Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' trailer released ahead of Italian debut

The first official trailer for Hayao Miyazaki's new film 'The Boy and the Heron' (original title 'Kimitachi wa dō ikiruka') has been released online, months after its Japanese premiere. The film, which opened in Japan on July 14, 2023, achieved the best opening weekend for a Studio Ghibli film since 'Spirited Away', grossing over 2 billion yen and attracting 1.3 million viewers in its first four days, despite no traditional advertising campaign. Set in Japan during World War II, the story follows a teenage boy named Mahito whose mother died in a fire and whose father works in a factory building warplanes—themes of maternal absence and aviation are recurring in Miyazaki's work. After moving to the countryside, Mahito encounters a talking heron that leads him into a secret fantasy world. The film was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023, and will make its European debut at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain on September 22, 2023. Italian cinemas will screen the film starting January 1, 2024.