Mahito Maki
main character
MOVIE
7.7
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 1
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
Estimated watch time
2h 4m
⚡ 1 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Fairy Tale92%Coming of Age86%Animals86%Anthropomorphism80%Autobiographical74%Male Protagonist72%Adoption68%Historical60%Orphan60%Rural57%
MOVIEFINISHED2023 SUMMER7.7 / 10 AniList score
The Boy and the Heron
君たちはどう生きるか• Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka
Synopsis & Story
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother’s tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy’s mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the “long-awaited one.” (Source: Letterboxd)
Trailer
Watch on YouTubeWhere to Watch Officially
Availability, audio and subtitles vary by region and service.
Featured Cast & Voice Actors
Franchise Universe & Related Entries
Aniphoria guide
The Boy and the Heron: should you watch it?
At a glance
The Boy and the Heron has been well received, with an average AniList score of 77/100 — 63% of 30,868 ratings are 8/10 or higher.
It ranks #14 highest-rated film of 2023, and #5 most popular film of 2023 on AniList.
Of the 49.7K AniList users who started it, 0.3% dropped it, so it is very rarely abandoned; 48.1K have finished it.
As a 124-minute film, it fits in a single evening.
Best for viewers who enjoy Adventure, Drama, Fantasy — especially fairy tale, coming of age, animals, anthropomorphism.
Main cast & creators
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Music
- Joe Hisaishi
The Boy and the Heron FAQ
- How long is The Boy and the Heron?
- The Boy and the Heron runs 124 minutes (2 h 4 min).
- Is The Boy and the Heron finished?
- Yes. The Boy and the Heron has finished airing — the final episode aired July 14, 2023.
- Is The Boy and the Heron based on a manga?
- No. The Boy and the Heron is an original anime story, not adapted from a manga or novel.
- Who animated The Boy and the Heron?
- The Boy and the Heron was animated by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
- Where can I watch The Boy and the Heron?
- The Boy and the Heron is listed on Netflix, Max. Availability varies by region — check the streaming links on this page.