It’s a beautiful day for all Ghibli fans!

If you loved Oscar-winner The Boy and the Heron (2023), you are in luck. Elysian is launching several home entertainment products that you will absolutely love. You might have seen the STUNNING blue limited edition 4K UHD Steelbook (right above), but that is only the beginning. While this author is admittedly a sucker for anything in a pretty package, the contents don’t fall short either.

Recap

The Oscars were ages ago and, if you watched the film around that time, you might have forgotten bits and bobs. Not to worry, you can easily catch up right now:

Mahito is a boy who loses his mother at an early age and has trouble making peace with his father’s remarriage. When his stepmother goes missing, he ventures into a dreamlike world to save her. In the process, he learns valuable lessons in honour and humanity.

Of course, despite sounding quite simple, the film is anything but. Like most Miyazaki works, the feature is absolutely mind-blowing. You can read all about its ups and downs in my review if you missed it.

The juicy news

Nevertheless, if you are reading this, it might be safe to assume that you already know about the film and the awe-inspiring display of talent that it is. So let’s stop beating around the bush and get to the newest content featured in this release, shall we?

In terms of physical releases, the following options are (or will be very soon) available:

• 4k UHD + Blu-ray
• Blu-ray
• DVD
• Limited Edition Steelbook 4k UHD + Blu-ray (my personal favourite for obvious aesthetical reasons)
• HMV limited edition 4k UHD + Blu-ray with 5 exclusive artcards (the wonderful artwork can be previewed in the image below)

The main event

In this type of releases, form is great, but substance is even better. Keep reading to discover all the extra content you’ll be able to get your hands on. In addition to feature-length storyboards, the Blu-ray features:

Drawing with Takeshi Honda

Takeshi Honda, supervising animator for The Boy and the Heron, shares his drawing techniques and some insight about the creation process of the main characters of the film. You’ll be able to follow him as he draws all your favourites (warawara included). This might just be one of the most calming pieces of entertainment there are. If you liked Bob Ross, get ready for a modern version that might even inspire you to grab a pencil and follow along!

Interview with Takeshi Honda

If you keep to the good vibes, you’ll end up in Honda’s interview. Sticking to his chill personality, he talks about how he came to be an animator, the first time he worked with Miyazaki, and the grandpa-style psychological attack that got him to accept the job of supervising animator for The Boy and the Heron. Through him, you’ll learn a bit more about the world of animating and about which scenes were the hardest to create. This equips you with extra information to enjoy the film from a different perspective.

Interview with Joe Hisaishi

If you are more of a music buff, the interview with Hisaishi will definitely be your jam. If you read the review, you’ll have seen that pretty much the only issue that could be found in this film was the score. It appears to be completely independent of the visual content, which can be quite shocking, especially for audiences used to Hollywood content in which the sound always accompanies the pace of the action.

Hisaishi addresses this leap of individuality and explains why he chose to do it so. Honestly, you may like it more or less, but his explanation is one of the most beautiful attitudes I’ve ever seen an artist have towards their audience. It proves how much his creations mean to him and the passion he has for his craft way before he even mentions those subjects. His perspective will make watching the film a brand-new experience for sure. One where the soundtrack will play a different role from the one most of us are used to.

Additionally, both the Blu-ray and the DVD feature trailers, teasers, the music video of “Spinning Globe”, by Kenshi Yonezu, and last but not least:

Interview with Toshio Suzuki

Toshio Suzuki is not only the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, but also the inspiration behind arguably the most charismatic character of the feature: The Grey Heron. You heard right. In a way, The Boy and the Heron is Miyazaki’s autobiography, and Suzuki happens to be the heron. The interview offers yet another perspective of the film and Miyazaki himself. A more fun outlook on the whole project that will influence your next rewatch of the film for sure!

The Boy and the Heron will be available to rent and buy on digital from 16th September, on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD from 23rd September, and with a limited edition Steelbook available from 7th October.

Have you got any of these or are thinking about it? Do tell me about your experience below in the comments or through Cut to the Take’s social media!