The Boy and the Heron

Synopsis

In the third year of ongoing conflict, Mahito Maki suffers the loss of his mother in a devastating hospital fire. After her death, his father remarries Natsuko, Mahito's maternal aunt, and relocates the family from Tokyo to a rural estate that once belonged to Mahito's deceased mother. In this unfamiliar setting, Mahito is persistently bothered by a strange gray heron that shows an unusual fascination with him. Grappling with his grief and adapting to his new environment, Mahito is startled to learn that Natsuko is pregnant. His confusion deepens when the irritating heron reveals it can speak and claims that Mahito's mother is still alive. The heron leads him toward a mysterious tower on the property, insisting that by entering it, Mahito can bring his mother back from the dead. However, Mahito remains doubtful. One day, when Natsuko goes missing, Mahito witnesses her entering the tower and feels compelled to follow her and rescue her. Upon entering, he is thrust into an alternate world beneath his own, where the boundaries between life and death become blurred. As he navigates this unfamiliar realm in search of Natsuko, Mahito must come to grasp the essence of life in order to safely return home.

Background

Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka won Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards and the 76th British Academy Film Awards. It was also nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 81st Golden Globe Awards and won two Annie Awards for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production and Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production.