Film: The Boy and the Heron

Hot on the heels of Godzilla Minus One, we have another war-time film set in Japan.

We meet young Mahito when he moves with his father to his new pregnant stepmother’s home. Natsuko looks a lot like his mum, who we learn has died in a hospital fire. Natsuko is his mum’s sister and this is their childhood home, managed by a loving group of older maids. Mohito spends his first few days in a state of loneliness and encounters a heron goading him outside his bedroom window.

Feeling lonely and missing his mother dearly, he follows the heron. This leads him on a journey full of adventures with a group of characters, including a birdman, a magical fisherwoman, and a wizardly uncle. Together, they take him to mystical towers and underwater worlds as he looks to fill the huge void in his life.

This beautifully animated tale is visually stunning and takes us on a journey through a deep fantasy world, keeping us engaged and invested in young Mahito's journey.

7/10