Studio Ghibli Quietly Releases Hayao Miyazaki Documentary on Max

As a long-time Studio Ghibli enthusiast and someone who has grown up with Miyazaki’s magical animations, I must say that this new documentary, “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron,” is an absolute treasure for us fans! It’s like peeking behind the curtain of a wizard’s workshop – only instead of broomsticks, we get to see the intricate process of creating breathtaking anime masterpieces.


I’m thrilled to share that Studio Ghibli has secretly released a fresh Hayao Miyazaki documentary, available to stream right now on Max! Last year, Studio Ghibli caused quite a stir with the premiere of Miyazaki’s latest offering, The Boy and the Heron. Initially, we were led to believe that this would be his final feature film endeavor. However, during production, Miyazaki surprised us all by announcing it wouldn’t be his last project after all! This news undoubtedly made the development of The Boy and the Heron even more intriguing, and now, a new documentary captures all the behind-the-scenes action. As a dedicated gamer and anime fan, I can hardly wait to dive into this fascinating glimpse into Studio Ghibli’s creative process!

As a dedicated fan of Studio Ghibli, here’s my take:

Delve into the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning film, THE BOY AND THE HERON, as you go backstage in this captivating two-hour documentary. Catch it now on @StreamOnMax!

— GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) September 6, 2024

What Is Hayao Miyazaki’s New Documentary?

“Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron” extends over a span of two hours, prompting Max to urge Miyazaki to incorporate more footage and insider details than what fans may have initially anticipated for the feature documentary titled, “A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of The Boy and the Heron, filmed with unprecedented access to Studio Ghibli over an impressive seven years.” Now, Studio Ghibli’s entire collection, including the revamped version of “The Boy and the Heron,” can be streamed via Max. Fans will have a wealth of content to delve into with these new releases.

As a devoted admirer of Miyazaki, I found it intriguing to learn that “The Boy and the Heron” held a deeply personal significance for him. Its original Japanese title, “How Do You Live?”, mirrored his self-reflection during the creation process. Initially conceived as what might have been his final project, it wasn’t until the film’s release that we learned otherwise.

Why Is The Boy and the Heron So Special?

One of Studio Ghibli’s most memorable productions is “The Boy and the Heron.” Initially, Studio Ghibli kept this project under wraps, revealing nothing about it before its Japanese premiere. They didn’t even disclose any images, posters, or trailers during the buildup to its release. It was only when the film was completely ready that fans were allowed a sneak peek at the final product. The anticipation reached fever pitch as “The Boy and the Heron” prepared for its global distribution.

From that point forward, “The Boy and the Heron” continued to grow in size as it accumulated numerous significant accolades, culminating with its victory for Best Animated Film at the 96th Academy Awards against contenders such as “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Elemental,” “Nimona,” and “Robot Dreams.” This achievement makes it only the second fully hand-drawn film to claim this award since Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away” in 2002, marking the second win for famed director Hayao Miyazaki. Additionally, it represented the very first Academy Award for North American distributor GKIDS, positioning “The Boy and the Heron” as a groundbreaking release in numerous aspects. With this new documentary, viewers can now experience this masterpiece in an entirely fresh manner.

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2024-09-09 01:39