New book release: The Art of the Boy and the Heron

Aaron Ren, 27 May 2025

Studio Ghibli fans can now immerse themselves in the beautiful illustrated publication of the Academy Award-winning fantasy movie, The Boy and the Heron. The movie is about a young boy named Mahito who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after the loss of his mother, guided by a clever gray heron. This beautifully crafted art book showcases hundreds of illustrations, including concept art, storyboards, character sketches, backgrounds, key animation, and more. It offers deep insights into the creative world envisioned by legendary director Hayao Miyazaki.

The book also includes commentary and interviews with the talented crew who made the movie, whilst touching on other Studio Ghibli classics. Readers can explore the film’s complex production process through the perspectives of supervising animator Takeshi Honda, art director Yoji Takeshige, background artist Noboru Yoshida, among others. Additionally, it features Miyazaki’s original proposal notes, the complete script, and numerous behind-the-scenes details.

In his review on Rotten Tomatoes on May 1st, 2025, anime fan Carson Timar (aka ClapperCast) describes the original movie as “so singular and individual within both Miyazaki's filmography and Studio Ghibli's as a whole. It is spectacular to see how much thought and emotion have been put into every frame of the film. It really is so special…”. However, other reviews recommend that some of the complex themes would be better suited to older teenagers and young adults rather than the categorised 8+ age recommendation.

The Boy and the Heron can be purchased by VIZ for approximately $40.