The Boy and the Heron (2023)
君たちはどう生きるか
Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Family, Drama • 2h 4m
Overview
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray has better detail and grain, 2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray from the Hayao Miyazaki box set for MGVC with added bit-depth for supported players
2011/2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray for original 6.1 audio mix, Cinema DTS for the English dub
2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray has better detail and grain, 2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray from the Hayao Miyazaki box set for MGVC with added bit-depth for supported players
2011/2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray for original 6.1 audio mix, Cinema DTS for the English dub
Studio Ghibli Everything Ghibli SPECIAL: Short Short 1992-2016 Blu-ray
Studio Ghibli Everything Ghibli SPECIAL: Short Short 1992-2016 Blu-ray
Studio Ghibli Everything Ghibli SPECIAL: Short Short 1992-2016 Blu-ray
Studio Ghibli Everything Ghibli SPECIAL: Short Short 1992-2016 Blu-ray
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray has 6.1 discrete
English audio: Cinema DTS-ES, 2010 US Disney Blu-ray as an alternative
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray has 6.1 discrete
English audio: Cinema DTS-ES, 2010 US Disney Blu-ray as an alternative
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
4K restoration shown in IMAX cinemas
2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
English dub (Disney): 1998 US Disney LaserDisc
2003 Disney DVD has better sounding vocals despite altered music and sound effects
Releases from 2010 onward have the original music and sound effects, but distorted vocals
English dub (Streamline): 1996 Japan LaserDisc, available in Ghibli Aa Ippai Collection boxset
4K restoration shown in IMAX cinemas
2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Japanese audio: 2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
English dub (Disney): 1998 US Disney LaserDisc
2003 Disney DVD has better sounding vocals despite altered music and sound effects
Releases from 2010 onward have the original music and sound effects, but distorted vocals
English dub (Streamline): 1996 Japan LaserDisc, available in Ghibli Aa Ippai Collection boxset
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray
Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/6JWnlfit
All sources are within margin of error. Comparisons: Japanese, English
Alternate Streamline English dub is available only on 1994 Fox LD.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray
Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/6JWnlfit
All sources are within margin of error. Comparisons: Japanese, English
Alternate Streamline English dub is available only on 1994 Fox LD.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Director: Vincent Ward
Director: Vincent Ward
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray > Disk Kino/WCL China import
review: Disk Kino
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has the original mono
Director: John Woo
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray > Disk Kino/WCL China import
review: Disk Kino
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has the original mono
Director: Peter Medak
Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Director: Peter Medak
Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Directors: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Directors: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Director: Gordon Douglas
Director: Gordon Douglas
Director: John Badham
Director: John Badham
Director: George A. Romero
Mono: 35mm scan, old Shout! Factory and Australia Umbrella Blu-ray sounds better than the rest of the discs, but has noise reduction
Stereo: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has a transfer of the 1986 Japan LaserDisc Stereo
Director: George A. Romero
Mono: 35mm scan, old Shout! Factory and Australia Umbrella Blu-ray sounds better than the rest of the discs, but has noise reduction
Stereo: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has a transfer of the 1986 Japan LaserDisc Stereo
More Animation on Blu-ray
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
2026 Japan Blu-ray. The 4K Blu-ray is an upscale with strong sharpening. Caps
2026 Japan 4K Blu-ray, includes original 5.1 and an Atmos remix. The HD disc only includes 5.1.
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
2026 Japan Blu-ray. The 4K Blu-ray is an upscale with strong sharpening. Caps
2026 Japan 4K Blu-ray, includes original 5.1 and an Atmos remix. The HD disc only includes 5.1.
Directors: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Directors: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration
Directors: David G. Derrick Jr. & Jason Hand & Dana Ledoux Miller
Disney+ also has this movie in 3D Streaming for the Apple Vision Pro
Directors: David G. Derrick Jr. & Jason Hand & Dana Ledoux Miller
Disney+ also has this movie in 3D Streaming for the Apple Vision Pro
Directors: John Musker & Ron Clements
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray
Disney+ 4K Streaming has Dolby Vision, while the 4K Blu-ray is HDR10
Directors: John Musker & Ron Clements
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray
Disney+ 4K Streaming has Dolby Vision, while the 4K Blu-ray is HDR10
Edit History
3/20/2025
