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Hayao Miyazaki often reflects on his own life and values through his films andThe Boy and The Heronwas no exception. If anything, it was the most accurate to his grief and sentiments surrounding his mother’s death, whom he was incredibly close to, and his distaste for his father’s contribution to Japan’s part in World War II. Despite the personal nuance and a clear anti-war sentiment, China has claimedThe Boy and The Heronis a hypocritical film that doesn’t match what Miyazaki has claimed about war so many times in his life.
The concerns emerging from China aboutThe Boy and The Heronare valid and have some fruit to them due to the movie’s lack of focus on the war. Many reviews said that the plot was rather disconnected and confusing. However, it’s clear people misunderstood the true core ofThe Boy and The Heron, maybe since it was lost in translation or the refusal to understand the protagonist is a 12-year-old boy.
IsThe Boy and The HeronDiminishing Japan’s Role in World War II?
The character of Mahito Maki is a reflection ofHayao Miyazaki. Excluding the few changes,The Boy and The Heronis meant to be his way of processing his life with his parents but through the lens of a 12-year-old. In response to trauma, many people end up feeling like their child selves again which could be Miyazaki’s way of dealing with it. Mahito’s complicated life during World War II, from losing his mother to having to accept a new family, is a classic tale of grief and growth.
Gundam Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino: I Won’t Accept Hayao Miyazaki is a “Craftsman” after Watching The Boy and The Heron
The boy’s relationship with his father strains further, something Miyazaki himself struggled with his own father profiting fromproducing rudder planes for Japan. However, it goes deeper than just his father. Miyazaki’s first-hand experience evacuating from city to city influenced his views, an aspect he explored inThe Boy and The Heron. It shows how damaged the young boy became from uprooting his entire life.
The Boy and The Heronmight not satisfy viewers and even China for its disjointed story but most people are also missing the point. It is meant to show us how war can break a child’s innocence, something we are still witnessing now in 2024, and finding a way to move forward in life. The original Japanese titleHow Do You Live?is a much better way to encompass the film’s message.
WhyThe Boy and The HeronReceived Such Mixed Reviews
The English title,The Boy and The Heron, always felt rudimentary and it’s easy to see why viewers didn’t understand the importance of the grey heron. The English title’s choice made no sense in terms of encapsulating the film’s nuance, especially when The Birdman didn’t actually have a lot of screen time.
The Boy and the Heron Becomes Not Only Hayao Miyazaki’s First Golden Globe Win But Also the Only Japanese Animated Film to Ever do so
In terms of what Chinese nationalists feel about Miyazaki’s “hypocritical” views on war,The Boy and The Heronwas accused of shamelessly portraying Japan as a victim of war. However, that isn’t entirely true (but certainly up to interpretation) since the film explores Mahito’s nuanced and jumbled emotions while grieving. He’s a lonely kid who doesn’t want to accept his mother’s death and doesn’t know how to move on but eventually finds his way.
The Boy and The Heronis available on Netflix.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
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Anime moviesHayao MiyazakiStudio GhibliThe Boy And The Heron
