On Monday, April 29, 2024, GKIDS declared that in partnership with Shout! Studios, they will be distributing the internationally acclaimed film The Boy and the Heron, by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, on home video. The digital release is set for June, followed by physical releases in July.
To be exact, GKIDS will make The Boy and the Heron available for purchase on demand in both HD and 4K formats on “all major”digital platforms beginning Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The movie will also be released in various physical editions, including a 4K UHD/Blu-ray Disc combo pack, a Blu-ray Disc/DVD combo pack, and a limited-edition steelbook version featuring both 4K UHD and Blu-ray Disc formats.
The Boy and the Heron, a Studio Ghibli film, will be released on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in all three physical formats. This marks the first time a Studio Ghibli film will be available in 4K UHD format. Initially, it was stated that the film would exclusively stream on Max (formerly known as HBO Max) and would subsequently be available for purchase. However, it has now been announced that the film will also be available for streaming on Netflix worldwide, with the exception of the United States and Japan.
The Boy and the Heron: International Home Video Releases via Digital and Physical Formats
The home video releases for The Boy and the Heron offer special features such as a feature-length storyboard, interviews with composer Joe Hisaishi, Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and supervising animator Takeshi Honda, a music video for Kenshi Yonezu’s theme song “Spinning Globe,”trailers, and teasers.
At the 96th Academy Awards ceremony earlier this year, the film won the Best Animated Feature Film category. This marks Miyazaki’s second film to receive the award, following Spirited Away. However, it is his fourth film to be nominated, with Howl’s Moving Castle being nominated in 2006 and The Wind Rises in 2014, but ultimately losing both times.
Despite not winning Oscars, the film was still successful in securing other major accolades, including the Best Motion Picture—Animated category at the 81st Golden Globes Awards and the Animation of the Year award at the 47th annual Japan Academy Film Prizes. It was also nominated for numerous categories from various award bodies, although it did not win in all of them.
Miyazaki’s most recent release premiered in Japan in July 2023, selling 1.003 million tickets and grossing approximately USD 13.2 million in its initial three days in Japanese cinemas. The movie debuted in the top spot at the U.S. box office, earning USD 12,836,313 during its first three days.
According to Variety, this movie is the first original anime production to reach the top of the United States box office, indicating that it is not based on a pre-existing franchise or series.
Prior to its release, it was announced that the film would be Miyazaki’s final work before his retirement. However, recent rumors circulating since its initial Japanese debut cast doubt on this statement.
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