![](/images/Miyazaki/BoyandtheHeron16.jpg)
GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of award-winning animation, has announced the English voice cast THE BOY AND THE HERON, the highly anticipated new film from the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Japan's celebrated animation house, Studio Ghibli. The movie will open in theaters and IMAX across America on December 8, 2023.
Released in Japan as Kimitachi wa Do Ikiruka (translated as HOW DO YOU LIVE?), the film is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film "Spinning Globe" was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.
English Voice Cast
Shoichi Maki: Christian Bale
The Parakeet King: Dave Bautista
Natsuko: Gemma Chan
Noble Pelican: Willem Dafoe
Lady Himi: Karen Fukuhara
Granduncle: Mark Hamill
Gray Heron: Robert Pattison
Kiriko: Florence Pugh
The Parakeets: Dan Stevens, Tony Revolri, Mamoudou Athie
The English language version was produced by GKIDS in compliance with SAG-AFTRA.
For more on THE BOY AND THE HERON, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan...
- HOW DO YOU LIVE? - Toho Releases Poster For Next Studio Ghibli Film
- GKIDS Announces the North American Acquisition of Hayao Miyazaki's THE BOY AND THE HERON
- Studio Ghibli Finally Releases Images From THE BOY AND THE HERON
- THE BOY AND THE HERON in Theatres and IMAX December 8 from GKIDS
About Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli is one of the most acclaimed and influential animation studios in the world, inspiring filmmakers and audiences alike over the last 30 years with beloved stories and breathtaking visuals. Under the brilliance of visionary animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, the studio's films are known for timeless classics such as MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, and PONYO; and have won countless international awards including an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for SPIRITED AWAY, as well as five additional Oscar nominations for HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, THE WIND RISES, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA, WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE, and THE RED TURTLE. Director and studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki was separately given an Honorary Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards in 2014, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures paid tribute to his artwork with a special exhibit when the Museum opened in September 2021.
About GKIDS
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, GKIDS is the producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. The company has scored an astounding 12 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with THE SECRET OF KELLS in 2010, A CAT IN PARIS and CHICO & RITA in 2012, ERNEST & CELESTINE in 2014, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA and SONG OF THE SEA in 2015, BOY AND THE WORLD and WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE in 2016, MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI in 2017, THE BREADWINNER in 2018, MIRAI in 2019, and WOLFWALKERS in 2021.
GKIDS also handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titles such as SPIRITED AWAY, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE and others; as well as the critically-acclaimed television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. Also, GKIDS is the founder and host of ANIMATION IS FILM, the annual LA-based film festival which embraces animation as a cinematic art form, and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium to its fullest range of artistic expressions. www.gkids.com