Studio Ghibli's Epilogue? | The Boy and the Heron

The future of Studio Ghibli is uncertain.
As time moves forward, the key players are getting older and many have passed away. This took a massive toll on Hayao Miyazaki, who was making The Boy and the Heron at the time.
When the feature released, no one could quite grasp it's depths immediately. Many people said they had to watch it multiple times to start to find meaning. Even Miyazaki is quoted that he wasn't sure what he was making throughout the production.
This is my attempt to dig into how The Boy and the Heron spoke to me, delving behind the scenes in Studio Ghibli as they spent 7 years making this, and seeing the uncertain but promising future that is in store for the studio.
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00:00 Intro
00:59 What should I do?
04:19 I want to talk to Paku-san
08:06 Human emotions are complicated
10:20 Grief is messy
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Here are some of the articles I referenced in the video, great interviews with key animator's on The Boy and the Heron:
fullfrontal.moe/inoue-boy-and...
fullfrontal.moe/akihiko-yamas...
fullfrontal.moe/takeshi-honda...
Also some videos I pulled from:
• Japan's Ghibli Fans Re...
• The Boy and the Heron ...
• THE BOY AND THE HERON ...
This video is a great look into the meaning of metaphor and also confirmed to me the comparisons to previous Ghibli work I'd noticed while watching:
• Metaphor in the Boy an...
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Thank you for your continued support!

[@ALaughingWolf2188]

“To live is to love, and the price of love is grief.” Damn, those words hit hard, this was an amazing essay about not just the movie, but the man behind it, I have an even higher respect for him now than I did before.

[@MattPin]

"Love, Not liberty" - My Parents

[@epicmickey716]

Watched The Boy and The Heron with my sister and mother. It was a very surreal experience. But I see that it hit harder for my mom who also experienced war. Living in peace is an achievement in life and things will eventually end. How is she living? With peace, faith and acceptance. I’m used to seeing movies, especially animated movies being made as a product. This movie is a product from Miyazaki’s soul.

[@Any-mation]

These are amazing questions, and I think ones Miyazaki is also curious to answer, we don’t get to choose our time or where we are born. Life is thrust upon us and what happens around us happens. How do you respond in these times, or how do you live? Couldn’t agree more, he’s bearing his heart open for us

[@NYmom777]

I grew up in Japan watching the golden age of anime in the 70s-80s, but had no idea how much the work of Hayao Miyazaki and Paku-san influenced my life until I became a mother myself. The more I watched Ghibli films and learned about Hayao Miyazaki, I see him as a young Japanese boy with a pure heart trapped in an old man’s body. The way he connects and interacts with local kindergarten children and how he admires and loves Paku-san is sincere innocence of his character. The speech he read at Paku-san’s funeral made me cry… must be so hard to lose his dear friends at his age but I want him to live forever, because the world needs something so beautiful like his mind. ❤ Thank you so much for this lovely video.

[@rico-ghibli-life]

同感です。わたしも幼い時いっぱいジブリを観ました。 わたしの息子はこの映画がジブリで一番好きな映画になりました。もっと多くの子供にもこの映画を知ってほしいです。 宮崎駿監督には長生きしてほしい。彼の美しい心が作った映画をもっと観たい。

[@NYmom777]

@@rico-ghibli-life この新作は男の子が主役だから息子さんも謹慎感を感じたのかもしれませんね。私は子供の頃アルプスの少女ハイジが大好きであの美しいスイスの背景を見て西洋の世界に憧れたのを覚えています。世界中の子供達にジブリの作品を見て清い心と共に育っていって欲しいものです。

[@rico-ghibli-life]

わたしも子供の頃アルプスの少女ハイジをよく観ていました。 懐かしいです。 この映画を観に行った時、たまたまかもしれませんが子供はわたしの子供たちだけでした。 最近はジブリを知らない子供たちが増えて寂しいです。 心が豊かになるジブリをもっと世界の多くの人が観てくれたら良いなと思います。

[@Any-mation]

What a beautiful comment, thank you. Its really nice to hear your experience and the depths of which Ghibli and their previous work connected with you

[@NYmom777]

@@Any-mation Thank you. Hope children (and adults) all over the world get to see Studio Ghibli work. ❤

[@roadtripwarrior]

yeah man i am crying pretty much that whole video. incredibly moved by this film, moved by how it moved you, and moved by this video. Thanks Cole.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you man, it’s such a moving film really. So complicated but the meaning finds a way to connect. Always great to see you here 🙏🏻

[@tiaturnbullchampionscoachi9587]

Simply beautiful, I am also crying.

[@BrawlStarsForever-mr5su]

Me too 💐💐

[@adityaanand8914]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ctrtoken]

Oh man. After getting out of the film last year the first thing I said about it was that it "felt like Miyazaki was making a Takahata film". So seeing him being so candid about its connection to Takahata in the BTS footage is crazy.

[@Any-mation]

You hit the nail on the head there 🙏🏻

[@charlieprice8372]

When my grandpa bob passed away in 2018, I was incredibly devastated, he was like a second father to me. He was there for me since i was born. My grandpa Joe was similar, being apart of my life and being an infinite source of witty humor and trollish antics. When he past away a year later in 2019, i thought my world was coming apart, add that to my stress from college and my strained relationship with my parents and i was a depressed mess. So when watching the Boy and the Heron i connected it to myself, because like Mahito, i know what is it like to experience loss, grief, and pain, i know what it is like to feel resentment or distance from a new relative who i perceived to be taking my grandfather's place. I cried at night, I had hallucinations, I desperately wanted to escape this cruel world. My depression is more managable nowadays but I still have my days when I feel sad about them. So when i watched the Boy and the Heron i felt like it was speaking to me, it helped me on my process to self-healing, inadvertedly validating my feelings, and assuring me that at the end of the day, it will all be ok, just keep living. So I did. I'm still living. Although my grandfathers aren't here anymore, I've redirected that grief to productive aspects. Im writing a novel in honor of my grandfather's, because like Miyazaki I wanted to give them thanks and love through the best way I know how. Storytelling. I have to say goodbye in my heart. So i must do it, now only in their memory but my own inner peace. I always tell people that spirited away appeals to my inner child, the sense of wonder and discovery and the boy and the heron appeals to my adult self, trying to live the best what i can with the means i possess. Hence why it is my second favorite film from Miyazaki. Thank you Miyazaki and thank you any-mation for this amazing video. It feels nice not being alone in my feelings. (Apologies for any typos im writing on my phone).

[@Any-mation]

Firstly, thank you so much for such a beautiful comments. I’m glad you’re finding a way to channel your grief into a creative flow. I understand 100% what you mean. I wish you so much luck on your journey with that novel. Secondly, if you’d ever like to talk or share your burden please let me know.

[@charlieprice8372]

@@Any-mation Personally I wouldn't mind talking to you. I always love a fellow lover of animation. Especially in detail.

[@Any-mation]

@@charlieprice8372 Absolutely, it'd be my pleasure, drop me a message on [e-mail] anytime

[@devrod5862]

Jesus christ can heal you from depression entirely. He came to heal the brokenhearted, but we need to follow, turn from our sin, get baptized, receive the holy spirit, obey him all the way to the end. if we do, we can inherit the kingdom of God, where there is no more pain, no more death, no more sin. Depression a forgotten relic that is no where to be found, from a world no longer there True rest for those who have faith in and follow and obey Jesus Every tear wiped away

[@charlieprice8372]

​@@devrod5862appreciate the sentiment. But i dont need Jesus to tell me im ok. My art does the job well enough.

[@beefling5390]

My day just started and im leaking from my face 😢

[@LuisSierra42]

Looks like it's beginning to rain

[@tiaturnbullchampionscoachi9587]

Yes, I am leaking also. ❤

[@achilleustheodoridis]

One of the most beautiful pieces of essays I have seen about The Boy and the Heron

[@Any-mation]

Wow, that's so nice to hear. Thank you

[@person906]

The best one so for for me mate. Thank you for giving us the small but significant glimpses into Miyazaki's life that shaped the movie.

[@LuisSierra42]

@@Any-mation I'm crying rn bro

[@spaceresident331]

I think that, like The Wind Rises, The Boy and the Heron is significantly elevated by knowing Miyazaki and his artistic journey. I wasn't aware of Takahata's death when I first watched The Boy and the Heron, nor was I aware of just how deep Miyazaki's friendship with Takahata was; I thought the movie was good, but I felt that there was something clearly personal to Miyazaki that I was missing. Something that would unify the themes I was seeing, especially the heavy emphasis on death and the fragility of life. That clip of Miyazaki asking the air to give back what Takahata took to his grave, along with the other clips of him dealing with grief through the storyboarding process was the missing piece for me. Thank you for making this video.

[@Any-mation]

Glad I could help find the missing piece with you

[@samf.s.7731]

Yeah, I just found out he'd passed away

[@tsukuneboy]

He's very awkward and difficult to deal with, especially feeling wise. And not only to other people, but I also think he knows he himself doesn't know how to deal with himself, his own feeling. Years seeing BTS of his film, I found his process is more interesting than the finished product itself. For me, his greatest artwork is his life, his greatest story is his itself that inspires me. As a creator, seeing him like this broke my heart. I know I will deal with this kind of experience in life, especially as an artist myself. Thank you for this essay, accompanying me during the night, working on my own craft, my own struggle, my own life. Wish you the best for your channel and your own life, dear Any-mation!

[@NighDayz]

My boyfriend and i went to see this. It was a masterpiece. Left me touched and this sense of understanding to the world that felt so warm. Such a good feeling i get from all of his movies. ❤ Truly a visionary and a unique man.

[@Any-mation]

I completely agree. His vitality always pushes through, no matter his internal struggles.

[@josebessa6520]

It's hard to put into words the deeply moving experience of watching 'The Boy and the Heron.' The references are everywhere you look; it's no wonder it stirred up a sea of memories for me. I still recall vividly sitting in that tiny cinema inside the Ghibli Museum back in 2013, teary, thinking about art and its undeniable importance in life. This film goes beyond being simply emotional and visually stunning. It feels like a landmark piece, a celebration of animation at its finest. It's especially refreshing in today's landscape saturated with productions often hindered by market pressures. Thankfully, we have masters like Hayao Miyazaki who create truly exceptional works.

[@thealvinvodcast2029]

"When one things ends, I realized life still goes on" Thank you for this video. Not only did you make me cry a lot, but you've given me an even bigger perspective not just to The Boy and the Heron but to Studio Ghibli as a whole. I remembered one time someone said that Studio Ghibli has a problem in ending their films in which they feel abrupt. But as I looked back on The Boy and the Heron, yeah, it felt like out of left feel but that's the point of what Hayao Miyazaki was saying. After witnessing such amazing and hard moments, whether its watching a movie or in real life, you still remember that you have something else to go on with your life and that it doesn't end there. It keeps on going on no matter what and we have to choose to keep moving forward. Because of this, my appreciation of Miyazaki's magnum opus has increased even more. Not only did it immerse me in the world that he is good at, but has a lot of things going in terms of what he is trying to convey to his audience. To Hayao Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata, thank you for making such amazing movies that will forever be remembered.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much. I’m so curious about the idea that they struggle with their endings, I always found their endings to happen exactly where they need to.

[@user-mo4jd9sb4e]

As a Japanese student who loves Miyazaki's anime, I am grateful for the deep interest that international fans have shown in the background of his works. This video is based on an NHK documentary series called "Professional," but it is important to note that the episode about Miyazaki has been subjectively edited by the director. In particular, the oversimplification of the main theme as Miyazaki's farewell to Takahata is an extreme interpretation. Miyazaki himself has stated that the film is autobiographical and an adventure story centered around a boy trapped in an Oedipus complex. However, this documentary tends to assert that the movie is a narrative directed at Takahata. I have read through all the books and storyboards related to Miyazaki, and I encourage everyone not to be swayed by this single interpretation. Instead, cherish what your own heart felt while watching the film in the theater.

[@user-mo4jd9sb4e]

It is important to note that the interpretation of Takahata being the central theme is based on the publicity by producer Toshio Suzuki. Throughout the history of film promotion, Suzuki has always been a (in a good sense) liar. He has continuously stirred up Miyazaki's image to the public, creating waves in society and riding those waves to promote the films. This is evident from the character of the conman that appears in the movie itself:)

[@Any-mation]

I love this, thank you so much. I’ll just share some of my thoughts. I had read criticism of the documentary from some staff about the nature of Miyazaki while making this and he seemed very happy. Though I will also say, the moments I used in this were moments from Miyazaki’s mouth himself and that’s what I tried to connect to. Suzuki is a very interesting man, very skilled at manipulation, that’s really evident in how easy going and funny he seems, but the intelligence of his direction is always present. I also used previous footage from other documentaries that show Takahata and Miyazaki being close and how he looks at him and speaks to him. I think a key moment is when all three are in Miyazaki’s Atelier after Miyazaki announced his retirement in 2013. You can see Suzuki saying, why is Miyazaki so fond of Takahata. also Miyazaki says to Takahata he should have been there. That’s from Isao Takahata and his tale of the Princess Kaguya. Footage of them together, Miyazaki isn’t brooding, but joking and connecting. Even though I know they had massive arguments, the respect and effect is palpable. I connected with the grief I felt deeply and I hope people find their own meaning and interpretations in this work.

[@mrpicky1868]

Takahata legacy is unmatched. very diverse deep and original work

[@Any-mation]

Totally agree

[@NikiWonoto26]

I'm from Indonesia. This is very beautiful & deeply moving. All the real life scenes footages about the process, the interviews, the monologues, of the great legends from Studio Ghibli, they're all very precious, very rare footages, that I could never find anywhere else. They all really add the depths very much. And the choice of background music, your calm narration, the tranquil yet deep, meaningful vibes & feels, it's honestly extremely very rare to be found anywhere else. It really touched & moved my heart deeply. Thank you very much~

[@behindtheanimatorsdesk]

The Boy and the Heron is a piece that Miyazaki had made that truly evokes his living mind and soul, that is why it is so profound, magnificent, heavy and bleak. It is his entire life journey presented as a metaphorical tale, portraying himself within his youth, his war engineering father, the childhood he had of being distant to his mother, and now baring the grief of her death, the friends and colleagues he has and once had at Studio Ghibli, and the grief of his best and greatest friend Takahata. And all through this, he puts the audience in the position to feel the profound emotion that he presents, and this all reflects on Miyazaki’s experiences, moral beliefs, thoughts and dreams. The question to live, how do you live? How must we live amongst the hardships of sorrow, fear and grief? How can you find hope, value and courage in such a bleak and miserable world that you yourself lives in? And those questions are the soul purpose why he made this film. Thank you for making this video! I’m thinking about making a video essay on this film too, because it truly is a film to unpick, and it reflects the personal life of a tiresome man that put his blood, sweat and tears into this movie. People deserve to know why this film is a masterpiece, and we must continue to spread the message!

[@Any-mation]

Absolutely make one and then drop me a link, I’d love to see it!

[@neilrischl9569]

You might not read this but this is not just one of the best videos on KZbin but one of the best pieces of art I have ever come to encounter. I could feel your heart and soul was put into this short film. Thank you for being vulnerable with us. I hope you make many more in the years to come.

[@Any-mation]

This is just a wonderful thing to read, I can’t believe I missed it earlier. Thank you so so much, it means the world

[@Blessed_Souls]

9:14 just hit like a freaking train im crying! The way he comparisons and the transition. 😭these films are like breathing fresh air.

[@tyfine99]

The trust he had for his team won them an oscar, I don’t think studio Ghibli is gonna go away, at least I hope not.

[@Errew18]

When I watched the movie I was confused. I was expecting something else, and it really is unlike anything the studio has done before. I could feel the people's dissapointment and confusion in the room, a group of teenagers behind me were even making jokes and saying "This makes no sense". I was a bit infected by this feeling, and a small anger and dissapointment started inside me. Despite this I made the effort to pay attention throughout the whole film and I couldn't hold on to that negativity. For some time I felt like it was coming short of all the previous films, I heard some negative reviews and opinions, but as the days passed the more the movie found it's place inside me. Now I've come to the conclusion that I wouldn't want it to be any other way. This is Miyazaki's most personal work, and in today's industry, filled with heartless remakes, generic blockbusters and endless recycling of ideas, a person willing to speak from the heart and expose his vulnerabilities, dreams and heartaches, is a blessing. I feel the movie is like a shy friend, it may appear boring and empty but if you make the effort to look beyond the surface you will find an endless universe inside. Also some things can only be understood by those who have felt the grief of the characters in their real lives.

[@Any-mation]

Love this completely. I think it really needs to marinate with you. I find that with a lot of his work. The first time I watched Spirited Away I wasn't sure what was going on, but the more I think about it or watch it, the more in awe of the storytelling and what's buried in there. He's honestly just incredible because of the humanity he can display, and how it connects with you.

[@ambedo1297]

Finally someone who truly understood and appreciated everything that this beautiful movie conveyed. Thanks for making this and sharing!

[@Any-mation]

Thank you very much

[@NighDayz]

I’m a crying ive watched the video lol. thank u. Studio Ghibli means so much to me. Knowing that this movie means so much to so many, it’s earned a very very special place in my heart thank you. ❤

[@Any-mation]

I’m glad this spoke to your heart, thank you!

[@minhhophoto6193]

😊 Today an Oscar like a gratitude for Paku-san, always in our hearts ♥️

[@jessquinn6106]

Yeah, hearing and watching this, I understand. There is a good part of Miyazaki in me as well. I know that bond of friendship, I know that loss, that void, that difficulty to let go, that missing part, love and loss, that want to quite but can't. I get it. I feel it daily. As an artist, I know where Miyazaki is coming from with his art and that struggle to express it on film.

[@Any-mation]

I think that’s what makes life and love so special, that we also don’t have to let go, but know that it will change

[@arletbode4847]

“I’m no longer sure what this is all about” made me laugh out loud for 3 minutes 🤣🤣🤣

[@achilleustheodoridis]

Going back to this video in honor of the Oscar triumph of The Boy and the Heron!

[@jiga6832]

10:53 Holy fuck the flood of tears is coming thank you for running my week 😭😭😭

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@steliosmoustakis1372]

And another comment while we are at it - movie made me feel as the character of Himi was his introspection on how his mom was the archetype for all the strong, independent female protagonists he populated his movies with, and this is him finally acknowledging that, showing it for us in plain sight. Their final moment together, her saying it's OK to let go, and her just being proud and excited to raise him, completely crushed me, makes me shiver when I think about it.

[@thecooleraliguar]

Man, keep doing what youre doing. I cant financially support you at this time sadly, but I mean this from the bottom of my headt when I say that youre one of the best video essayist ive seen. This was a beautifully made video.

[@Any-mation]

I really appreciate the thought and honest even just saying that, watching the video and finding it connected with you is more support than anything I could hope for

[@armalvior]

That's a good reason why all of his works can pull a string and make you cry to remind us to live in this world we are born in. To live a life in all of its spectrum... to be a human.

[@mariacargille1396]

Thank you for this. Really. I struggled with The Boy and Heron, despite the beauty of its animation. The story confused and disappointed me, because I felt pieces of common Ghibli themes, but they weren't as tight or cohesive as in other films-- it felt oddly like a rehash, which was startling for that studio. It definitely felt like an end to me. I don't think it'll ever be my favorite Ghibli, but it doesn't need to; I feel like I understand it far, far better now with the benefit of context, and I appreciate that a lot.

[@Any-mation]

I’ve heard this a lot from people. I think a lot of us bring expectations into any of Miyazaki’s films having consumed the others so much. We expect the new work to fall into familiar patterns, which they can but as with all his work, it’s impossible to predict what he’ll bring to an unfolding story.

[@owenhuyge]

Saving this video to my good shit playlist. This is my favourite film of 2023. Overflowing with vitality and love, and questions about one's own self, I will never understand how it could be considered too oblique. Utterly transportive with an almost frightening understanding of what it's like be lost in grief, it might just be my favourite film from Miyazaki. Thank you for this video.

[@Any-mation]

Overflowing with vitality, I love that

[@mengguguo]

A beautiful video. One that makes me realise I am not doing enough. I am not living properly. Thank you.

[@Any-mation]

You’re doing enough 🙏🏻

[@discoverghibli2831]

This is an excellent video. Melancholy, the end of something that will not be replicated again. Your heart sinks but somehow I want the feeling just like the ending of Princess Mononoke where everything sprouts and grows into a new era. Thank you for making this so insightful!

[@Any-mation]

The ending of Mononoke has always been a big touch point I return to in my life. Reminding me the only constant is change, and the only way to deal with it is to accept that and make the most of a circumstance. Not just rebuild, but evolve. I love that. Thank you for sharing

[@discoverghibli2831]

@@Any-mation The only constant is change. Fabulous!

[@lukamrse1324]

you described the boy and the heron perfectly in every second of the video, I couldnt take my eyes off it. while I was watching in the cinema...such an unforgetable expierence to witness

[@IliasBeekveldt]

Wow, beautiful video 🥺 I'm going to see the Boy and the Heron tomorrow with a whole new perspective now ✨

[@Any-mation]

Please do let me know what you think after to watch it again!

[@spectacularlysentimental]

Incredibly moving and heartfelt video. Thank you so much for all the video essays and podcasts you've been doing recently. I have been enjoying them all.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share that. I'm so glad you've been enjoying them

[@mumfromouterspace]

When I watch his movies, I often find that I understand things I didn't understand after watching them once, but after watching them a second or third time.

[@Any-mation]

I definitely think this movie needs multiple views, 100%

[@toonblade4231]

Another perspective I've seen on this movie, one I had at the back of my mind after watching it, and some others pointing it out, is that the movie is also a message to Goro Miyazaki. What made me think this was all the callbacks to Hayao's past works throughout the movie, and when finally Mahito meets the Granduncle, the Granduncle states he has built thirteen worlds. The moment I heard it, I knew there was significance to it. Sure enough, that's how many films Miyazaki has made. With how the Granduncle begs Mahito to take over, but Mahito refuses and instead chooses a new path in life, forsaking the past, it stuck with me. Others have had similar thoughts and connected the dots to this being a movie from Hayao to Goro, a father whose crafted thirteen magical worlds over a long career, letting his son know that it's okay to not walk the path he took. Let the tower crumble and turn over a new page in life. This analysis done here is also brilliant. I also see how all the points made here can apply to the movie. Honestly, it melds much more with the other interpretation. This was a movie of Miyazaki's heart and soul, saying everything that's been on his mind for years. A love letter to his past, a farewell to old friends, but a hopeful invitation for a new future. Ghibli may indeed be different from here on out, but I think Miyazaki is fine with that and that he has faith that everything will be all right. And after watching this movie, I believe in that faith as well.

[@Any-mation]

I've heard people say similar things, and thank you for sharing. I wonder how much of that is the truth. I think because people interpret Miyazaki as the old master and he's handing down his knowledge to a younger person, people see it as Hayao and Goro. I've never read it that way, though I hope part of it is true. I think because of the nature of Miyazaki, I don't think he'd put himself in the position of being a master handing down his craft, more its a love letter and thanks to those he learned from.

[@sangitaekka]

I am yet to watch The Boy and the Heron because I live in a small town.. :) Extremely moved by this video and crying as I am typing... Thank you for making this video... I somehow feel prepared to watch the film now, on OTT... My fear of losing out on good things has reduced. Beautiful work there.. ♥️

[@Any-mation]

I hope you get to see it

[@xynystervolt]

Leaking from both eyes and nostrils..thank you for making this ❤ i hope Miyazaki got one more left in him but at this point its just my selfishness that is asking. After all , when you make art .. You're truly making it for yourself and hope that other people will be able to resonate with it. If this was him finding his peace with all that he went through..i cannot ask for more ..and yet i hope he finds peace and the inspiration to maybe come back for one last time ❤

[@Any-mation]

Yes, I find even the art I make is either exploring some curiousity or finding a way to speak about your experiences in a cathartic way

[@steliosmoustakis1372]

Yeah, your video really crushed me. I absolutely agree with what you are saying, but at the same time, I think that this is such a complicated film, that Miyazaki was able to both instill Takahata and himself in the character of the granduncle. His struggle with the end of Studio Ghibli, his career, his legacy, and the end of his life, accepting that his movies were just his effort to create balance in the world, that's all very apparent in the film. I've now watched this 3 times in the theater, and I'm going to go for a 4th, final one. The level of intellect, emotional intelligence and empathy for the human experience leaves me in awe with each viewing.

[@Any-mation]

I think it’s true that it’s impossible not to put parts of yourself into any characters you write and create, very true.

[@protastudios]

Totally agree: when I watched it I immediately interpreted the Grand-uncle as Miyazaki, but lately I've been hearing more and more people talking about Takahata's death and how it may have affected the film, and I think both of these interpretations fit togheter really well. Wouldn't be the first time Miyazaki hides multiple meanings into one concept.

[@PenalbaToday]

Tenía mucho tiempo que un vídeo ensayo no solo me detuviera sino además emocionarme por hacerme entender la enormidad de emociones que Miyasaki puso en esta película. Es impresionante, felicidades por el ensayo.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you, he poured a lot into this. The emotions drip off each frame

[@tallerdecomic]

Crying... i don´t know why but... thanks man.

[@microman_mathtiiaasrosen]

I Believe...... After this it can only be so that the future generations that loved this get into the craft and will produce even more of the style,

[@globoy.t]

This was beautiful! I need a documentary on studio G

[@Any-mation]

I have one on Miyazaki and one on Takahata if that helps?

[@globoy.t]

@@Any-mation I watched it yesterday🤝. Appreciate your work

[@JNieckarz]

Beautifully human. More of this, please God.

[@Clara-ml7tg]

Hi Cole, i discovered your chanel a few days ago. I've seen this video about fifty times already. It's just beautiful. I'm sure you're one of a kind ! Congratulations for the incredible videos you make here. Greetings from Spain :)

[@Any-mation]

Hola Clara, thank you very much for your kind words, they really mean a lot to me. I’m glad these videos have connected with you

[@Isi_Vi]

Amazing! I don't have words. It's just amazing.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@CVsnaredevil]

Well done. Miyazaki is and will always be a legend. Thanks for the video.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you for watching!

[@CVsnaredevil]

@@Any-mation btw: where can one find the documentary that is shown in this video?

[@gruslen]

This was beautiful. Words escape me.

[@lailedcat]

Thank you for this. I remember where I was when I learned of Takahata’s passing, and how hard that loss hit. The Boy And The Heron made me sob openly in the cinema, and at the time I didn’t even know why, because the film had been beautiful, but also bewildering. Mahito’s relief on seeing the pelicans escape - ambiguous, generally menacing creatures! and still they were let free - the humanity there really got me. That it’s okay to hurt, and it’s okay to move on, and it’s okay and even necessary to forget sometimes. A real culmination of themes. And the ending theme made me cry then. この道が続くのは続けと願ったから - this path continues on because I asked it to continue. Just, man. 「人間の感情って複雑でさ、ただ悲しいだけじゃないんだよね。」 no kidding. I’m very sorry for your loss, too. Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí air.

[@Any-mation]

Go raibh maith agat I love how you talk about the pelicans. The unfair existence those birds had thrown on them when they were brought into that world, yet they kept living. It’s a beautiful observation

[@lailedcat]

Thanks for your response to my very disjointed comment haha, it means a lot. I wanted to also add that in addition to the cinematic parallels shown at 7:36, throughout the film I kept hearing moments of Joe Hisaishi’s score that mirrored his past works with Ghibli. It felt to me not just like a culmination visually and thematically, but also musically. I kept hearing little flashes of his compositions for other Ghibli films. And this is all my own takes so they don’t hold much weight, but there was something so beautiful to me about the central musical voice of this film being the piano, which is very much Hisaishi’s instrument. I think there is a lot of trust in that partnership.

[@Valeriesta]

Amazing video, getting more insight into Miyazaki's life after watching the movie makes it all the more touching ❤

[@natehawthorne4828]

I regrettably went to see this movie after a long days work with some friends. the soundtrack and the backdrops were so peaceful that I couldn't stay awake. I woke up to a scene where there were lots of birds and those birds were shitting on everything lol "What the hell is happening!?" I thought. lol. I need to see this movie from start to finish.

[@kasig2013]

This was the first time I ever cried watching one of your videos. In all of the video essays I've seen on Hayao Miyazaki and his work, this one, as simply and sweetly as it could, captured the beauty and the sadness of his work, but especially in The Boy and The Heron. I have a whole new appreciation for this movie. Thank you, Cole, and I'm sorry for your loss.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you. That means a lot. The Boy and the Heron marked a lot of grief for me as well, so it was an interesting parallel making this video.

[@Piktoravatar]

Wow, this hit me right in the feels! 😢 Losing someone close can send us on unexpected journeys, searching for perfection in everything we do as a way to cope. But eventually, we all reach a point where we need to let those emotions out. Watching 'The Boy and the Heron' made me realize that pain is universal, whether it's in the fictional character Mahito's story or in the real tears of Miyazaki himself. Beautifully captured moment of empathy and understanding. 💔🎥

[@Any-mation]

Wow I love your last sentence, I completely agree! thank you so much

[@mamoonarshad304]

"Will you accept their expectations? entrenched in their limitations" is a bit I heavily relate to with my own family, thank you for this essay

[@Any-mation]

Thank you for catching that line

[@CrispyGFX]

Beautiful video. Thank you for this.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much

[@troygaspard6732]

The Wind Rises was amazing. That he didn't stop after that masterpiece made all of his fans happy.

[@Any-mation]

He dropped another masterpiece

[@camigarcia7035]

Each and everytime this channel covers any Ghibli topics it is done in such a beautiful and carefully analized way. Thank you for your work ❤

[@darkdorito7967]

This video is absolutely underrated, you helped me make sense of the movie and appreciate it even more. Thank you

[@Twoseconds001]

4:16 I want to speak to Paku San that was where my heart sank

[@Any-mation]

It’s heartbreaking

[@ryno_io]

thank you so much for this, this is beautiful. i watched this movie twice in the cinemas and still couldn’t fully connect to it. but since then i’ve lost a lot and hurt a lot, and i think you’ve captured what made this movie so special: its the connections, the love and learning to move on from it. and you’ve made me cry when most movies couldn’t and i think that’s the highest praise there is. i watched your soul video back when it came out and i was always a little sad you stopped making videos. im glad ur back ❤

[@igodreamer7096]

Ótimo e emocionante vídeo. Tudo que começa acaba, todos que amamos um dia morreram. Por isso que devemos apreciar a companhia deles enquanto estão conosco, afinal de contas: "todas as pessoas são o resultado da interação de umas com as outras, junto com a natureza que já existe dentro de nós". ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@timstalam]

this video has made me think about me growing old in a totally new way, this is going to sit with me for a while

[@achesworth]

This was a beautiful tribute, Cole. Thank you for making it! The film was a masterpiece.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you very much, I’m glad you took the time to watch it

[@VoxVeritasXXX]

I've never seen this channel before but I want the narrator to read me bedtime stories.

[@Any-mation]

Deal

[@bow8888]

Thank you

[@ShaanHistoria]

You made me, and I am sure many others, cry. Thank you so much for this tribute.

[@BusterToon]

Another great episode! I had no idea he was going through such grief during the production. I really don't know much about Miyazaki and shamefully I haven't seen many of his films 😅 Maybe this is the year I finally sit down and watch em all

[@Any-mation]

You’ve got so much to look forward to! I don’t think I’ve met anyone who adored his movies straight away, it slowly creeps up on you

[@AntThePianoMan]

Miyazaki feels like he is getting older. By the time he finihses his next one, he'll be 90. This could very well be his final film. It makes sense, it's about him really.

[@jessemesa]

I did not expect to be brought to tears when stumbling upon this

[@bolo1608]

great video, really uncovered the emotional depth this movie so brilliantly embodied. thank you 🙏

[@AgusPrasetya_]

Thank you,, it's so beautiful

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@vishnuprasath.a.r8834]

Thank you bro😢😢😢😢

[@Any-mation]

Thank you very much 🙏🏻

[@Itachi-oh2hu]

I heard like months ago, that miyazaki had began working on a new film after the boy and the heron ; like a following part of nausicaa, anyone has heard of that ?

[@tinybed]

great video 😢im crying

[@Ninjakees]

Amazing Movie, I wonder if he will make another

[@Any-mation]

He’s working away at the moment apparently!

[@jonasweber9408]

That hits hard, I cried at the end of the movie and your video is really emotional Thank you for your hard work and for this video ❤

[@Any-mation]

Thank you very much

[@gensischosen251]

I have no regrets to watch this in cinema and probably most unique way to make biopic film If you think about it Wind Rises is about his parents, Jiro is similar to Hayao’s father The Boy and The Heron About his childhood, his career, his rose to popularity and now. I bet third film it’s about his child.

[@OfficialTomsSkujinsFanClub]

The wind rises is very much autobiographical, there are characters inspired by his parents but at the core the movie is about the costs that come from following your dreams, and whether or not that cost is worth it

[@OfficialTomsSkujinsFanClub]

and ponyo is about his son

[@fishtrick1_]

fantastic video

[@huwalfadillah]

Another great piece of Ghibli content. You've done it so well, thank you.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@Odd_type]

What a beautiful narrative. Thank you

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@juanjosenamnuntavarez7553]

Thank you , very much

[@josabu2533]

Great job narrating and giving a great edit, congratulations this is my favorite studio ghibli video on yt

[@Any-mation]

Wow, thank you so much

[@calcif3r]

Nicely done ❤

[@Any-mation]

Thank you so much

[@leonardoa5201]

Incredibly moving video essay, well done

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@Mojohoojo187]

Well put together video about his last animation. I think from what I gather from watching this movie is that he is saying good bye and also apologising (only he knows to who). this movie is meant to convey what he is feeling after all this time.

[@Any-mation]

I’d love to hear your take on why he is apologising

[@Mojohoojo187]

Take this with a grain of salt this is just my speculation. I believe his relationship with his wife was not really ideal. He was barely home and was there much as a husband and father. His relationship with his son was also affected until recently (or still). I’m not sure what the ending message he was trying to convey, when the boy refuse to take over and continue the work because he knows the evil is in him and he wasn’t the best choice. It’s almost like the old man is takahata? Not sure….again, this is just my thought about the movie which I really really enjoy btw.

[@zalws]

Crying myself to sleep

[@Nikitaliskov]

Great essay, thank you

[@Any-mation]

Thank you very much

[@mr.introvert6173]

I wish he will win the oscar.

[@Any-mation]

I don’t think he cares either way hahaha

[@maze1189]

I have to know where he got the footage from 2399 days with miyazaki. Especially with subs. Aside from that this was a really great video. I especially loved the bits about Takahata and the future of Ghibli at the end

[@Any-mation]

I made the subs myself, it took quite a bit to translate it all

[@dragonstone6594]

Oh no, I didn't even know this film was released already! I was waiting years to see it. Thankfully it's still playing in cinemas, going to see it tomorrow! Thanks for your great video, you did me a favor :)

[@Any-mation]

You’re welcome hahaha I hope you enjoy it!

[@Ruben_Kenny]

this is a great video

[@user-xz4yk9db9z]

宮崎駿さんが海外でもこんなに愛されているのは日本人としてとても誇らしい とてもよくまとまっていて凄い感動しました ありがとう

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@mikkelmelby]

great edit

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@bouncycow3010]

Hi, Absolutely beautiful video. Watching the boy and the heron in cinemas was one of the ones amazing experiences of my life being a long time ghibli fan, and I love continuing to see different perspectives on the movie. What was that video you were using in the background, the one with miyazaki and suzuki talking about making the boy and the heron? I would love to watch it in full.

[@Any-mation]

There’s a few documentaries mixed into the background, but potentially the one you’re looking for is one called 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. There’s no English language version yet and it’s hard to find the full thing

[@bouncycow3010]

@@Any-mation Thanks very much! Ill look into it!

[@rico-ghibli-life]

素晴らしい編集と美しいナレーションでした。 わたしもこのドキュメンタリーを日本のテレビで観ました。 宮崎駿監督の情熱は私たちを感動させました。 素敵なビデオをありがとう。

[@Any-mation]

I’m curious how you found the documentary

[@rico-ghibli-life]

@@Any-mation I saw this on a Japanese TV program called ``Professional Work Style'' last December. Director Hayao Miyazaki's passion was amazing. I recorded it and watched it many times.

[@lucasriello]

Beautiful essay

[@Any-mation]

Thank you

[@stormimation6143]

The message was conveyed

[@Any-mation]

But to who

[@stormimation6143]

@@Any-mation to us both by the movie and by Miyazaki himself that nothing is permanent and love comes with grief After all these years of inspiring thousands of animators,artists, or heck even a regular movie watcher the journey of Miyazaki comes to an end

[@Any-mation]

I love that, thank you@@stormimation6143