of the illustration
https://twitter.com/JP_GHIBLI/status/1692174453399253335And rest assured that’s far from the only example of crazy character/creature design Miyazaki has up his sleeve in this movie, which producer Toshio Suzuki thinks might be the most expensive movie ever made in Japan.
Along with the screenshot, GKIDS also announced that The Boy and the Heron will be making its U.S. premiere as part of this year’s New York Film Festival, which will be taking place from October 6 to 8, roughly one month after the anime screens in its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, so it’s looking like mid-October is the earliest The Boy and the Heron is likely to make its way to general theaters in North America.
Source: Twitter/@GKIDSfilms, Twitter/@JP_GHIBLI
Top image: Stuio Ghibli
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter, where all he’ll say about the screenshot is no, that’s not a grown-up Sosuke from Ponyo.
English dub cast for Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron is packed with Hollywood stars
Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron finally has a U.S. release date and trailer, and it’s gorgeous【Video】
Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron nominated for Academy Award
Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron won a Golden Globe. Now can it win an Oscar?
Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron now has an English dub trailer from its Hollywood-star cast
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Japan Railways partners with Overwatch, heroes hit the Shinkansen for bullet train collaboration
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Krispy Kreme releases a new Doughwich… at only one store in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron gets North American screening date in September
Ghibli’s Boy and the Heron wins Academy Award, studio COO apologizes for Hayao Miyazaki’s absence
Ghibli might finally be willing to let images of Hayao Miyazaki’s new anime be seen outside theaters
Studio Ghibli’s new anime may be the most expensive Japanese movie ever made, producer says
603 pages of hand-drawn Hayao Miyazaki art – Boy and Heron storyboards, art book going on sale
Studio Ghibli releases The Boy and the Heron doll that never, ever gives up
Beardless Hayao Miyazaki has on-brand answer to what he likes about The Boy and the Heron【Video】
Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki has ideas for a new film after The Boy and the Heron
Studio Ghibli releases new free-to-use anime images from The Boy and the Heron
Studio Ghibli displays The Boy and the Heron Academy Award Oscar in Japan for a limited time
After 40 years, Hayao Miyazaki’s first solo-directed anime is finally coming to North America
Was Ghibli right not to market Hayao Miyazaki’s new anime? Opening box office data is in
Hayao Miyazaki appears without his trademark beard, looks like a different person【Video】
New Ghibli anime’s theme song gets music video shot on island that inspired Princess Mononoke【Vid】
Hayao Miyazaki-illustrated T-shirt coming to Uniqlo…but not as part of Ghibli collection