GKIDS Film Will Release Hayao Miyazaki's 'The Boy and The Heron"
July 14, 2023 sees the release of the long awaited new film from Hayao Miyazki in Japanese cinemas. You would be forgiven for not being aware of that fact. Studio Ghibli have made the unprecedented decision of not releasing any trailers, images, synopsis or advertisement. Nothing will have been seen by the public besides a single teaser poster.
On the day of the Japanese release US distributor GKIDS Films have announced that they have acquired the North American rights to the film. This follows the distributor having been the custodians of the Ghibli collection in North America ever since the deal with Disney ended.
In keeping with the secrecy surrounding the film, GKIDS are not releasing any additional marketing materials at this time. The film has up until now been known as How Do You Live? the translation of the film's Japanese title Kimitachi wa Do Ikiruka. GKIDS have announced the film's official English title is The Boy And The Heron (which at least gives us something to go on).
The film is an original story written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Toshio Suzuki, with a score written by Miyazaki's long time collaborator Joe Hisaishi.
The film will be released theatrically in North America later this year.
"Hayao Miyazaki is a living legend in filmmaking, as evidenced by his Academy Award win for Spirited Away and his two Oscar nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle and The Wind Rises," says David Jesteadt, GKIDS president. "It’s been ten years since the world has seen a new film from Miyazaki-san, and GKIDS is so proud and honored to unveil his latest, highly anticipated masterpiece in North America.”
GKIDS have released all of Studio Ghibli's films (except Grave Of The Fireflies) on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital. They have also released Ghibli's most recent films in cinemas including The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya, From Up On Poppy Hill and When Marnie Was There, and are holding a retrospective screening series in Ghibli Fest , throughout the year with Princess Mononoke screening next month.
