Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film out of the famous Studio Ghibli is now officially the fourth highest grossing anime film in North America. The Boy and the Heron has a total estimated earning of nearly 40 million dollars in the US.
The Boy and the Heron
Originally titled How Do You Live in Japan, The Boy and the Heron was set to be Miyazaki’s final film. It remains to be seen if this will be true, as the director himself has somewhat walked back this claim. It is, however, a deeply personal film for its creator, focused on coping with loss and facing the future. While the plot of the movie can be hard to explain, it is a visual masterpiece with a strong emotional core that has been pulling in American audiences since its release in the US back in December.
Highest Grossing Anime Films in North America
Anime films have recently been leaving their mark at the box office in America, especially those stemming from currently popular anime series. The theatrically released version of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train rose to be the second highest grossing anime film in the US very quickly, and 2021’s Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a prequel to the hit series, made just under 35 million dollars as well. Pokémon films take the first and third spot of the list – an evergreen franchise with a massive fanbase that is always ready for more.
The Boy and the Heron isn’t just making money, it is being recognized during the 2024 awards season, too. The film has been nominated for, and already won, numerous awards thus far. It recently took home the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. It was up against another anime film titled Suzume, and multiple films coming out of the United States including Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros Movie, Sony’s Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse, Pixar’s Elemental, and Disney’s Wish. This was a difficult category with several well received films this year, so Miyazaki’s thought-provoking and emotional masterpiece taking home the award is a testament to its storytelling and connection with viewers on a personal level. The film is anticipated to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as well, a prize Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have taken home once before for the beloved coming of age film Spirited Away in 2003.
Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron is being distributed in North America by GKIDS in both the original Japanese with English subtitles and the English dub. It is still in theaters now for those who have yet to see what may still be Hayao Miyazaki’s final film.
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