We watched The Boy and the Heron this evening and I was honestly disappointed. It is a gorgeous film and I liked the way the different creatures were animated. However, it really fell flat for me. I understand there’s symbolism for grief and moving on, but this isn’t conveyed in a coherent or meaningful way.
I think what really lets this movie down compared to Studio Ghibli’s other films is the lack of character development. There wasn’t any depth to the characters to drive the plot. The initial premise felt like an excuse to introduce an interesting otherworldly realm, but one that ultimately had no meaning.
I wouldn’t recommend this film. There are so many other Studio Ghibli films to recommend - personal favourites are Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle - and I’d hate to think this might be the first Studio Ghibli film people encounter🙁